Maternity

Dear expectant mothers, you are waiting for one of the most important moments of your life - the birth of your baby. If you decide to bring your baby into the world in our maternity hospital, we will do our best to make this event as pleasant and safe as possible for you; so that you leave the hospital satisfied and with a healthy baby. We provide complete antenatal, delivery and postnatal care. The obstetric team emphasizes an individual, professional and human approach to pregnant and birthing women. We promote the natural progression of labor, bonding and the concept of minimal separation between mother and baby. When the situation allows, we respect birth plans while following recommended practices for obstetrical care to minimize the risk of complications.

 

"We shouldn't interfere with a normal birth. Every intervention must have its reason."

Mr. Jan Matěcha, MD, Ph.D.

check-in

Online appointment for first pregnancy check-up (from January 2025)    ⇢

We cooperate with the Neonatology Department. It is accredited for the care of healthy and premature newborns, as well as for the care of immature newborns born from the 32nd pregnancy and newborns after surgical and complicated deliveries. Collaboration with neonatologists takes place in cases of risky pregnancies before delivery.

Registration for delivery is not a requirement in our maternity hospital. However, we would be pleased if you could tell us that you have chosen our maternity hospital - this will enable us to better plan the capacity of the maternity hospital and, based on the information you have provided, a card will be created for you in the hospital's information system. Please be assured that the electronic submission of your details is secure. Thanks to the completed questionnaire, we will be able to send you all the forms and informed consents related to your birth in advance. For more information and a registration form, please visit HERE. 

 


More information can be found here:

Delivery room

  • Location:2. floor
  • Contacts. In addition, there is a room with 1 bed in the delivery room, called the waiting room, and an operating room for caesarean sections and for the management of postpartum complications.

 

Personal tours of the delivery room are available by appointment by calling +420 26608 3281. Please only call around 12pm on the day you are interested in viewing. There is a charge of CZK 250 per person for this service.

Maternity suites

A birthing suite means a highly equipped complex of two rooms with its own kitchen, rest area and bathroom. It is designed for the stay of mothers with accompaniment during the course of the ongoing or already running birth, or in the early postpartum period. The birthing suites cannot be reserved in advance, and can be used if available at the time the pregnant or laboring woman arrives in the delivery room.

Price for use of the suite can be found in the current price list HERE. The suite also offers other extra services according to our price list.

In the suite, it is possible to give birth with the assistance of a doctor or midwife, even under CPA.

The suite, with its size and equipment, offers a very comfortable environment for the mother and her entourage. However, it is part of the delivery room with its other parts, so the parent and her companion will be asked to limit their stay to the suite area only. Medical staff can always be summoned by a communication device if they are not present at the time.

Photo gallery of the birthing suites HERE.

Ambulance

Online appointment for first pregnancy check-up (from January 2025) ⇢ HERE

Ambulance for Physiological Pregnancy

  • Contact: +420 26608 3291
  • Ambulance is located in 1.
     floor of the clinic.
     

Ambulance for at-risk pregnancies

  • Contact: +420 26608 4020
  • Ambulance for at-risk pregnancies is located on the 1st floor of the clinic.
     

 

Clientele:

  • client is referred from her attending gynecologist who diagnosed a risky pregnancy,
  • client is referred from our pregnancy clinic,
  • client was hospitalized in our clinic and the risk of complications persists,
  • the client is referred from another treating physician - this is a woman with an underlying non-gynaecological condition that persists in pregnancy and possibly complicates it.
     

Our physicians:

  • MUDr. Jan Matěcha, Ph.D.
  • MUDr. Andrea Válková
  • MUDr. Martina Mojhová

Clients who would give birth by planned cesarean section indicated by a physician outside our clinic must be approved. This will be arranged by any doctor from the outpatient clinic for at-risk pregnancies. Cesarean sections at the request of mothers who have no medical reason for the operation are not performed at our clinic.

