Obstetriska

Obstetrics, or obstetriska in Swedish, is a medical specialty focused on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It covers prenatal care, intrapartum management during labor and delivery, and postnatal follow-up to protect the health of both mother and baby. The field emphasizes risk assessment, preparation for potential complications, and coordination with other medical disciplines as needed.

Professionals in obstetrics include obstetricians, midwives, and obstetric nurses. Obstetricians diagnose and treat medical conditions that arise during pregnancy, perform surgical births when necessary, and manage high-risk pregnancies. Midwives often provide routine prenatal care, support during labor, and postnatal follow-up, sometimes in collaboration with obstetricians or birth centers. Perinatal medicine and fetal medicine specialists may be involved in managing complex fetal conditions.

Key components of obstetric care include antenatal (prenatal) care, which involves maternal and fetal health assessment, screening for complications, ultrasound imaging, and counseling. During labor and delivery, management focuses on safe birth, pain relief, labor progress, and delivery method, including vaginal birth or cesarean section. Postpartum care addresses recovery, breastfeeding, and newborn health. In many settings, obstetric care also involves ethical considerations, informed consent, and planning for emergencies such as hemorrhage or fetal distress.

Obstetrics operates across hospital units, birth centers, and, in some contexts, home-like settings. Its goals are to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality while supporting informed choice and respectful care.