Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung

Facts and Figures

Births per year 1292
Rate of episiotomy (perineotomy) in natural birth 10.3 %
cesarean section rate 31.3 %
Percentage of primary (planned) caesarean sections 54.6 %
Percentage of secondary (unplanned) caesarean sections 45.4 %
Rate of peridural/spinal anaesthesia (spinal block) during caesarean section 95.1 %
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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
How many birthing rooms are there?: 4
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:28
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
Psychological care for post-partum problems
Confinement exercises
Back exercises
Private groups
Baby gymnastics
Baby massage
Number of family rooms: 4
Number of rooms for women who have just given birth
general class
Single or double rooms 3
Rooms with three or four beds 7
Five or more beds 0
special class
Single rooms 1
Double rooms 3
Routine discharge after spontaneous birth in days3
Routine discharge after Caesarean section in days5

1. Please describe your department’s obstetric philosophy

Our aim is to develop parents’ skills:
• so mothers are accompanied, not led,
• so women can give birth and not be delivered,
• so it goes without saying that mother and baby should be together 24-hours a day
• so parents are supported, not dictated to.

2. Please describe the process of a problem-free birth in your department, preferably from the woman’s point of view.

Ideally, delivery would be quick, individual and without pain or complications, in the patient’s mother tongue and in a cultural context.

3. How does your department handle caesarean deliveries on maternal request (CDMRs)?

Should a patient wish for a Caesarean section, an initial discussion will be held with her, as is the general practice in Viennese hospitals. In this discussion, we aim to initially understand her motives and to calm any worries or concerns she might have with regards to the birth process, if possible.
We explain to the patient about the process, risks, alternatives and possible consequences, as the law demands.

4. How is the birth companion included during the labour (incl. caesareans)?

A companion / point of contact is always permitted to be present day and night, except in emergency situations.

5. To what extent is the woman free to choose the birthing position?

The patient can choose her own birthing position which suits her the most, as long as it is medically acceptable.

6. Please describe how pain is managed.

Pain sensations vary greatly from woman to woman. It depends on a variety of circumstances. We can offer all established pain relief methods if the patient so desires, or if it is required on medical grounds.

7. How is the “comfort factor” taken into account during the birth?

We offer the following birthing options:

• Shower/bath
• Stereo system
• Aroma lamp/essential oils
• Massage oil
• Dimmed lighting

8. What is your department’s position on the use of complementary medical treatments (acupuncture, homoeopathy, aromatherapy etc.)?

The following methods are on offer in our department:

• Homoeopathy
• Aromatherapy
• Laser therapy
• Bach flower remedies

9. How does your department encourage bonding after vaginal delivery and delivery by caesarean section?

Building a good relationship between mother and child from the beginning is important to us. We ensure that the mother and baby will have immediately skin contact for at least an hour, as long as there are no medical reasons against it.

This also applies for Caesarean sections. Bonding can be carried out during surgery, except in medical emergencies.

10. What kind support does your department offer for women who experience psychological or social difficulties during or after the birth?

For women who have social or psychological issues during pregnancy or after the birth, we offer outpatient and inpatient support by ‘psychosomatically trained paediatricians’ (BabyCare), psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers.

11. What is your department’s position on rooming in?

Rooming in has been a standard practice for us for many years.

12. What is your department’s approach to breastfeeding?

We have been certified as a breastfeeding-friendly department since 2011. Supporting breastfeeding women is a major concern for us.

13. To what extent does your department accommodate cultural wishes/requests?

We try to meet cultural requirements in accordance with the opportunities available to us. However, we ask for the understanding that this may not always be possible. Respect and tolerance from both sides is the requirement for good co-operation between parents and the maternity team.

14. How does your department handle foreign languages?

We have a full-time Turkish interpreter available. For other languages, we try to organise in-house translation support from the pool of multilingual staff.

15. What is your department’s position on outpatient birth and early (“premature”) discharge?

It is possible for patients here to have outpatient births, i.e. early or premature discharge. The requirement is guaranteed support of the patient by a midwife and a paediatrician.