The Infectious Diseases and Venereology Clinic works in close cooperation with the outpatient clinic of the Infectious Diseases Clinic and the outpatient clinic of the Dermatovenerology Clinic. Pregnant women with chronic infectious diseases that may complicate the course of pregnancy and/or childbirth are monitored here. The Infectious and Venereology Clinic works in close cooperation with the outpatient clinic of the Infectious Clinic and the outpatient clinic of the Dermatovenerology Clinic. Pregnant women with chronic infectious diseases, which may complicate the course of pregnancy and/or childbirth, are monitored here.


Ultrasound - for more information please visit HERE.

Department

Sixth Ward

  • Location:3. floor
  • Contact:+420 26608 3201
  • Number of beds:23
  • Visiting hours:15.00-18.00 
     

The Department of Sixth Ward specializes in the care of clients after spontaneous and operative deliveries. Our clients are cared for by a team of midwives and paediatric nurses from the Neonatology Department together with the doctors.

The length of stay depends on the health condition of the mother and the baby. After spontaneous deliveries the average length of hospital stay is 3 days, after operative deliveries usually 4 days. In the long term, our department has one of the shortest postpartum hospitalizations in the national average.

For our clients, we offer a breakfast buffet every morning, where the hospitalized woman can choose a meal according to her own preference. We make sure that the composition of the food offered is varied and contains a high amount of protein, which is very important for breastfeeding women.

Our facility follows modern trends in obstetrics. The midwives of our department provide as much as possible personal and respectful approach to the woman in the postpartum period.

We approach breast care according to the individual needs of the woman. We can lend silver hats for interested women to try or provide an alternative in the form of hydrogel coverage to aid healing.

Midwives can also help you with bandaging your abdomen with a scarf, selecting the appropriate herbal treatment, and teaching you the basics of proper care for a birth injury or a surgical wound after a C-section.

Internet is available throughout the Sixth Ward in the form of a wifi connection.

There are 4 single superior rooms with private bathroom, changing table, bath and fridge.

Each single room has the option of an extra bed, in-room visits are unlimited.

Prices:  

  • Single extra room - 1700 CZK/night
  • Additional bed - 600 CZK/night

Please report your interest in an extra room at the reception desk.

Payment for a superior room is paid by credit card directly to the Sixth Ward on the day of discharge.

Other rooms are normally occupied by two patients, in case of high occupancy of the gynaecological and obstetric clinic, a third bed may be occupied for a short period of time.

We ask our clients to arrange for a pick-up by 11.00 am on the day of discharge.

Neonatology Department
For more information, please see here.

Department of Pregnancy Risk
For more information, please visit here.

Jak u nás probíhá porod

Birth at the Bulovka University Hospital is chosen by a growing number of women who come with birth plans. They want to have a birth according to their wishes and have specific requirements regarding certain obstetric and neonatological procedures. If the situation allows, we try to respect them. Most of the birth plans contain wishes and requirements that can be easily fulfilled; some of them we can meet only in the case of physiologically proceeding births. However, we occasionally encounter requests that cannot be met, either for technical reasons or for the safety of the mother and child.

In addition, we advise all pregnant women who have birth plans to consult them in advance as part of the pregnancy consultation. Our position on the most common points of birth plans can be found here:

Cardiotocographic fetal monitoring during labour - CTG
We consider fetal monitoring by CTG to be an essential part of a safe delivery. We perform CTG at admission to the delivery room and further according to the current situation. If the delivery is physiological, we limit the monitoring to the minimum necessary (once every 2-3 hours), and in the meantime the midwife listens to the fetal heart sounds at specified intervals.

Vaginal examination
Vaginal examination is used to assess the progress of labour. In case of an uncomplicated delivery, the number of vaginal examinations is kept to the minimum necessary.

Premature amniotic fluid discharge
In case of amniotic fluid discharge, we follow the recommended obstetric procedure. After 18-24 hours of amniotic fluid outflow, we usually initiate prophylactic antibiotic administration. If spontaneous onset of contractions does not occur within 24 hours of amniotic fluid outflow, we initiate induction of labour.

