Delivery Room Team

When you arrive at the maternity ER and later at the delivery room, you will be greeted by an obstetrician who will assess you and your fetus, depending on why you were directed to the maternity ER.

The doctor will periodically visit the labor room as needed and as they see fit. Additionally, they will receive updates on the progress of labor from the accompanying midwife.

The doctors observe the cardiotocography (fetal monitor) on a screen in the delivery room so that they are constantly aware of your baby’s condition. In some cases, an obstetrician’s presence will be required in your delivery room during your labor, according to the hospital's policies. It usually occurs in labors with a higher likelihood of complications or medical intervention, such as twin deliveries, cases of large weight estimation, and more.

At the maternity ward, the obstetricians also continue monitoring, treating, and examining you, and later they oversee your discharge home and provide recommendations for further follow-up with your attending doctors.

An obstetrician will conduct any necessary cesarean sections or vacuum deliveries (instrumental deliveries).

The anesthetist is not a regular member of the delivery room team and is typically called to the delivery room as needed (typically from the operating room or another place within the hospital).

If you ask for an epidural you will meet the anesthetist at this stage as they are responsible for performing the epidural analgesia in a vaginal delivery.

If you undergo a cesarean section (whether planned or urgent), the anesthetist will be present throughout the whole procedure. They administer anesthesia (typically spinal or regional anesthesia, but sometimes general anesthesia). Afterwards, they will continue to monitor your condition, including your vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, respiratory condition, and more.

Some deliveries necessitate the presence of a pediatrician in the delivery room. Therefore, a pediatrician will always be on standby near the delivery room. The role of pediatricians is to help the newborn during critical moments. This may range from moderate interventions (such as suction of secretions) to providing respiratory support and intensive care.

A midwife is essentially a nurse who has a bachelor’s degree in nursing as well as 18 months of training, including practical studies and exams. Consequently, they are granted a license from the Ministry of Health to practice midwifery.

To make sure you will always be in the capable hands of experienced and secure midwives, they continually update their skills through a variety of training courses relevant to their roles. These courses cover topics such as newborn and adult resuscitation, processing the labor experience, complementary treatments, and more. These efforts are aimed at providing you, the mother, with positive birthing experience and professional care throughout all stages of labor.

Furthermore, as part of the training of midwives, they may also practice additional topics, including low-risk pregnancy supervision, childbirth preparation courses, post-delivery support, and initial newborn care. All of which are governed by specific  procedures and regulations, and all midwives are required to adhere to the guidelines set forth by the Ministry of Health.

Medical support personnel play a crucial and significant role in the delivery room. Their responsibilities include complementing any missing equipment, ordering necessary supplies, ensuring the proper arrangement of equipment, maintaining order in the ward, assisting the midwife in transferring the patient from the delivery room bed to a clean bed, and more.

Hospital environmental services staff are usually not part of the delivery room team, but you may see them as they are responsible for cleaning the ward, cleaning the delivery room, and garbage disposal. Their role is essential, as they know the concentration of the disinfectants that will prevent contamination and protect the delivery room equipment.

In addition to the role holders mentioned here, you may see other caregivers or members of staff during your stay at the delivery room; for example, integrative caregivers who practice alternative medicine may provide you with treatments during your labor.

Later on, when you transfer to the ward, medical transport personnel will take you to the maternity ward, where you will stay until your discharge home.