Maternity

In 2004/2005 the Hertford British Hospital expanded considerably to become one the major maternity hospital in the Hauts de Seine, first by increasing increasing the number of births to 1500/1800 and then by opening a new paediatrics department together with a neonatology unit.

The Maternity department's rating thus goes up from Level 1 to Level 2A, and it becomes part of the network of Maternity units which is headed by the Hospital Antoine Béclère à Clamart.

The 24-hour on call team consists of a midwife, a gynaecologist/ obstetrician and an anaesthetist.

The renewal of the maternity department corresponds to a real need as each year the Hertford has has to turn away around 1000 prospective mothers.

In view of the continuing pressure for places, future mothers are advised to register with our Maternity service as soon as their pregnancy is confirmed.

The Hertford's maternity unit is part of the hospital's "Mother and Child" focus, comprising:

• the Maternity unit together with the surgical and medical Gynaecology units all headed by Docteur Joëlle JANSE-MAREC
• the department of  Anaesthesia/reanimation headed by Docteur Jean RIUS
• the department of Paediatrics and neanatology headed by Docteur Chantal GAGLIARDONE.

And the additional services provided by:

• the Radiology/Echography department headed by Docteur Isabelle LECLAIRE
• the biology Laboratory run by Dr Dominique BARBIER and Mme Elizabeth CHAMORAND

Organisation of the Maternity unit

The medical and paramedical teams have been expanded to assure the smooth running of the enlarged maternity unit, which after the work of expansion and renovation that has taken place on all the floors now boasts 30.

Docteur Joëlle Janse-Marec, head of department, and herself an O&G surgeon, leads a staff consisting of:

• Ten gynaecologists, of whom six are surgeons
• Four paediatricians
• A doctor specialising in Haptonomy
• A British GP specialised in gynaecology
• Twenty midwives (of whom two are British)
• Eighteen nursing assistants
• A psychologist (part-time)

A number of factors contribute to the success of the maternity unit:

• The presence of a team on duty at night and at week ends consisting of an anaesthetist, an obstetrician, a paediatrician and two midwives in the delivery rooms, which can provide emergency consultations; an additional surgeon is on call at home.
• A neonatology unit on the premises
• Comfortable surroundings: showers in all rooms; 2 luxury rooms; several single rooms.
• Haptonomy sessions
• Aqua-therapy
• Pregnant mothers participate in a number of preparatory classes and information sessions. Sessions can be conducted in English for those who prefer it.
• A take-up of epidural anaesthesia of around 95%
• The unit can handle certain types of difficult pregnancy and risks of premature deliveries
• The length if stay is adapted to each individual case, neither too long, nor too short.