Social consequences of admission to the antenatal ward

SummaryForty-one patients admitted antenatally for 2 or more days were asked specific questions about the social and financial consequences on their families. Primiparous patients and those multiparae whose partners were unemployed suffered little effect. In 6 out of 14 families of multiparae there was considerable social or financial disruption which was only averted in the remaining 8 families by extended family support. Medical practitioners should be aware of this, and in formulating the pregnancy plan at booking specific advice should be given as to the likelihood of antenatal admission. This, combined with delaying nonurgent admission after the decision to admit has been taken, may alleviate these problems. These findings are of special importance to obstetricians and general practitioners serving populations with a preponderance of nuclear families and low unemployment rates.