obstetrik

Obstetrik, known in English as obstetrics, is the branch of medicine that focuses on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It covers preconception counseling, antenatal care, labor and delivery management, and postpartum follow-up. Obstetric care aims to ensure the safety and well-being of both mother and fetus, identify and manage complications, and support family planning and maternal health.

Obstetricians are physicians trained in obstetrics and often gynecology; teams may include midwives, nurses, anesthesiologists, and pediatricians. Care is provided in hospitals, birth centers, or, in some settings, homes. Antenatal care includes regular checkups, screening tests, ultrasound, vaccination, and risk stratification. Intrapartum care includes monitoring labor, pain relief, and decisions about delivery method; obstetric surgery such as cesarean section and instrumental delivery may be required for safety.

Common conditions include ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta previa, and preterm labor. Obstetric medicine also manages multiple pregnancies, fetal anomalies, and postpartum hemorrhage.

Subspecialties include maternal-fetal medicine (perinatology), obstetric anesthesia, and gynecologic ultrasound. Obstetrics has a long history, with advances from aseptic technique to fetal imaging and safe surgical delivery; practice emphasizes evidence-based care, informed consent, and patient-centered communication. The field operates within broader maternal and child health frameworks and guidelines from professional bodies.