HSE National Clinical Guideline
National Clinical Guideline Care and Management of Unstable Lie in Pregnancy
Topic:
Care and management of unstable lie in pregnancy
Document Owner:
National Clinical Lead for Guideline Development in Maternity and Gynaecology Services, National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP)
National Group:
Guideline Development Programme, National Women and Infants Health Programme
Effective From: 01 May 2026
Evidence based recommendations for the care and management of unstable lie after 37 weeks’ gestation. Promoting a safe standardised approach nationally across all maternity hospitals/units.
This national guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the definition, diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of unstable lie after 37+0 weeks’ gestation, including criteria for inpatient care, timing and mode of birth, and pathways for induction or caesarean birth. It emphasises multidisciplinary involvement, clear communication, informed consent, and explicit documentation of women’s preferences, supporting standardised, trauma-informed maternity care.