GBS positivity
The presence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) in the vagina is a common and non-serious finding. However, it can put the newborn at risk of developing infection during delivery, a rare but potentially serious complication. If the culture has shown that you have GBS, we will administer antibiotics prophylactically for delivery according to the recommended obstetric procedure.

Bladder pouch rupture
We do not routinely perform a rupture of the bladder pouch. However, a properly timed diruption can hasten labor, which can be beneficial in some cases.

Perinatal Pregnancy
The timing of labor is determined by the first trimester ultrasound (most often indicated on the first trimester screening). If you do not deliver by the due date, we will recommend (if it is not a high-risk pregnancy) more frequent follow-up in the pregnancy clinic (twice a week). Approximately ten days after your due date (week 41+3), we recommend scheduling an induction of labor. We consider week 42+0 as the earliest date for delivery. We prefer to induce labor by mechanical methods, not drugs. Induction of labor is done while you are hospitalized.

Enema
We have good experience with performing an enema prior to delivery. However, it is not an essential part of obstetric care.

Colonization
We do not require but recommend perineal shaving before delivery. Unshaved skin can complicate the healing process if it is injured during labour.

Position of the woman during labour
You can choose the position in which you want to give birth. There are birthing beds in the delivery room that allow for modifications of the birthing positions.

Food and drink during labour
We recommend eating and drinking during labour in limited and small portions, preferring a light diet rich in fast sugars. Childbirth is a demanding physical feat and excessive food intake during it causes feelings of nausea or vomiting. 

Episiotomy - incision of the perineum
We perform an episiotomy only if we consider it appropriate in that particular situation. It is difficult to estimate in advance whether an episiotomy will be necessary.  The most common reasons for performing an incision are the need to hasten delivery (when fetal hypoxia-lack of oxygen is suspected) and the risk of serious injury to the perineum (especially a firm perineum and a larger head, etc.). 

Administration of oxytocin
Oxytocin is a natural hormone that causes uterine contractions, thereby allowing labor to occur. The administration of oxytocin in infusion has its own indication criteria that we follow. These include, for example, non-progressive labour, weak contractions, short contractions, post labour bleeding, etc. Oxytocin can only be administered after the amniotic fluid has drained. When oxytocin is administered, the fetus should be monitored more closely by CTG. If the oxytocin-assisted contractions are painful, we offer analgesia.

Epidural analgesia
Epidural analgesia is one of the most popular methods of pain management during labour. It is well effective and low risk for the mother and fetus. We have good experience with it. In our maternity ward, its administration is available and is free of charge.

Bonding
Bonding is a close interaction between the mother and baby immediately after delivery. We encourage bonding in all premature, well-adapted newborns. The baby is placed on the mother's abdomen after fitting (so-called skin-to-skin contact). After breaking the umbilical cord and a brief examination by the pediatrician, bonding continues on the mother's chest, where the baby remains for the first 2 hours of life. During bonding, the baby is monitored (oximeter sensor on the arm) and the constant presence of an attendant is required.

Umbilical cord ligation
Late cord ligation is preferred. We place the newborn who is in good condition immediately after birth without breaking the umbilical cord on the mother's abdomen. Research shows that infants with delayed umbilical cord ligation have a lower incidence of anemia in infancy if they are left with unbroken umbilical cord 1-3 minutes after birth, which corresponds to the time when the umbilical cord is touching. The umbilical cord can be cut by the baby's father. If resuscitation of the newborn is necessary, the paediatrician who is present at the delivery will indicate an earlier ligation. 

Administration of uterotonics after delivery
After the baby is delivered, we administer drugs to promote uterine contraction (uterotonics). According to our own and international recommendations, administration of uterotonics prevents excessive bleeding after delivery.

