CHILDBIRTH

Latvia’s maternity departments provide full pre-natal, childbirth and post-natal care. During the pre-natal period, medical treatments services are provided gynaecologists – obstetrics specialists. Pre-natal care includes:

• specialists’ consultations;
• examinations of the expectant mother and foetus (laboratory tests, ultrasound, foetus heartbeat measurement and a recording of uterine activity – cardiotocography);
• consultations in pregnancy preservation and pregnancy pathology cases.

Maternity care provides the appropriate conditions for classic family births, water births, home birth in hospital and Caesarean section operations. From the 35th week of pregnancy, the patient should inform the chosen medical institution of its intention to give birth in the relevant department. You need a pre-signed individual care agreement with a midwife or a gynaecologist-obstetrics specialist regarding the prospective birth, water birth, the “Home Birth in Hospital” service or if you are planning a caesarean section surgery.

Post-natal care is conducted with the involvement of a neonatologist and paediatric nurses. If necessary, the family should also consult a physiotherapist or other specialists, e.g. regarding movement therapy for babies: Bobot therapy and handling. The daily visits by a neonatologist and paediatric nurse include health checks and nursing training. In cases of complications, the following services are available:

• intensive therapy for the new-born baby;
• paediatrician’s and children’s eye surgeon’s (oculist’s) consultations;
• Neurosonography, echocardiography and the performance of laboratory analyses for children.

PRENATAL DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

• An ultrasound examination of the expectant mother;
• Pre-term genetic screening;
• Second-term foetus structure examination;
• Complex diagnostics to determine the genetic pathologies of the foetus (sonography, invasive diagnostic methods);
• Blood flow determination for mother and child;
• Prevention of Rhesus negative in the expectant mother.

CHILDBIRTH AGREEMENT WITH A DOCTOR AND/OR MIDWIFE

A childbirth agreement regarding individual care guarantees the presence of chosen specialists throughout the childbirth process – from the moment when the woman arrives at the maternity ward until the baby comes into the world. The chosen medical personnel will be alongside the patient regardless of the time of day or night or the duration of the birth. At the patient’s discretion, in addition to an agreement with the midwife or gynaecologist – obstetrics specialist, a separate agreement can be concluded with a:

• anaesthesiologist – reanimatologist;
• neonatologist.

By choosing a doctor or midwife in a timely manner, a woman can give birth in the confident knowledge that she will be welcomed by a familiar person who will know how to support her. Mutual trust at this difficult time will provide maximum possible comfort.

CLASSIC CHILDBIRTH

Childbirth takes place in individual maternity premises, whose state-of-the-art equipment is part of a cosy and comfortable environment that respects the patient’s privacy. After the birth of the baby, the family may spend another couple of hours in the childbirth theatre, but after this they are moved to their chosen ward. One additional person is permitted to take part in the birth. Before joining her for the operation, the expectant mother’s loved one must present the results of a chest X-ray conducted during the past year.

CAESARIAN SECTION OPERATION

The Caesarean section operation takes place in an operating theatre, most commonly using spinal or epidural anaesthesia. During the operation, the child and placenta are removed by an incision into the abdominal cavity and the frontal wall of the uterus. A planned Caesarean section is decided upon in accordance with medical indications during pregnancy. The operation may be acute if complications arise during classic childbirth that make it inadvisable to continue the birth naturally. The expectant mother may also decide to undergo a Caesarean section without medical indications. Discomfort after a Caesarean section is usually more pronounced than after a natural birth, and the post-natal period in hospital will be longer, lasting for 3−5 days.

WATER BIRTHS

Full childbirth can be performed in a childbirth bath or it can be used for occasional relaxation during the process of classic childbirth. If a childbirth bath is used for the active or pushing out stage, it is necessary to sign an agreement for this service and an individually chosen midwife. Before the birth, the expectant mother’s state of health is assessed. If it is satisfactory, the patient may give birth in water. In the event of any complications, the personnel will respond accordingly and the birth can continue, including by moving to a functional childbirth bed.

HOME BIRTH IN HOSPITAL

The home birth hospital is a uniquely designed ward uniquely designed according to the examples set by the best foreign clinics. The principle of a home birth in hospital supports conducting childbirth in as peaceful and natural way as possible, at the same time providing safe medical care. In contrast to giving birth at home, inpatient care is available 24 hours a day with reanimation and modern intensive care options for both the mother and the new-born. Moreover, an experienced neonatologist is permanently on duty in the maternity department, in addition to which, if the patient chooses to undergo analgesia, an anaesthesiologist is available.

UMBILICAL CORD STEM CELL TISSUE COLLECTION

If, with the baby’s future medical treatment options in mind, the new parents have signed an agreement with a stem cell bank – umbilical cord stem cell tissue can be obtained immediately after the birth. Stem cells from the umbilical cord are the strongest and most effective, because they are devoid of illness suffered over the course of life and superfluous information. Moreover, of all the ways of obtaining stem cells, collecting umbilical cord cells is the least dangerous procedure. It takes only 10 minutes.  Immediately after birth, the doctor takes blood and tissue samples, which a medical courier will deliver to a laboratory. At the laboratory, samples will be tested, processed and the distributed stem cells are frozen. The procedure is completely painless without any risk to mother or child.

Medical institutions

Latvia’s health cluster includes several medical treatment institutions which provide obstetrics services:

• Jurmala Hospital
• Liepaja Regional Hospital
• Riga Maternity Hospital