Dra. Ivone Lobo

Obstetrician Gynaecologist 
Sub specialist in Maternal
Fetal Medicine
Director of the Gynecology
& Obstetrics Unit

The importance of the pregnancy symposium

HPA Magazine 23 // 2025

Since 2016, the Obstetrics Gynaecology Unit at HPA Gambelas, as the only private Maternity Hospital in the south of the country, has interacted with the community by holding the Pregnant Women's Symposium, aimed at the entire pregnant population in order to debate various issues that concern pregnant women.
This year, we held the 6th Symposium at the Hilton Hotel in Vilamoura on October 5th, which was undoubtedly a success with the participation of around 100 pregnant women plus their companions. The topics discussed were related to “Postpartum well-being, beyond the baby”.
For most women, childbirth is one of the most important events in their lives. Fortunately, most women recover within a few months after giving birth. However, some suffer changes to the pelvic floor, namely urinary and faecal incontinence, sexual problems, among others, regardless of the type of birth.
Topics such as “Pelvic Floor Dysfunction - Predict, Prevent and Treat”, “The Importance of Pelvic Physiotherapy in the Postpartum”, and “Innovative Treatments in Pelvic Rehabilitation in the Postpartum” were covered, which were very mobilizing and enlightening.
Looking back at previous Symposia, we can see that several topics from pre-conception to postpartum have already been debated, including childbirth.

1st Pregnancy Symposium HPA · 2016
Hotel Crown Plaza, Vilamoura
• In 2016, the 1st Symposium addressed the “Discomforts of Pregnancy” in which strategies to minimize the effects of vomiting and nausea during pregnancy were discussed, among others.

2nd Pregnancy Symposium HPA · 2017
Hotel Crown Plaza, Vilamoura
• In 2017, the main theme of the 2nd Symposium was “For a Positive Childbirth Experience”, in which various topics such as episiotomy in vaginal birth were debated.

3rd Pregnancy Symposium HPA · 2018
Hotel Crown Plaza, Vilamoura
• In 2018, we held the 3rd Symposium “For a More Conscious Birth” in which issues such as whether or not to perform epidural analgesia were discussed.

4th Pregnancy Symposium HPA · 2019
Hilton Vilamoura Hotel

• In 2019, the 4th Symposium was dedicated to the theme “Diet for Vegetarian and Vegan Pregnant Women” in which the various myths surrounding the imperative need to eat meat during pregnancy were demystified.
• In 2020, 2021, and 2022, we did not hold the Symposium due to the constraints of the Pandemic.

5rd Pregnancy Symposium HPA · 2023
Hotel Real Marina de Olhão

• In 2023, the 5th Symposium was on “Mental and Physical Health during Pregnancy”, an important subject and one that we give all possible attention to.
We aim to continue holding the Symposium annually, as we believe it makes a difference in helping to clarify issues that concern women during pregnancy.