Pregnancy and obstetrics | Specialists and information

What does the specialist field of obstetrics deal with?

An important part of obstetrics is prenatal diagnostics, i.e. the examination of the unborn child in the womb. Using various non-invasive tests and procedures, doctors can detect chromosomal malformations at an early stage.

Obstetrics accompanies women before, during and after pregnancy @ motortion /AdobeStock

This takes the form of maternal blood samples or early ultrasound, for example. If screening for malformations is positive, invasive tests and examinations may be necessary. For example, in the form of an amniocentesis or umbilical cord puncture.

On the basis of these examination results, the expected course of the pregnancy of the individual patient can be estimated quite accurately.

Interdisciplinary collaboration between obstetricians is particularly important in problematic cases, for example with:

• midwives
• anaesthetists
• neonatologists
• geneticists
• psychologists
• social workers
• physiotherapists and
• nutritionists

This ensures the well-being of mother and child.

Risk factors in the field of obstetrics

In recent years, two risk factors have increased in the field of obstetrics:

1. On the one hand, more and more women are having children at an advanced age.
2. On the other hand, there has been an increase in obesity among pregnant women.

This poses various challenges for doctors working in this field, mostly specialists in gynecology, as well as midwives.

In mothers, these risks can manifest themselves in hypertensive pregnancy diseases(increased blood pressure) and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

In the fetus, on the other hand, intrauterine ("inside the womb") growth disorders and premature birth dominate.

Early pregnancy and miscarriage

Around 50 percent of all fertilized eggs do not develop into healthy pregnancies. In most cases, these pregnancies end unnoticed as premature abortions, often in the form of delayed menstruation.

Furthermore, around 15 percent of all clinically diagnosed pregnancies end in an early abortion (up to the 13th week of pregnancy). The frequency of abortions increases with age.

Three or more consecutive abortions are referred to as "habitual abortions". Although this can be a random sequence of sporadic miscarriages, doctors must still look for the specific (pathological) causes.

A small amniotic cavity within the uterusis visible as a small black dot on vaginal ultrasoundin the 4th week of pregnancy at the earliest.

The heartbeat of an embryo can be detected from the 5th/6th week of pregnancy at the earliest. From this point onwards, regular check-ups and preventive examinations should take place.

Pregnant woman with an ultrasound photo @ Prostock-studio /AdobeStock

Important diseases of the mother during pregnancy

• Metabolic diseases during pregnancy: type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases

• Diseases of the cardiovascular system: vena cava syndrome, which manifests itself in the form of dizziness and shortness of breath, or thrombosis

• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting in varying degrees of severity

• Hematological diseases: Anemia

• Isolated pregnancy thrombocytopenia: The platelet count in the blood falls significantly below the normal limit

• Diseases of the urinary tract: Asymptomatic bacteriuria, cystitis, the most common pathogens here are E. coli bacteria

• Hypertensive pregnancy disorders: Repeated occurrence of blood pressure values of >140/90 mmHg

Possible infections during pregnancy include

• Rubella
• Parvovirus (ringworm)
• Herpes infection
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• Toxoplasmosis
• Chlamydia
• Group B streptococci
• HIV and
• hepatitis infections

Other tasks in the field of obstetrics

Careful care and the treatment of possible complications during pregnancy are important tasks of obstetrics.

A high-risk pregnancy is one in which

• Advanced age of the mother
• Impaired health of the mother
• Multiple pregnancy
• Impaired health of the child

In rare cases, premature placental abruption, blood group incompatibilities or amniotic fluid abnormalities may occur.

The management and monitoring of the birth as well as the induction in the event of a missed due date also fall within the remit of obstetrics.

Over 40 percent of all pregnant women give birth after their due date. This ranges from admission to the delivery room to any pain relief and examination of the newborn.

Operations may also be necessary: For example, in the form of a planned caesarean section (abdominal operative delivery) or in the event of an emergency during childbirth (vaginal operative delivery).

In the form of a vacuum extraction or forceps delivery, or using the Kiwi suction cup. This may be necessary, for example, in the event of a prolapsed umbilical cord or a birth arrest. For example, due to weakness in labor or a head-pelvic imbalance.

Postnatal care for the mother may also require (minor) surgical interventions, for example in the event of a vaginal or perineal tear.

Multiple pregnancy is a high-risk pregnancy @ Анастасия Красавина /AdobeStock

When are doctors specialists in obstetrics?

In the Leading Medicine Guide, we only present selected, highly qualified medical experts and specialists with a high level of professional expertise.

All doctors listed in the specialist area of obstetrics have completed several years of specialist training in the field of gynecology and have excellent experience. They fulfill the strict admission criteria of the Leading Medicine Guide.