Overview
Introduction
Leopold maneuvers are a bedside screening tool that allows the RN to visualise the fetus without radiation or equipment.
Leopold maneuvers are a bedside screening tool that allows the RN to visualise the fetus without radiation or equipment. When performed correctly after 28 weeks gestation, the four systematic grips reveal the fetal lie, presentation, position, and degree of engagement—information that drives birth‑planning, timing of referrals, and the decision to obtain a confirmatory ultrasound. The technique is inexpensive, repeatable, and integral to antenatal care in a Canadian setting where ultrasound may not be immediately accessible. Key point: a competent palpation provides a first‑hand snapshot of fetal orientation; the next step is always confirmation when the findings are abnormal or ambiguous.