Examination of the newborn after delivery
The newborn will be checked by the paediatrician after delivery. If the newborn is fine, he or she is not taken anywhere and the examination takes place in the presence of the mother. Examination on the mother's body is possible. The paediatrician will briefly examine the baby and assess his/her adaptation. Further treatments, weighing and marking can be postponed after bonding.
If support for postnatal adaptation is needed (this applies to about 10 % of children and includes, for example, suctioning fluid from the nose and mouth, breathing through a mask with oxygen, etc.), takes place in an adjacent room that is equipped for this purpose.

C-section
In cases where it is necessary to terminate a pregnancy by caesarean section, we prefer anaesthesia with anaesthesia rather than general anaesthesia. We operate under general anaesthesia if a caesarean section is required immediately or if a water anaesthetic is medically inappropriate. An accompanying person may be with the parent in the operating room and after the newborn is fitted, may be present for his/her treatment. We show the baby to the mother immediately after treatment, and if she is interested, we attach the baby to the breast to start the breastfeeding process properly. Bonding - placing the naked baby on the mother's skin can be technically difficult with a cesarean section. In situations where bonding is not possible, we allow bonding in if the father wishes. After a cesarean delivery, the mother is usually in the ICU for one day. The baby remains in the care of the neonatologists and is brought to her regularly for breastfeeding.

Ambulatory delivery
Ambulatory delivery is possible in our maternity ward. If you wish to go home with your baby sooner than the recommended time of stay in the Sixth Ward (72 hours), you must discuss the details and further care with the gynaecologist and paediatrician present. Discharge of the newborn before 48th  hour of life is handled by way of negative reversal. When the mother is discharged early, if all is well, a reversal is not necessary.

Rejecting Recommended Care
If you do not want any of the what we offer, we will educate you about the benefits and alternatives of the proposed procedure and the potential risks associated with refusing it. We will then ask you to sign a "negative reversal" in which you sign that you are aware of the risks, have been informed and accept responsibility for your decision. In recent years, we have encountered parents who have misinformation or misrepresentations regarding certain aspects of obstetric care, mostly obtained from non-expert sources on the internet. We therefore recommend that careful attention be paid to the lessons learned. We take care in communicating with the parent. In our experience, most ambiguities in the course of antenatal care or during birth are explained and the mutual cooperation between the parent, midwife and doctor is good. If you already know in advance that you will not accept some of our standard procedures, please consult with the Pregnancy Clinic.

Evaluation of the physiology and pathology of labor
The midwife and/or physician will make the decision as to whether the labor is physiological, risky, or pathological. Accordingly, he or she determines further procedures, suggests examinations and treatment for abnormal conditions.

Communication with the birthing woman
All procedures, care and treatment suggestions are discussed directly with the pregnant and/or birthing woman.
We do not wish to have the woman's attendant communicate on her behalf. We consider direct communication between staff and the laboring woman to be the foundation of quality health care.

Childbirth Preparation Course

Information about the course: 

Contact: station midwife Bc. Lucie Velíková, e-mail: lucie.velikova@bulovka.cz.

An appointment is possible online by selecting the appropriate course:

  • Group course (max. 5 pairs) - 3 500 CZK
  • Individual course (1 hr.) - 1 500 CZK
  • Individual course (2 hrs.) - 2 500 CZK
  • Course in a foreign language (EN,DE,UK,PL) - 4 000 CZK
  • Individual course (3 x 2 hrs.) - 8 000 CZK

Individual course and course in a foreign language can be booked by e-mail: lucie.velikova@bulovka.cz. Please write the name of the course you want to order in the subject line. We will contact you about the date of the course.
 

The course of preparation for childbirth led by a midwife takes place in the gym of our clinic in close proximity to the delivery room on the 2nd floor (pavilion 15, Bulovka University Hospital). We recommend comfortable clothes, drinks, socks for feet.

Payment for the course is made by credit card on the spot before the first term.

The course content is divided into 3blocks, each consisting of a lecture: 

  1.  PREPARATION AND CARE BEFORE BIRTH
  2.  PREPARING FOR BIRTH
  3.  PREPARING FOR THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD

In the course you have the opportunity to use free exercise (1 hour/max. 4 women) RESERVATION HERE

To participate in the exercise, you must bring a certificate from your district gynecologist that the exercise is suitable for you.

