During observation in the antenatal clinic, the doctor informs some pregnant women about the need for prenatal treatment or delivery in the observation. Observational unit in the maternity hospital - what is it?
This issue worries all women who are shown hospitalization in this department. For some, the word "observation" is associated with some kind of box in which women lie and give birth without a fixed place of residence or suffering from terrible infections.
Structure of the maternity hospital
Regardless of where the maternity hospital is located, how many women it is designed for, the internal structure of this medical institution is the same. And it does not matter how many pregnant women a maternity hospital can serve, what its equipment is, whether it is a department of a clinical hospital, a perinatal center or an obstetric department of a central district hospital, the principles of the structure are respected. Any maternity hospital includes:
• admission department of the maternity hospital, or sanitary checkpoint;
• physiological maternity ward;
• observation, or observational maternity ward, • postpartum ward, • pregnancy pathology ward, • neonatal ward.
Maternity hospital in the hospital
Observational department in the maternity hospital - what is it? This second obstetric department, as it is also called, is similar in structure to a maternity hospital. It has: an emergency room, or a sanitary inspection room, wards for 1-2 people, a maternity unit with individual boxes, a neonatal unit, an operating unit, intensive care units. Some large maternity hospitals as part of the observation have their own laboratory, physiotherapy and diagnostic departments.
Sanitary regime
Many pregnant women are concerned about the question: "The observational department in the maternity hospital - what kind of department is it, how is it arranged and is there any chance of getting infected from another woman there?" The rooms in the observational department are most often single rooms with a functional bed, a changing table, a baby crib and a private bathroom. In each observation department, a strict sanitary and hygienic regime is observed, and the observation department is subject to repeated treatment during the week and three times daily: once with detergents and twice with disinfectant solutions, followed by quartz irradiation. Surgical instruments are processed in the department itself or in the central sterilization department. Most hospitals use a disposable instrument.
Medical staff wear clean or disposable gown, shoes and mask daily. The mask is changed every 4 hours. Shoes are daily treated with disinfectants. Everyone who visits the observation from other departments must change their shoes and put on a disposable gown and mask. Bed linen is changed 2 times a week. You are not allowed to bring your own bed linen, towels, nightgown or bathrobe.
Once a year, the Observational Unit closes for repairs and routine disinfection.
Indications for the observational department
Pregnant women and women in labor who have even minor inflammatory and infectious diseases are placed in the observational department. This is thrush, and carious teeth, and pyelonephritis of pregnant women, and other diseases. If the carriage of viruses or antibodies to hepatitis B and C is diagnosed, positive blood tests for HIV or syphilis are indicated, and treatment in the observational department is also indicated. Pregnant women who were not observed during pregnancy, do not have an exchange card in their hands or are not fully examined are subject to hospitalization. If the pregnant woman arrives with amniotic fluid and the anhydrous interval is more than 12 hours or there is a fever of unknown etiology, these are also indications for delivery in the observational department.
During pregnancy, some inflammatory diseases can worsen, which creates a risk to the he alth of the woman and the unborn baby. Such women are referred to this department for treatment. Possibility of infection from another pregnant woman in this departmentreduced to zero.
Sometimes after childbirth there is metroendometritis, mastitis. This is also an indication for hospitalization. Observation is sometimes also called the "infectious department of the maternity hospital." This is a wrong name, because pregnant women and puerperas not only with infectious diseases stay in these departments.
Admission rules
After admission, the doctor examines the exchange card, after checking all the tests, examining the pregnant woman, he sends her to the observational department. The woman is subjected to sanitary and hygienic treatment, they are given a nightgown and a dressing gown from this maternity ward. Shoes should be such that it can be easily cleaned with detergents. Pregnant women are sent to separate wards. If the number of beds in the ward is 2 or 3, then they accommodate pregnant women with similar diagnoses. Women with fever will be isolated in individual boxes.
Pregnant women and women in labor are monitored around the clock by an obstetrician, neonatologist and nurse. They help the woman get used to the department, teach the rules of feeding, caring for the child and, if necessary, carry out explanatory work.
Features of childbirth
Who gives birth in the observational department? This issue is decided only by the obstetrician after finding out the indications for hospitalization for childbirth. With the onset of labor activity or upon admission with signs of the onset of labor, the woman is subjected to sanitary and hygienic treatment and sent to the prenatal ward. There should be at least 2 delivery rooms in the observation room.
Birth inThe observational department is carried out by a whole team of doctors: an obstetrician, an obstetrician-gynecologist, a pediatrician, a neonatological nurse, an anesthesiologist. At the request of a woman, partner childbirth is possible. In the absence of contraindications, breastfeeding is carried out in the delivery room.
If after childbirth the infection does not harm the child or the pathogen in the mother's body is not transmitted through breast milk, then the mother and baby are placed in the same room, if the woman is after a cesarean section and if breastfeeding is contraindicated, then the child is placed in the neonatology department. In this case, a woman should express milk to prevent mastitis or lactostasis. After further examination of the woman, treatment and recovery after surgery, the baby is placed with her mother.
Any manipulation or surgery is carried out after the written consent of the woman. This rule is also observed when vaccinating a baby.
Discharge from the observational department
No one will keep you and your child longer than usual. On the 5th day, all women are discharged after normal delivery. It is mandatory to conduct control tests of blood, urine, additional studies. If there is an increase in temperature or an exacerbation of chronic diseases, the puerperal may be detained for 1-2 days, followed by discharge and the provision of additional recommendations. If necessary, a woman is hospitalized in a higher-level maternity hospital or gynecology. Discharge is carried out through the dischargeroom that each observation unit has.
How not to get into the observation room
Observation ward in the maternity hospital - what is it: an isolation ward or an infectious ward? This is the same maternity hospital, only it complies with all the rules that help isolate a woman with an infectious disease, provide her with the necessary treatment and carry out childbirth with highly qualified assistance. This department employs doctors who will help a woman at any stage of pregnancy and during childbirth.
In order not to be in this department, you must:
• constant monitoring in the antenatal clinic from the first weeks of pregnancy;
• strict implementation of the recommendations of your obstetrician-gynecologist;
• full examination as prescribed by the doctor;
• timely sanitation foci of infection: caries, pharyngitis, laryngitis, etc.;
• treatment of chronic diseases;
• prevention of SARS and other colds;
• proper nutrition;
• vitamin therapy courses;
• restorative treatment. Pregnant women need to visit crowded places less, especially during epidemics, and if it is impossible, wear a mask and not communicate with patients.
