Heavily pregnant Viktorija worried about the nursing strike

Next week, the maternity and emergency department in Ystad may be closed due to the health care strike. Region Skåne fears that both women and children may die.

It worries heavily pregnant Viktorija Kacinskaja, 27.

– It feels scary if we have to go a long way, what happens if I have a baby in the car?

She has three weeks left before she is expected to give birth to her second child. At home, her two-year-old son is waiting expectantly to become a big brother.

In connection with his delivery, both Viktorija and the son suffered an infection, which meant that they had to stay in the hospital for over a week.

The son was born at Ystads BB, and considering the complications, Viktorija feels grateful that she was taken care of right there.

– I thought it was great, they were very talented and very kind. We were very busy and my partner and I got close to the staff there, she says.

Viktorija says that Ystad has a very good reputation among pregnant women in Skåne, and has been determined to give birth there this time as well.

But that doesn’t seem to be the case now.

“Feels extra scary”

Skåne Region alerted on Monday because the Healthcare Union’s extended strike notice next week will lead to both the emergency and delivery departments at Ystads BB having to close. The region calls the union’s notice “devastating” and “judgmental”.

If Ystads BB closes, Viktorija will be forced to go to the birth in Lund, an hour’s drive away.

– It’s a long way there. It is also said that giving birth goes much faster for mothers of second children. It feels extra scary then, she says.

She doesn’t want to risk having to give birth in her own car, and therefore thinks about calling an ambulance when the contractions come, to have access to medical personnel if something happens on the way.

– Then at least I get to give birth in an ambulance. But many different complications can happen there as well. The ambulances are not equipped with everything that is in the hospitals as well. Think if you need an emergency caesarean section, if the umbilical cord is around the neck, she says.

Although the strike may affect her personally, she understands that the nurses demand better conditions.

– I myself work as a nurse. I know how it can be in healthcare, and am absolutely on their side. But it’s clear that you feel anxious when you find yourself in a pinch.