A group of gynecologists yesterday expressed concern that the average age of pregnant women in Taiwan was rising.
Mackay Memorial Hospital Gynecologist Huang Min-chao (黃閔照) cited statistics from the Ministry of the Interior that showed that 190,000 babies were born in Taiwan last year, a record low in the nation’s history.
The same statistics showed that 13 percent of pregnant women, or about 26,000, were “older pregnant women,” defined as women older than 35.
“Many young couples do not want to have kids, and when they do, they usually are too old and have to rely on medical help. The older a pregnant woman is, the more danger there will be for her and for the baby,” said Tsai Hong-te (蔡鴻德), chairman for the Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
“Being pregnant should be something joyful, but these potential dangers can become something that makes a couple and their families worry,” he said.
The gynecologists, meanwhile, called on celebrities not to share information about their pregnancies on TV, because it is often inaccurate and misleading.
“Many pregnant women follow [incorrect] information shared by entertainers or celebrities on TV. Only after that do they turn to professionals, which makes our jobs more difficult,” said Hsu Chin-yuan (徐金源), another gynecologist at Mackay Memorial Hospital.
Kang Ning General Hospital President Yin Chang-sheng (尹長生) said that while pregnant women should obtain as much information as possible, they should allow gynecologists to do their job.
“Both sides want to make the pregnancy easy and successful,” Yin said.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
Speeding and badly maintained roads were the main causes of a school bus accident on a rainy day in Taipei last year that severely injured two people and left 22 with minor injuries, the Taiwan Transportation and Safety Board said. On March 11 last year, a Kang Chiao International School bus overturned inside the Wenshan Tunnel (文山隧道) on the northbound lane of the Xinyi Expressway. The tour bus, owned by Long Lai Co, exceeded the speed limit after entering the tunnel, the board’s investigation found. Sensing that the rear of the vehicle was swaying, the driver attempted to use the service and exhaust
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
RSS