Krankenhaus Hietzing
Facts and Figures
| Births per year | 1194 |
| Rate of episiotomy (perineotomy) in natural birth | 5.5 % |
| cesarean section rate | 25.5 % |
| Percentage of primary (planned) caesarean sections | 32.56 % |
| Percentage of secondary (unplanned) caesarean sections | 67.43 % |
| Rate of peridural/spinal anaesthesia (spinal block) during caesarean section | 71.7 % |
| Besides doctors, carers and midwives, which other salaried personnel does your team feature? | available |
|---|---|
| Psychologists | |
| Physiotherapists | |
| Dieticians | |
| Social workers |
Offers for future mothers
| Offer | available | free |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy exercises | ||
| Birth preparation courses | ||
| Psychological / psychosomatic walk-in clinic and counselling | ||
| Acupuncture | ||
| Homeopathy | ||
| Individual discussions with midwives |
How many birthing rooms are there?: 5
| What is the standard of equipment? | available |
|---|---|
| Birthing stool | |
| Birth wheel | |
| Pezzi ball | |
| Wall bars | |
| own wetroom / WC |
Number of birthing tubs:1
Care from pregnancy week:36
| offer | available |
|---|---|
| Are midwives able to assist with delivery in your department? | |
| Are midwives of the patient's choice able to assist with delivery in your department? | |
| Is there a neonatologist on site round the clock? | |
| Is a peridural or spinal anaesthesia possible at any time? |
Offers for mothers and new born babies
| offer | available | free |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical baby examination | ||
| Hip ultrasound | ||
| Listening test | ||
| Laser treatment for sore nipples | ||
| Social counselling | ||
| Breastfeeding counselling | ||
| Nutrition counselling | ||
| Psychologische Betreuung bei postpartalen Problemen | ||
| Confinement exercises | ||
| Back exercises | ||
| Private groups | ||
| Baby gymnastics | ||
| Baby massage |
Number of family rooms: 0
Number of rooms for women who have just given birth
| general class | |
|---|---|
| Single or double rooms | 6 |
| Rooms with three or four beds | 4 |
| Five or more beds | 0 |
| special class | |
|---|---|
| Single rooms | 1 |
| Double rooms | 6 |
Routine discharge after spontaneous birth in days3
Routine discharge after Caesarean section in days4
1. Please describe your department’s obstetric philosophy
Pregnancy, birth and the first days of a new life are magical moments for the new parents, but they can also be a time of worry and fear. We work alongside your doctor to care for you during this time. We would be happy to discuss your personal questions and wishes with you, laying the foundations for a natural, harmonious birth in a familiar environment.
2. Please describe the process of a problem-free birth in your department, preferably from the woman’s point of view.
If a patient becomes alarmed or has a medical question about her labour or birth, she can contact the maternity ward team at any time. We recommend staying in a familiar home environment, as long as the pains do not last longer than 60-90 seconds (dilating pains). Our experiences have taught us that only minimal intervention is required. After arriving on the maternity ward, you will be looked after by our doctors and midwives. You are free to select a delivery room of your choice, so you can give birth to your baby in the best environment possible. Where possible, we will create the optimal conditions for a natural birth – we’ll dim the lights, let the aroma of essential oils fill the air, offer massages, and help the couple to experience a natural birth as ‘friends’ of the maternity team.
A midwife will be your first point of contact, and the doctor on duty will be introduced to you as soon as possible. After the birth, your baby will be laid on your stomach naked to encourage bonding. The umbilical cord will be allowed to stop pulsating, and the placenta will be born after approx. 45 minutes. As we have the lowest episiotomy rate in Austria, it is only in rare cases that we have to treat any vaginal injuries. After 2 hours, you can enjoy a warm shower before being transferred to postnatal care. The baby can stay with you for 24 hours and, when possible, you can care for it in a family room together with your partner.
3. How does your department handle caesarean deliveries on maternal request (CDMRs)?
Hietzing Hospital does not offer elective Caesarean sections, and they will also not be carried out on request.
4. How is the birth companion included during the labour (incl. caesareans)?
No birth companions may be present at emergency Caesarean sections. For non-urgent secondary caesarean sections, birth companions may enter the operating theatre after spinal anaesthesia has been successfully given.
5. To what extent is the woman free to choose the birthing position?
All women are free to choose their birthing position. They can choose between a stool, maternity bed, Roma birth wheel, mat and bath. The midwife is happy to give advice and encouragement if the chosen position is not helping to advance labour.
6. Please describe how pain is managed.
If complementary medicine and a warm bath is not helping to increase the expectant mother’s pain tolerance, we offer LAUGHING GAS, NALBUPHIN and PDA.
In normal working and personal circumstances, the comfort factor is key. Warm massage oils, beautiful rooms and empathetic midwives help to ensure this.
7. How is the “comfort factor” taken into account during the birth?
Complementary medicine is offered across the board. Qualified midwives and doctors are available to the mothers-to-be.
8. What is your department’s position on the use of complementary medical treatments (acupuncture, homoeopathy, aromatherapy etc.)?
Complementary medicine is offered across the board. Qualified midwives and doctors are available to the mothers-to-be.
9. How does your department encourage bonding after vaginal delivery and delivery by caesarean section?
Bonding after a normal birth is standard for us. Bonding is only possible after a Caesarean section if there are enough staff on site.
Despite this, bonding can also take place in the postnatal care ward, under the guidance of paediatric nurses and carers.
10. What kind support does your department offer for women who experience psychological or social difficulties during or after the birth?
A clinical psychologist is on hand to support women who may be suffering from psychological issues during pregnancy and after birth. In general, all occupational groups here are well-versed in how to deal with social and psychological burdens.
11. What is your department’s position on rooming in?
We offer 24-hour rooming in. However, patients also have the opportunity to rest after a difficult birth and leave their children in the children’s room.
12. What is your department’s approach to breastfeeding?
Our department is very positive towards breastfeeding. Pregnant women can prepare themselves for breastfeeding in the talks offered by us.
13. To what extent does your department accommodate cultural wishes/requests?
We are happy to accommodate all wishes and requests – whether cultural or ideological – as long as this does not have possible medical consequences for mother or baby.
14. How does your department handle foreign languages?
As well as our own multilingual staff, we can ask for interpreters, as is the case in all KAV hospitals.
15. What is your department’s position on outpatient birth and early (“premature”) discharge?
We highly encourage outpatient birth where a couple has prepared accordingly and medical circumstances allow.