Labour Ward in Lusaka

Arriving in labour

When you arrive you are assessed straight away: your contractions, your baby's heartbeat, your blood pressure and how far labour has progressed. If you are in established labour you are admitted to the labour ward; if not, you are given clear advice on what to watch for and when to return.

Care during labour

A midwife stays with you and records your progress and your baby's wellbeing. An obstetrician reviews you when there is a clinical reason to, and the theatre team can be activated quickly if an emergency caesarean is needed.

• Continuous midwifery presence
• Monitoring of contractions and fetal heart rate
• Pain-relief options explained as labour progresses
• Immediate escalation to obstetric and theatre teams

Your birth partner

Bring the person you want with you. The ward team will explain what is happening at each stage so both of you know what to expect and when a decision needs to be made.

Moving to the postnatal room

After birth you and your baby move to a private room. Feeding support, newborn checks and postnatal observations continue there until you are ready to go home with a follow-up plan.