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An obstetrician is a medical professional who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and the female reproductive system. The obstetrician takes care of the health of the woman throughout the pregnancy and ensures the normal process of childbearing.
It is worth distinguishing between the duties of an obstetrician and an obstetrician-gynecologist, as these are two different professions.
An obstetrician works alongside nurses, physician assistants, an OB/GYN, and other healthcare professionals to provide care. The obstetrician has a secondary medical education, and the doctor has a higher education and completed an internship or residency.
An obstetrician deals with the health of the female reproductive system as a whole. The obstetrician also monitors the health and development of the fetus when it is still in the womb.
Field of activity and diseases
Responsibilities of an obstetrician: to monitor the health of the woman and the health of the developing fetus, including referral for ultrasounds, measurements and tests, checking for various health conditions that may cause problems during pregnancy or affect the health of the fetus, such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes , infections and genetic disorders, advice on proper pregnancy diet, exercise, medications, help with morning sickness, back and leg pain, heartburn and other common pregnancy complaints, answer questions about pregnancy and childbirth, explain what will happen during childbirth, conduct normal labor, monitor the health of the woman in labor while she recovers.
The obstetrician conducts only normal physiological childbirth, during which it is not necessary to resort to surgical skills, the obstetrician can also be present during childbirth with the doctor, or, if the patient wishes, if there are no complications, to conduct labor on her own.
The obstetrician refers to the obstetrician-gynecologist for treatment in the presence of diseases such as: ectopic pregnancy, fetal distress, pre-eclampsia, which is characterized by high blood pressure, placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterus), shoulder dystocia (when the baby’s shoulders get stuck during childbirth) uterine rupture, obstetric hemorrhage, sepsis (which is a life-threatening infection).
Procedures and functions that are the responsibility of obstetrician-gynecologists, not obstetricians, include: facilitating labor by performing an episiotomy, which involves placing incisions in the pregnant woman’s perineum to enlarge the birth canal.
Sometimes prolonged labors may require assistance to speed up the process, as they lead to some possible negative consequences (increased heart rate and possible brain damage in the baby – hypoxia), while using methods such as forceps and vacuum births; caesarean section, which requires the surgical removal of the baby from the mother’s uterus in order to reduce the complications that occur during childbirth, since these complications, in turn, can lead to death or pathologies of the newborn if labor is not expedited by caesarean section.
Diagnosis and treatment of ectopic pregnancy; some women who have had miscarriages have surgery to place stitches around the cervix; if the baby is not in its birth position with its head down, the OB/GYN manipulates through the anterior abdominal wall to bring it into the correct position. Determination of congenital anomalies while the baby is still in the uterus, which includes the detection of Down syndrome using ultrasound and other diagnostic methods. Recommendations for contraception and setting the intrauterine device; the use of ultrasound to detect pregnancy and the condition of the fetus. Detection and treatment of miscarriages, performing abortions and procedures such as dilation and curettage, or dilatation and evacuation.
The relevance of the profession of obstetrician
Today’s obstetricians provide care and support to women during uncomplicated pregnancies and childbirths and communicate with obstetrician-gynecologists or other physicians as needed. Midwifery is a professionally regulated field.
Obstetricians are focused on working with the woman to reduce the risk of complications during childbirth. The connection between the obstetrician and the pregnant woman is emphasized.
Midwives also focus on the needs of the family and most encourage family involvement in the birth.
They pay particular attention to the cultural values and personal preferences of the women in their care. Safety is also a priority in obstetrics, and studies show that the results are the same as in doctor-attended births.
As part of their commitment to non-intervention, obstetricians do not advocate the use of painkillers or invasive procedures during normal labor. They encourage women to actively participate in the birth. Midwives provide health education and provide emotional and social support.
The constant presence of an obstetrician during childbirth can reduce:
- duration of childbirth;
- the need for anesthesia;
- the likelihood of using forceps or other surgical devices during childbirth;
- the possibility of a caesarean section.
The work of an obstetrician is very difficult, both physically and mentally, since the specialist is with the woman in a very important period of her life. Therefore, an obstetrician must possess some important qualities.