Prices for classes and obstetrical services see price.

Anaesthetic care in the maternity hospital

For more information about anesthesiology care in the maternity ward, see HERE.

What to bring to the maternity hospital

If your due date is approaching, you should have your luggage ready with all the essentials you will need during and just after the birth:

  • pregnancy identification;
  • the baby's father's birth number;
  • birth certificate;
  • your ID card;
  • directional number;
  • toiletries;
  • pregnancy bra;
  • underpants, towel, soap, change of clothes and other personal items;
  • gelite bag, toilet paper;
  • a small carry-on bag to store these items.

You should also have a name (or names) ready for your child.

You will be given a nightgown and robe at the hospital.

Accompaniment to childbirth

We welcome accompaniment at the birth. We recommend one accompanying person. If you would like to have two attendants with you, this should be discussed individually with the midwives or doctors. We do not recommend having more than two people close to you at the birth for space reasons. We do not charge a fee to accompany you to the birth.

Duly na Bulovce

Working with doulas is a great benefit to our clients and our staff. In addition to their care, the doulas have brought their precious energy to Bulovka. They give us feedback, inspire us with their knowledge and the care they provide.

A doula is a woman who supports, accompanies and cares for women, children and fathers.

Satisfaction with the presence of our doulas has been repeatedly confirmed by the vast majority of women who have benefited from their care thanks to our collaboration.

  • IVANA WEISSOVÁ

"I am a doula of the Czech Association of Doulas with 15 years of experience and a lactation consultant of Mamily. I offer women and families a continuum of care during pregnancy childbirth and six months. I believe that good preparation, loving care, full attention and support by one guide, with whom you create an environment of trust and understanding, will help you go through birth as an empowering experience and feel comfortable in the early days of motherhood. I have worked with Bulova almost since the beginning of the project, which integrated the work of the doula into the teamwork of care at birth, while continuing my own practice. I use gentle techniques to work with the body and mind when caring for a woman with the aim of finding the best possible path for the birthing baby, mother and family, with great trust in the natural birthing process."

Language: Czech.
Contact: http://www.dulaivana.cz/, https://www.facebook.com/Dula.Ivana.Weissova

  • KATKA VÁVROVÁ

"As a doula (Czech Doula Association) and lactation consultant (Lactation League, Mamila) for the fifth year I accompany women and their partners not only through childbirth, but also through pregnancy and early parenthood. I have two daughters and a wonderful husband - I could not do without the support of my family in my work. I studied translation-interpreting from French at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University and International Business at the University of Economics. However, I completely changed my direction after giving birth to my second daughter and decided to become a doula. Why did I do it? My goal is that every woman who seeks me out receives the care she and her family need."

Language: Czech, English and French. 
Contact: www.dveduly.cz 

  • LUCIE JEŘÁBKOVÁ

 

"The most important tools of my work are my hands and my heart. I am a doula, a Mamila lactation consultant and a proud mom of four. I offer a personalized approach and comprehensive care during pregnancy, labor and delivery and six months of labor. It used to be customary for an experienced woman close to the pregnant and laboring woman to care for her in the first few weeks after delivery as well. She had open arms, gave support and advice, confidence and a sense of security. And so is my doula care, which often begins several weeks (or months) before the birth and continues until the end of the fragile six-week period, when the body and soul are healing. I see the combination of the knowledge of modern medicine with traditional care as a holistic approach to the care of women - mothers. Because pregnancy, childbirth and six months are not only a big change on a physical level, but also a deep inner journey. I learn from experienced doulas, respectful health professionals and traditional midwives."

 

Language:Czech
Contact: www.doula.cz

  • MONIKA ŤUKALOVÁ

 

"I consider my births to be some of the most beautiful experiences in my life. They made me realise that I want to help women so that pregnancy, childbirth and six months will be a time they will remember with joy and love. I take care of women mainly with pregnancy and postpartum massages. For post term massages, I use acupressure point stimulation and the Spinning babies method, which focuses on relaxing the muscles and ligaments in the pelvic area so that the baby can assume the optimal position for birth.

