The new premises of the maternity ward of Päijät-Häme Central Hospital have been opened. Deliveries moved to the new premises on 5 October. The old maternity ward had been in operation since 1976.
The new maternity ward at Päijät-Häme Central Hospital takes better account of the needs of the whole family. For example, there are now six family rooms where people stay before the actual birth, instead of the three rooms of the past.
– The facilities are spacious and beautiful. They are decorated in a very peaceful way,” says Arvola.
The new ward has seven delivery rooms. The former ward had six rooms. Two of the new delivery rooms offer the possibility of water birth.
Newborn and family together all the time
On the wall of every new birthing room, there must be a convertible, so-called sailor’s bed, on which the birthing partner or support person can rest. In the new facilities, the idea is to keep the newborn and the family together all the time.
– This can be seen in the way that, especially after the delivery has been taken care of and they are admitted to the bed ward, everyone is offered a family room, says Arvola.
According to him, the baby’s care procedures are done as far as possible in the presence of the parents, and the child is not separated from the parents.
No more long journeys
In the past, the transitions of mothers and newborns between different departments of Päijät-Häme Central Hospital could be very long. Now, for example, the distance between the delivery ward and the delivery ward has been shortened considerably.
According to Erja Arvola, it is really good that the distances have shortened.
– The operating theater is one floor above. We have our own elevator that takes you there directly. The neonatal intensive care and monitoring department is a direct extension of the delivery department, he says.
The old one is also improved by the new obstetrics and gynecology emergency unit operating in connection with the maternity department. Obstetricians, pregnant women and gynecology emergency patients come there around the clock, seven days a week.
By the time the interview was conducted, 25 new residents of Paijäthämä had been born in the new premises. About 1,600 babies are born in the ward every year.