Housemanship postings
Housemanship: obstetrics & gynaecology
In obstetrics and gynaecology the house officer helps care for pregnant women, deliveries and women's health problems. This is the foundation for perinatal psychiatry, where mothers' mental health during and after pregnancy is the focus.
Depth by stage, Pre-U → Consultant (details)
What is it?
The O&G posting covers antenatal clinics, labour rooms, post-natal wards and gynaecology wards. House officers assess women in labour, help with deliveries, monitor mothers after birth and manage emergencies such as heavy bleeding.
Malaysia has a strong public maternal health system, and housemanship is where doctors learn to work within it: antenatal records, high-risk pregnancy pathways and follow-up in health clinics.
The posting also shows how pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth and infertility affect women emotionally, which links directly to later psychiatric work.
Why does a psychiatrist need it?
Depression, anxiety and, rarely, psychosis can appear during pregnancy or after birth, and they put both mother and baby at risk. A psychiatrist must understand obstetric care, which medicines are safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and how to work with obstetric teams.
What level is expected at each stage?
Scale: 1. Aware → 2. Understands → 3. Applies → 4. Masters / Teaches. What the levels mean.
- Pre-UNot expected
- Pre-clinicalNot expected
- ClinicalUnderstandsObserves and conducts supervised deliveries and learns antenatal examination.
- HousemanshipAppliesManages labour ward and post-natal patients and recognises obstetric emergencies.
- Medical officerUnderstandsRemembers obstetric safety principles when seeing pregnant patients.
- Psych traineeUnderstandsApplies obstetric knowledge in perinatal psychiatry: prescribing in pregnancy, postpartum assessment.
- Specialist / consultantUnderstandsWorks jointly with obstetricians on high-risk mothers; a perinatal subspecialist reaches level 4.
What are the key topics?
Obstetric care
- Antenatal booking and routine checks
- Normal labour and the partogram
- Assisting deliveries and perineal repair basics
- Post-natal checks of mother
- Breastfeeding support
Emergencies
- Postpartum haemorrhage
- Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Miscarriage management
Gynaecology
- Menstrual disorders and pelvic pain
- Contraception counselling
- Gynaecological cancers: presentation and referral
- Menopause symptoms
Mental health links
- Screening questions for postnatal depression
- Recognising postpartum psychosis as an emergency
- Grief after miscarriage or stillbirth
- Domestic violence and safeguarding
- Psychotropic medicines in pregnancy and breastfeeding (awareness)
How is it learned and assessed?
- Labour room and ward duties under specialist supervision
- Logbook of deliveries and procedures
- End-of-posting assessment
- Departmental teaching sessions
Typical textbooks and resources
- Oxford Handbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology — Oxford University Press
- MOH Malaysia perinatal care guidance and hospital protocols
- Ten Teachers: Obstetrics and Gynaecology — CRC Press
Titles are widely used examples; editions change. Use university libraries or legitimate purchases.
Common questions
Why is O&G useful for a psychiatrist?
Perinatal mental illness is common and can be serious. A psychiatrist who understands pregnancy, birth and post-natal care can assess mothers safely and choose medicines that suit pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Do house officers deliver babies?
Yes, under supervision. They typically conduct a number of normal deliveries during the posting and record them in a logbook.