Maternity Day Obstetric Unit (DOU)

Women come to the Maternity Day Obstetric Unit (DOU) to be assessed and monitored if they have developed complications that require further investigation. This means that appropriate treatment and advice can be given and follow up appointments made if necessary.

In diagnosing problems early and providing an appropriate and individual plan of care, we help you and your partner make informed choices about your pregnancy which ensures the best possible outcome for you and your baby.

As you will be seen as an outpatient, you will be able to stay at home with your family for as long as your condition safely permits.

Where and who are DOU?

DOU is accessed via the Antenatal Clinic on the ground floor within the Maternity department.  DOU is open Monday to Friday 9.00AM – 5.00PM.

We are a small team of midwives and a maternity support worker that work within these hours and we also have support from consultants regularly during the week.

Referrals

During your pregnancy, you may come into contact with a range of medical professionals, all of whom may find it appropriate to refer you to be seen on DOU.  The list of who may make an appointment for you includes;

• Hospital Midwives
• Antenatal Outpatient staff
• Inpatient clinical staff
• Community midwives

Some of the most likely reasons to see you in DOU will be:

• Fetal assessment scans – these scans are carried out on weekdays by specially trained midwives who scan baby’s for growth issues, appointments are made by the obstetric team.
• You have raised blood pressure and require monitoring including follow up of high blood pressure, this includes teaching BP monitoring for home.
• You think your waters have broken (preterm pre-labour ruptured membranes)
• Obstetric cholestasis – a disorder that affects your liver during pregnancy.
• Your baby is not lying head down after 36 weeks and you require an external cephalic version (ECV) (turning of your baby)
• IV iron infusions – if your iron levels and stores are low and oral iron is ineffective or cannot be used.
• Ongoing management and assessment of pregnancy complications. Tracing of baby’s heart beat (cardiotocograph, CTG).
• Steroid injections are given in DOU on weekdays when they are required.
• Multiple Birth Clinic– if you are found to have a twin or triplet pregnancy then care will be given through the DOU where doctors who specialise in multiple births will scan and you will see the small team of midwives to promote continuity of care.
• Pre assessments for elective C/sections being carried out on Craigavon Area Hospital.
• Care of complicated pregnancies eg. If fetal concerns or anomalies are seen on 20 week USS and referrals are required to the fetal medicine team in Royal Jubilee Hospital , Belfast.

Appointment System

If the day obstetric unit is where you need to be seen, you will then be given an appointment time. The timing of this appointment will depend on the urgency of which you need to be seen.

Please be aware that there may still be a short wait after your appointment time if we need to see someone with more urgent requirements. This is to ensure that we do not compromise the safety of women and their babies.

At times, appointments can take longer than you are expecting. This may be due to us waiting for blood results, extra tests or monitoring that we feel we need to do, and the availability of the doctor that will need to see you. It may be necessary for you to arrange childcare for any other children that you have, prior to coming in. If you are coming to DOU for regular appointments and on-going care, we can make your appointments in advance around your schedule and any other children.

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