In sensitive situations, such as childbirth, it is essential that midwives communicate effectively with their patients and other healthcare professionals. This includes active listening, active learning, and excellent oral and written understanding of their job responsibilities.
There are a number of possible complications that can arise, and obstetricians must exercise strict logic and reason to determine the correct treatment and course of action.
Obstetricians are tasked with providing advice and medical care to their patients and, therefore, they must be empathetic.
What are the symptoms to contact an obstetrician
You need to make an appointment with an obstetrician-gynecologist if you are pregnant, or if a woman is planning a pregnancy.
An OB/GYN can provide prenatal care and help plan your pregnancy. It is worth thinking about the presence of pregnancy and contacting an obstetrician if there are some characteristic symptoms.
Aversion to food
Often there is an aversion to various odors, up to the occurrence of nausea and vomiting.
Also, a woman may find that certain products she has used frequently are suddenly completely repulsive.
Mood Swings
Mood swings can occur during pregnancy, partly due to hormonal changes that indirectly affect neurotransmitters. Women may respond differently to these changes. Some women may experience heightened emotions that can be both good and bad, while others are more depressed or anxious.
Bloating
Changes in hormone levels and ratios early on can cause an uncomfortable feeling of bloating in the abdomen, similar to what some women experience shortly before their period.
Frequent urination
Shortly after pregnancy occurs, hormonal changes lead to a chain of events that increase the renal filtration rate. This causes the bladder to fill much faster and results in more frequent urination. Frequent urination may increase as the pregnancy progresses.
The volume of circulating blood increases significantly during pregnancy, which leads to the need to process additional amounts of fluid and enter the bladder. The problem is compounded by the fact that a growing child puts more pressure on the bladder.
Fatigue
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes fatigue in early pregnancy, but it’s possible that rapidly rising levels of the hormone progesterone contribute to drowsiness. Of course, morning sickness and frequent urination at night can also add to the fatigue.
Chest pain
One of the most common signs of pregnancy can be breast tenderness, swelling, which is caused by increased levels of certain hormones. These sensations should decrease at the end of the first trimester as the body adjusts to these changes.
Nausea
Some women experience morning sickness about a month or two after conception, while others may start as early as two weeks. Most pregnant women with nausea experience complete relief by the start of the second trimester.
High basal body temperature
If a woman has taken her basal body temperature and noticed that she has stayed at 37°C for more than two weeks, then she is probably pregnant. Many tests to determine the presence of pregnancy can be wrong, so after a positive result, you need to contact a healthcare professional to clarify the presence of pregnancy.
Methods of treatment and diagnosis during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the obstetrician educates women about what is happening to their body and their baby. They discuss hormonal changes, the obstetrician examines the pregnant woman if necessary, and monitors the growth of the fetus through measurements of the abdomen.
The obstetrician teaches his patients pain management techniques so they are prepared when labor begins. He also explains the stages of labor so moms feel ready.
When an obstetrician suspects problems with the development of the fetus or the pregnant woman herself, he refers his patients to an obstetrician-gynecologist for medical intervention.
Obstetricians stay with their patients during childbirth, providing emotional support as well as advice on how to make labor easier and easier.
They encourage active labor management, such as walking and swinging on a ball to help open the hips. Midwives teach mothers the basics of newborn care and breastfeeding. They also continue to offer emotional support in the postpartum period.
The obstetrician cannot refer you to tests that include: ultrasound, amniocentesis to determine genetic abnormalities, cord blood test to evaluate certain infections, congenital conditions, or blood disorders, measurement of the length of the cervix to assess the level of risk of preterm birth, a laboratory test to measure fetal fibronectin, which helps determine the risk of preterm birth, a biophysical profile that can help assess a baby’s well-being through heart rate monitoring and ultrasound. An obstetrician-gynecologist directs such examinations strictly according to indications.
Also, the obstetrician can monitor the implementation of the instructions given by the obstetrician-gynecologist if the woman cannot be constantly observed by the doctor.