The Routine 36‐Week Scan—Is It Time for a Change in Policy and Practice? The Arguments for a Routine Third Trimester Ultrasound in Australian Healthcare

The increasing use of third trimester ultrasound within Australia's hybrid maternity care model reflects growing recognition of its value-even among publicly funded pregnant women. Emerging evidence suggests benefits such as improved detection of fetal growth abnormalities, malpresentation and structural anomalies. Whilst concerns remain about cost-effectiveness and provoking unnecessary interventions, these must be weighed against potentially improved perinatal outcomes. With evolving research, the role of a routine 36-week ultrasound in low-risk Australian pregnancies warrants reconsideration.