Northern Women Share Childbirth Experiences in Arkhangelsk

Residents of Russia were shocked by the death of nine infants at a maternity hospital in Novokuznetsk. The regional Ministry of Health stated an intrauterine infection caused the deaths. A source for our colleagues at NGS42.RU claimed a lack of medical staff was to blame.

What is the situation in the maternity hospitals of Pomorye? We asked 29.RU readers to tell us about their childbirth experiences and how they were treated in hospitals. Everyone«s experience was different—the stories ranged from sad to positive. Moreover, the same location received completely different reviews.

Debate Around the Perinatal Center

For example, here is how different women reviewed the Arkhangelsk Perinatal Center. Some lost their child, while others had a perfect experience.

«I gave birth to my first in the perinatal center in 2020, the outcome was tragic. The attitude was conveyor-belt-like. They just said at the end: »It happens.« I gave birth to my second in 2024 at the Severodvinsk maternity hospital. Everything was superb, the staff was wonderful. My deepest gratitude to them,» shared Sofia.

«I have only positive impressions of the Arkhangelsk Perinatal Center. The delivery was handled by E. S. Ovchinnikova and N. S. Vasilyeva (I had a paid contract). In the postpartum ward, it was under the state health insurance, but again, no complaints; they examined both me and the child from head to toe. The nurses helped with everything, a breastfeeding consultant visited. I won»t comment on the food, I was so hungry I didn«t have time to taste it,» says Alexandra.

«My first birth was in 2014, back then at the regional hospital, the second in 2020 at the perinatal center,» recalls Lyudmila. «Both times everything was fine, I was treated very attentively. The delivery was handled by Mishina. She is a generally wonderful doctor! In 2020, I don»t remember the doctor«s surname (can»t check now), she was 46 at the time. Everything also went splendidly, even though I had my own problems. But still, thank you so much. And the nurse in 2020 after the birth was a truly remarkable woman. I told her I planned to be discharged that day, although they planned to discharge us the next, so she stayed late at work to finish all our tests. I always remember them kindly.«

Another woman compares the Samoilovsky maternity hospital, which no longer operates in Arkhangelsk, and the modern perinatal center.

«Samoilovsky maternity hospital, 2013 and 2018. Good medical staff, adequate timely medical help, decent food. Result—easy births and good memories. I recall the Perinatal Center in 2025 with a shudder: you couldn»t get a doctor in the delivery room, first they stitched me without anesthesia, then decided to give anesthesia (to stitch, because the bleeding wouldn«t stop and there was already major blood loss). Before discharge, there was no gynecological exam, no ultrasound for the baby (at Samoilovsky they did a head and internal organ ultrasound before discharge), the food was disgusting (once they brought soup and a main course so oversalted it was inedible). For me to give birth again in our perinatal center—absolutely not!» declares Alina.

«I myself have four children. Honestly—I was lucky. I didn»t encounter drunk medical teams. I gave birth to all at City Hospital No. 7. The staff was very good,« writes Nadezhda.

«A Blatant Tragedy»

Those without childbirth stories simply shared their opinion in the comments about the infant deaths in Novokuznetsk.

«They»ve cut staff to the bone. And it«s not just there,» believes Olga.

«The optimization of healthcare,» states Moryachka as the cause.

«And we»re also fighting for high performance indicators, and then this happens. A blatant tragedy. How can people have the desire after this?« wonders Sergei.

«I don»t envy the head doctor,« sympathizes Kitsune.

«Staff Cut, Duties Piled On»

Internet users also reflected on how medicine has changed in the country:

«What is happening is already called murder. It»s no longer a tragedy, but a farce of our medicine, no longer capable of anything. Do you think private medicine will save us? It will be even worse, they answer for nothing at all: just bring the money, that«s it. They»ve forgotten how to treat people, there are no professionals and there won«t be with such an education policy,» says Yuri.

«I»m curious, in Arkhangelsk they closed all maternity hospitals except the perinatal center. If an infectious epidemic happens there and it«s closed for disinfection, where will women give birth?» asks Olga.

«All the care for women in labor and newborns here is only in words, but in reality…» ponders Nadezhda. «If a woman»s health is fine—then she«s lucky and she and the child will be quickly discharged from the maternity hospital. But if she stays longer in the delivery ward, then it»s all over… How many orderlies are left in our departments now? NOT A SINGLE ONE! And the quality of cleanliness in hospitals depends precisely on them. And if a woman and child are delayed in the hospital, they have an astronomically huge chance of catching some infection. And here it«s not even about people doing their jobs poorly, but about them simply not having time to do well what needs to be done. Staff have been cut all around, duties piled on, hazard pay removed, salaries are small. Who do you think will stay long in these positions? Right! Those who have nowhere else to go. So now think about healthy offspring…»

Ministry of Health—On Maternity Departments in Pomorye

The Ministry of Health of the Arkhangelsk Region assured 29.RU that the region«s medical institutions provide care to the population, including in obstetrics, helping babies come into the world in modern, safe conditions.

«Obstetric hospitals and maternity departments are equipped with all necessary medical equipment in accordance with the procedures for providing medical care to newborns and women. And what is especially important—everywhere, highly qualified medical staff work, ready to provide medical assistance promptly and professionally,» the ministry noted.

The key institution for obstetric care in the Arkhangelsk Region remains the Perinatal Center of the Regional Hospital.

«Its main advantage lies in providing professional medical care to a pregnant woman, a mother, and her baby. Doctors use all modern diagnostic and treatment methods of the regional multi-specialty institution, ensuring the safety and well-being of both,» the Ministry of Health noted.

Other Cases

In 2025, in Kotlas, a newborn died due to organic brain damage. An obstetrician-gynecologist with 40 years of experience was tried and sentenced to restriction of liberty.

That same year, a young couple from Arkhangelsk told how they lost their recently born son—he didn«t live a year. The parents believe the doctor who delivered the baby is at fault.

A criminal case was initiated against another obstetrician-gynecologist from the perinatal center. He was accused of causing an infant«s death through negligence. According to the investigation, he did not perform a cesarean section on the mother when it was necessary. The child, whose death threatens the doctor with punishment, died in October 2022.