I am also a mother of three wonderful sons who still need me at home a lot, and therefore I cannot hold on-call for birth at the moment."

Language:English
Contact: www.tehotenske-masaze.cz

  • OLGA KRAJÍČKOVÁ

"I respect the uniqueness of each woman in her approach to her own childbirth, her ability to experience welcoming her baby into the world and her acceptance of the help I offer. I have dedicated myself to this wonderful profession for 17 years with ever increasing respect, humility and gratitude. I am a happily married mother of two grown daughters, which allows me to devote myself fully to this profession. I accompany only in Czech language."

Language:Czech
Contact: olga.krajickova@atlas.cz, www.dulaolga.cz

  • SEBASTIANA CHOMISZAK

"I became a doula through my own birth. I received unparalleled support and reassurance that I could handle the most challenging moments. This is exactly the kind of care and support I want to provide to women, because through this support, amazing things can be accomplished for the baby in the future. I love providing hands-on care. I am dedicated to preparing the body for birth and six months of labour. I process the placenta and can assist with calming the body after birth in the form of a closing ritual after six months of labor if desired. I am a lactation consultant for Mamila." 

Language:English, English, beginner French.
Contact: Sebi.chomiszak@gmail.com, https://sebichomi.cz/

  • SILVA ROSEN

"I work with women in pregnancy, offer birth accompaniment and also work as a postpartum doula. I am happy if I can accompany a woman through this whole beautiful period. I have been a doula for more than 10 years. I do individual preparation for childbirth, use rebozo scarf and spinning babies techniques to promote good baby positioning, prepare antenatal and postnatal rituals. But most importantly I offer my responsive support and continuous presence at your birth. I enjoy the diversity of people, the world, situations. I love birth, people, life with all that it brings. I am a mom of three teenage children who rub my sense of humor with my husband on a daily basis. I live in Prague 8 near Bulovka Hospital."

Language: Czech, English, some Spanish and Russian.
Contact: www.dulasilvie.cz

Postnatal visits

At Bulovka University Hospital, obstetric care certainly does not end with childbirth. The care of a woman in her sixth week is just as important as the care before and during childbirth. The six-week period can be not only very joyful, but also very demanding. 

Each woman is entitled to three midwife visits during the six-week period, covered by public health insurance. 

If you have given birth at Bulovka and are interested in a midwife visit in your home environment, please make an appointment through our electronic system. The midwife will then contact you by phone to arrange the details and time of your visit. 

The procedure covered by the insurance company is, however, a relatively simple check of the mother's health. We believe you deserve much more, which is why we offer the option of purchasing a special midwife package for your visit.

The midwife service package from Bulovka University Hospital includes: 

  • lactation counseling 
  • psychosocial counseling 
  • newborn care counseling 
  • pelvic floor care instruction 

 

If you are interested in this additional service, it can be arranged when you call the midwife. We will deal with all the paperwork (e.g. issuing a request form). All you need to do is order online. 

We not only believe that care in the sextuplets makes sense - we know this from many studies and experiences in other countries.

The delivery room is staffed by experienced and fully qualified doctors and midwives, under whose supervision doctors and midwives in training are taught. The theatre is equipped with the latest technology for maternal and fetal monitoring. Spontaneous deliveries take place in 4 separate rooms - delivery boxes, which ensure the privacy of the parturients. The delivery room also includes a operating room for operative deliveries and management of complications after deliveries.

In 2019, a Midwifery Center was established within our Midwifery Center, in which physiological deliveries are led only by midwives. For more information, please visit HERE.

We offer tours of the delivery room so you can become familiar with the environment where the birth will take place beforehand. We welcome the accompaniment of a loved one during birth and do not charge a fee.

Registration for birth at our maternity hospital takes place at 14 weeks of pregnancy. More information can be found HERE.