Expectant mothers often wonder what they need to take with them to the maternity hospital. The capital's Perinatal Center has prepared a cheat sheet to help you navigate and take only the most necessary items, UNN reports.
Suitcase for mom
It is mandatory to have documents with you: an exchange card and a passport. You should also take care of communication with relatives and bring a mobile phone.
Among the things you need to have with you:
- a bathrobe — comfortable and cozy;
- slippers — 2 pairs: for the shower and the ward;
- a nightgown — light and practical;
- underwear — disposable or reusable;
- compression stockings (according to the doctor's recommendations);
- a nursing bra;
- bed linen — your own is always more pleasant;
- hygienic pads (1 pack);
- still water — to maintain hydration;
- a cup and cutlery — home comfort in the little things;
- terry towels (2 pcs.);
- personal hygiene products — toothpaste and brush, shampoo and shower gel (more convenient in disposable packaging);
- disposable diapers/underpads (10 pcs.) — for comfort.
If you are having a partner birth, you should also take care of a change of clothes and shoes for the father.
What to take for the baby
In addition to diapers, you should also bring baby wet wipes.
The baby's clothing should include:
- hats, socks — 2 sets each;
- bodysuits, jumpsuits, sleepsuits — 2 units of each to keep them warm and comfortable.
You should also have cotton and flannel swaddle blankets — 3 of each type; a baby blanket, an individual thermometer, and cotton pads.
From these items, you need to take to the delivery room: two diapers, one hat and socks, one swaddle blanket of each type, and a baby blanket.
Free medical services during pregnancy
Ukraine has a medical guarantee program under which Ukrainians can receive a full range of free medical services. This program also covers pregnancy management and childbirth.
Even before childbirth, under the Medical Guarantee Program, a pregnant woman is entitled to medical support. A woman can receive this support in a communal or private institution that has a contract with the NHSU under the "Outpatient Pregnancy Management" package.
This package includes dynamic monitoring of the course of pregnancy. This refers to monitoring the health of the pregnant woman, the completeness of examinations, consultations, implementation of therapeutic and preventive measures, and the development and implementation of an individual pregnancy management plan.
A pregnant woman can be monitored by an obstetrician-gynecologist for free — both by self-referral without a referral and by referral from a doctor.
A woman is also entitled to a whole range of laboratory tests and instrumental examinations.
If necessary, for example, in case of complications, the patient can count on the involvement of specialists of various profiles according to indications.
The program also provides for full information about the course of pregnancy, prevention, and avoidance of possible complications.
Free childbirth — how much does it cost and are partner births included?
Childbirth itself is also free for women who fall under medical guarantees.
The National Health Service has allocated a certain amount — it does not reach 20 thousand hryvnias for a normal birth, by any means — cesarean section or natural
According to him, this amount includes both partner births and pain relief.
Thus, the list of free services during and after childbirth includes:
- medical assistance with an on-duty obstetric team;
- anesthesia (pain relief), partner births, all necessary examinations, and meals in hospital conditions;
- medicines, medical devices and pain relief, necessary laboratory tests, as well as postpartum monitoring of the mother and newborn.
To be more specific, a patient covered by medical guarantees can count on the management of vaginal delivery (even complicated ones) or a cesarean section for medical reasons (both planned and emergency). Also, non-pharmacological or pharmacological pain relief, such as epidural or spinal analgesia.
Childbirth management also includes a full range of laboratory tests (complete blood count, determination of Rh factor and blood group, general urinalysis, magnesium, lactate, etc.) and instrumental examinations (X-ray, ultrasound, electrocardiography, etc.). In addition, the package includes the collection of a umbilical cord blood sample to determine the Rh conflict between mother and child).
All infants are guaranteed neonatal screening — a comprehensive examination conducted to detect hereditary and congenital pathologies. The examination covers 21 rare diseases, is free, and is conducted directly in the maternity hospital that has a contract with the NHSU.
At the same time, obstetric and gynecological hospitals can officially provide paid services for patients who do not fall under the medical guarantee program or who want to receive an additional range of services that the institution can provide. For example, the capital's Perinatal Center provides services for individual support of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as separate conditions for staying in an upgraded ward.
But let me emphasize once again: a regular birth — even with pain relief or if you want your husband to be present — does not require additional payment
In general, as of today, according to the NHSU, 237 hospitals and maternity wards across Ukraine can provide services under the "Medical Assistance during Childbirth" program.