Giving birth in a hospital is not the only option. You can choose to give birth with the help of a midwife in a clinic or even at home if possible. However, there are several medical reasons that make the process of giving birth in a hospital the right choice.
Not a few pregnant women who still feel reluctant to give birth in the hospital. The cost is often one of the reasons, even though the cost of giving birth in a hospital can be helped if pregnant women have insurance or BPJS.
Not only for reasons of cost, some pregnant women may also be reluctant to give birth in a hospital because access and the distance between their place of residence and the hospital is far, so that it becomes an obstacle to be able to give birth in a hospital.
This is very unfortunate. The reason is, giving birth in a hospital is the right solution because the hospital has various facilities and professional medical personnel, including midwives and obstetricians, who can help the delivery process properly and safely.
This is the reason giving birth in a hospital is safer
Here are some reasons why giving birth in a hospital is a good choice:
1. Competent medical personnel
Hospitals generally have midwives, obstetricians, and general practitioners who can assist during the delivery process.
That is, when pregnant women give birth in hospital, direct handling is carried out by health workers who have special competence and expertise in assisting the delivery process. The goal is of course to avoid complications during delivery, such as heavy bleeding.
For example, if a pregnant woman is having problems giving birth normally or if the labor process has been going on for too long, the obstetrician can perform a cesarean section.
2. Complete facilities
The facilities in the hospital are complete enough to handle mothers who are about to give birth. If the mother's condition is normal and healthy, normal delivery can be carried out in a regular delivery room.
However, for problematic pregnancies or conditions when pregnant women cannot give birth normally, a team of doctors can perform a caesarean section in the operating room. Usually, this is done if the pregnant woman has certain conditions, such as premature delivery, hypertension, or placental disorders.
Caesarean delivery is also usually done when the fetus has problems, such as fetal distress or umbilical cord entanglement.
In addition, the hospital is also equipped with other health facilities and facilities that may be needed by the mother and baby, such as the ICU, baby care room or perinatology room, to the ICU room for babies or PICU.
3. Monitoring after delivery
At the hospital, the condition of pregnant women and fetuses will be monitored closely during the delivery process and afterward.
With good postnatal care, pregnant women and fetuses will be more comfortable to rest and through the recovery period, and can get immediate treatment if needed. This makes the choice of giving birth in a hospital the right and safe solution.
4. Optimal handling for newborns
Newborn babies can receive direct treatment from a pediatrician and can be treated in a special nursery for babies. This is especially important if he needs special treatment, for example if he was born prematurely, has a low birth weight, or was born with a congenital abnormality.
In addition, midwives and nurses in hospitals can also help pregnant women to initiate breastfeeding for babies.
Even though they have decided to give birth at home or at the maternity clinic because of a healthy pregnancy, there are times when pregnant women need to take anticipatory steps by considering the hospital as a place of choice for delivery if unexpected conditions occur.
Questions to Ask the Hospital
There are several things that pregnant women can ask during the survey before choosing a hospital for delivery, including:
- Are complete facilities available for delivery needs, including in the event of complications?
- Can your husband or other close relatives enter the delivery room?
- Are intensive care facilities available for babies, especially for babies who are sick or born prematurely?
- Does the hospital serve any special desired procedures, such as early initiation of breastfeeding (IMD)?
- Is the hospital pro-breastfeeding?
- Is the baby placed in the same room as the mother?
- Are there any special rules regarding visiting schedules?
- Does the hospital work with the insurance company that pregnant women will use to pay for the delivery costs?
In addition to the questions above, pregnant women also need to find out what inpatient room facilities are at the destination hospital. The reason is, the inpatient room facilities will be different in each hospital.
Make sure the designated hospital is in accordance with the needs of pregnant women, such as whether there is a refrigerator to store expressed breast milk, an extra sofa or mattress for the husband or an accompanying relative, as well as whether the bathroom is inside or outside the room.
Giving birth in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women and their partners may wonder is it safe to give birth in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic? The answer is depending on the condition of pregnant women and fetuses.
If the pregnant woman's condition and the fetus are healthy or the pregnant woman is declared safe and can give birth normally, the option for a normal delivery may be at home, at the maternity clinic, or staying in the hospital.
However, if the pregnant woman's condition does not allow her to have a normal delivery at home or at the clinic, it is still advisable for the pregnant woman to give birth in a hospital.
While in the hospital, pregnant women and health workers who care for pregnant women will be equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), so the risk of exposure to the Corona virus will be reduced.
To determine whether pregnant women can give birth normally at home or in a hospital, pregnant women still need to undergo regular obstetrical examinations to the obstetrician.
Usually, within 1 month before the due date, the doctor will determine whether the pregnant woman can give birth at home or must give birth in a hospital.
In general, the hospital is the right choice for pregnant women who want to give birth. With complete medical facilities and supported by experienced doctors and midwives and nurses, the delivery process will run more smoothly and safely.
