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How to Perform Leopold’s Maneuver


posterior presentation How to Perform Leopolds Maneuver

Leopold’s Maneuver is preferably performed after 24 weeks gestation when fetal outline can be already palpated.

Preparation:

  1. Instruct woman to empty her bladder first.
  2. Place woman in dorsal recumbent position, supine with knees flexed to relax abdominal muscles. Place a small pillow under the head for comfort.
  3. Drape properly to maintain privacy.
  4. Explain procedure to the patient.
  5. Warms hands by rubbing together. (Cold hands can stimulate uterine contractions).
  6. Use the palm for palpation not the fingers.

Purpose

Procedure

Findings

First Maneuver:
Fundal Grip
To determine fetal part lying in the fundus.

To determine presentation.

Using both hands, feel for the fetal part lying in the fundus. Head is more firm, hard and round that moves independently of the body.
Breech is less well defined that moves only in conjunction with the body.
Second Maneuver:
Umbilical Grip
To identify location of fetal back.
To determine position.
One hand is used to steady the uterus on one side of the abdomen while the other hand moves slightly on a circular motion from top to the lower segment of the uterus to feel for the fetal back and small fetal parts.
Use gentle but deep pressure.
Fetal back is smooth, hard, and resistant surface
Knees and elbows of fetus feel with a number of angular nodulation
Third Maneuver:
Pawlik’s Grip
To determine engagement of presenting part. Using thumb and finger, grasp the lower portion of the abdomen above symphisis pubis, press in slightly and make gentle movements from side to side. The presenting part is not engaged if it is not movable.

It is not yet engaged if it is still movable.

Fourth Maneuver:
Pelvic Grip
To determine the degree of flexion of fetal head.

To determine attitude or habitus.

Facing foot part of the woman, palpate fetal head pressing downward about 2 inches above the inguinal ligament.
Use both hands.
Good attitude – if brow correspond to the side (2nd maneuver) that contained the elbows and knees.
Poor atitude – if examining fingers will meet an obstruction on the same side as fetal back (hyperextended head)

Also palpates infant’s anteroposterior position. If brow is very easily palpated, fetus is at posterior position (occiput pointing towards woman’s back)

See Leopold’s Maneuver Demo Video

14 Comments

  1. Good…but never ‘assume’ person reading knows where she or he would stand. For example, in the 1st. maneuver, the Nurse (or whomever is performing the assessment) is standing facing the client).

  2. Wats d name of position in leopolds maneuvre?

  3. cnuh mai alam sa drug study??paturo nman pu?????

  4. thanks nomon..this is for my report on saturday..hehe

  5. parehas lng pla s bngai ni man…
    tnx n rin….

  6. i wanna thank the people behind this web page..it definitely helps me a lot as a student nurse who is still exploring the world of maternal child nursing..god bless..i just want to commend also more videos (factual) so that i will be able to learn more better ideas…mwah!

  7. good

  8. first maneuver(fundal grip)- Face the patient and curl your fingers at the fudus.
    a.) Cephalic- hard round and movable
    b.) Breech- soft globular and movable
    second maneuver(umbilical grip)- Move your hands down the sides of the abdomen and apply gentle pressure.
    a.)Back- hard..continuous and nodular
    b.)Extremities- irregular
    third maneuver(pawlick’s grip)- Spread apart the thumb and fingers of the hand. Place them just above the patient’s symphisis pubis
    a.)if descended- you’ll feel the head
    b.)if undescended- you’ll feel less distinct mass
    fourth maneuver(pelvis grip)- Apply gentle pressure with your fingers as you slide your hands downwards.

  9. easy memorizing endocrine system

  10. padaan po..

  11. We have finished reviewing this post and we decided to add a picture of a fetus in posterior postition to have a better view regarding this topic. You can also check several references like what we have (Maternal & Child Health Nursing by Adele Pillitteri and Outline in Obstetrics by Maria Loreto Evangelista-Sia). The findings in the 3rd maneuver has been corrected.

  12. Thank you for your comment. Our research team will review this post immediately to verify the data.
    Should you have any further inquiry or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to let us know.
    We are here to serve you better. Thank you for supporting The Student Nurses’ Community.

  13. comment lang po…

    1. ung sa 3rd maneuver/Pawlick’s Grip…redundant ang findings…
    2. in the 4th maneuver/Pelvic Grip…in the findings it states that: “Also palpates infant’s anteroposterior position. If brow is very easily palpated, fetus is at posterior position (occiput pointing towards woman’s back)–in our maternal and child health references, if i am not mistaken, anterior po un…please check…thanks…

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Placenta Previa | Nursing Crib - [...] Leopold’s maneuver: the fetus is in breech, oblique or transverse position. [...]
  2. Routine Pregnancy Tests | Pregnancy Care - [...] To estimate size and position of the fetus (Leopold’s maneuvers) [...]

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