NEW PRACTICES IN RUSSIAN OBSTETRICS: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS (DISCUSSION OF DOCTORS, MIDWIVES, AND DOULAS)

Abstract

The current situation in the Russian obstetric aid seems quite problematic. Women fear neglect of their needs by maternity hospital workers, as well as excessive and unjustified medicalization of childbirth. Among various perinatal specialists (obstetrician-gynecologists, midwives, and doulas) there also exist certain contradictions - their causes rooted primarily in the insufficiently clearly defined boundaries of responsibility and practice. In addition, different specialists often implement in their work fundamentally incompatible obstetric approaches or even ideological paradigms which they start to adhere to during their professional training and further professional career. Nevertheless, there are examples of highly successful interactions of perinatal specialists, who united in an effort to bring new, more humane approaches, and practices to Russian maternity hospitals. For now, such a positive experience of cooperation was only implemented by several private projects and in a few maternity hospitals, but the study of these experiences could open up not only broad academic perspectives but become a factor that will improve the situation in Russian obstetrics. The article is aimed at finding solutions to the problems in modern Russian obstetrics, by analyzing the successful experience of particular projects that contribute to the demedicalization and humanization of obstetric practices.