Minsk Resident Gave Birth in a Ward at 22 Weeks in Front of a Neighbor

Over the weekend, a post about a situation involving patients at Minsk's 5th Hospital was actively discussed on social media, writes Onliner.by.

A Threads user reported that her friend was hospitalized with problems unrelated to pregnancy. She unexpectedly became a witness to her wardmate's contractions at 22 weeks.

"She [the pregnant woman] was told: 'Take a diaper and give birth in the ward on the bed,'" the post claims.

"'How horrible... My heart aches and everything inside me hurts from what I saw and heard,'" — with these words, the post about the hospital situation begins.

"'This girl's water broke and contractions started. And the baby began to emerge. The friend ran to call someone, anyone. She found someone and said: "Labor has started in the ward." And she was told in response: "Well, then let her lie down on the bed, spread her legs, and give birth" <...> All this happened in the ward in front of someone who had never given birth! Psychologically, it was stressful for both the birthing mother and her friend,'" — this is how the situation is described in the post (original style preserved).

Later, according to the user, "the child was taken away, the mother was told to wait for a D&C," and the patients, it is claimed, were told to clean the ward themselves.

Павялічыць

Павялічыць

Journalists contacted the girl directly, from whose words the situation in the 5th maternity hospital was described. She recounted that everything happened over the weekend. There were two of them in the ward — she and a wardmate with a missed miscarriage.

Both patients declined detailed comments but confirmed what was written in the post with minor clarifications. The Minsk resident emphasized that she called medics immediately after the pregnant woman's water broke. At the moment the stillborn child was delivered, a doctor was already present in the ward (the post stated otherwise).

— The very fact that I observed all this when her water broke <...> And I felt stressed; I have never given birth. Seeing a child — it's not pleasant...

— Was this situation explained to you in any way? Why is all this happening in the ward?

— Yes, they explained that up to 22 weeks, everyone gives birth in the ward if it's a miscarriage or something similar... And they are not taken to the delivery room <...> And they also said that she herself [the wardmate] had to clean everything in the ward because there were no orderlies.

In the comments, other women shared their stories. They claim to have experienced similar situations in maternity hospitals.

Deputy Chief Doctor: "We cannot isolate such women"

For an explanation, journalists contacted Minsk's 5th City Hospital. Deputy Chief Doctor Vasily Shostak emphasized that from a medical point of view, it is incorrect to call what happened to the pregnant patient 'childbirth'.

— This is a non-developing pregnancy — it has nothing to do with childbirth. It's a miscarriage. And we are talking not about a child, but about a fetus. It was non-viable, as it died before the woman was admitted to us, — explains Vasily Shostak. — In the gynecological department, such women are not isolated. A miscarriage can happen at any time; it all depends on the speed of contractions.

The fact that it happened in the ward — yes, that happens. The fact that the doctor didn't come immediately — that's also possible. Childbirth happens with the accompaniment of a doctor (and often more than one) when the birth of a living child is expected. But here, a miscarriage occurred. The doctor comes when called. Perhaps at that moment, she was in another department.

— Does a miscarriage always happen in the ward? Or is there some room where a woman can be taken?

— We don't know the speed of the process. We might examine a woman, and, for example, she doesn't yet have full dilation to expel the fetus. But 10 minutes later, she does. So yes, a miscarriage can happen in the ward, it can happen in the examination room during an examination, or even in the treatment room if we are about to perform some intervention, for example, by instrumental means (colloquially, a 'D&C').

The most important thing is that the woman did not conclude this pregnancy in the restroom, as many imagine. Therefore, there is nothing catastrophic or extraordinary in what you describe. But the fact that wardmates are recording and posting something — that is already the dissemination of confidential information, which may fall under two laws — on personal data and on medical confidentiality.

— Don't you think this could be stressful for wardmates — for example, those who have never given birth, or for women who came to preserve their pregnancy?

— Nowhere in our country are wards specifically designated for pregnancy termination. We don't have that; it would be a violation of women's rights. She is a patient just like everyone else. This is a gynecological department; there are no healthy people here. Everyone has some ailments, there can be various bleedings, during pregnancy or without it. If we were to isolate all patients from each other, I don't know how large a gynecological department would need to be. And our wards are designed for two, three, or four people, for maximum comfortable stay. In this case, it was a double ward.

— Could you tell us the gestational age at which you expect the birth of a live child and it would be considered childbirth?

— After 22 weeks. Then it happens in the labor ward or the delivery room. But if the pregnancy is missed, it's a different situation. If the fetus remains in the uterine cavity, it causes inflammation with all resulting consequences, up to infertility. Therefore, we must terminate this pregnancy as soon as possible.

— What happens after a miscarriage?

— The fetus is sent for histological examination along with placental tissue. And the woman is indicated for uterine curettage, after which she returns to the ward.

Regarding cleaning the ward, according to Vasily Shostak, it is the responsibility of the hospital staff. No one can force patients to clean their beds; that is out of the question.

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