21 May 2007
The Northern Cape Department of Health's Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
conducted a Maternity Information Session at Masakhane Clinic on Monday, 21 May
in an attempt to reduce the number of home births that continue to take place.
EMS view all maternity cases as priority cases and consider just one home birth
per month, one too many. Unfortunately, however, there are still a number of
women who are giving birth either at home or en route to the hospital due to
them having called for an ambulance too late. The aim of the information
session was thus to educate women on the importance of getting to a hospital in
advance and not waiting until it is time for the baby to come before phoning
for an ambulance.
Women were urged to be extremely cautious, particularly in the month that
their delivery is due and to take all pains and strange feelings seriously.
They were further encouraged not to delay calling for an ambulance and if they
are in doubt they should rather let medical staff decide as to whether they are
in fact in labour or not. In terms of their due date coming closer, women were
also encouraged to arrange standby transport with relatives and friends. Home
births contribute to the maternal and child death rates and involve a number of
risks because the environment is not warm and sterile and the necessary
equipment to ensure a safe birth is not available.
Amongst other things, home births can lead to death in the mother due to
excessive bleeding or death in the baby due to the umbilical cord wrapping
itself around the baby's neck, or even hypothermia in winter. Complications as
a result of conditions such as high blood pressure can also arise. Furthermore,
home births expose mothers and babies to infection. They also expose those
assisting in the birth to possible HIV infection.
For more information, contact:
Shelley Fielding
Tel: 053 830 2000
Cell: 083 701 7191
Issued by: Department of Health, Northern Cape Provincial Government
21 May 2007
