4 Essentials That Help Make A Maternity Ward More Comfortable For Patients

Do you operate a busy maternity ward or birth centre? Does it sometimes feel like a never-ending flow of patients, making it hard to stay on top of comfort for them? While all their medical needs must be taken care of, providing a safe and comfortable atmosphere can make for a better experience for them and health care professionals.

Here’s a look at four essentials that can help make your maternity ward a much more comfortable experience for patients and their support persons/people.

Patients Need A Sense Of Privacy

Because this can be such a stressful and vulnerable time for patients and their families, it’s important they have a sense of privacy. Disposable medical curtains on tracks mean that you can create a sense of privacy whenever necessary. And because they are disposable, it also means you can swap them out after each patient, ensuring the maternity ward stays clean and hygienic.

Make sure you purchase anti-microbial disposable cubicle curtains which provide two features – a sense of privacy and infection prevention and control – which is very important in the maternity ward.

Provide Ample Chairs In Each Cubicle Or Room

Labour and birth can be a very long process, which means there is a lot of sitting and waiting. Patients usually have at least one support person with them, so be sure to offer ample seating for them in the room or cubicle. The expectant mother may even wish to sit in a chair rather than lay down in bed, to help reduce the pressure they are feeling.

Chairs should be supportive and comfortable, and if it’s a private room then they can be chairs that recline. For a more modern take on seating, you can look into mats and bean bags, which are great for expectant moms who want to change their position during the labour process.

Keep Baths And Showers Well-Lit And Welcoming

It’s quite normal for delivery rooms to offer a shower or bath for patients to use during the early stages. Make sure the room is well-lit so they can move about with ease and in a safe manner. Having non-slip mats in the shower or bath is also important. Some women prefer to spend as much of the labour process as possible in the bath, as it can help to ease pain and pressure.

Provide Patients With Comfortable, Loose And Breathable Hospital Gowns

Not all maternity centres or wards require patients to change into a hospital gown, but if that’s the policy in your unit, make sure they are high quality. They should be very lightweight, breathable and loose, and made of cotton. Women tend to feel quite hot throughout the process so the gown needs to address this likelihood.