A government-subsidized program for women’s checkups and medical services after childbirth has been available since May 1 to better support mothers, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.
Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology secretary-general Huang Chien-pei (黃建霈) on Friday said doctors in clinics have been seeing an increase in advanced maternal age women and more risks in their pregnancies.
More than 50 percent of deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth occurred within 10 days after giving birth, and more than 70 percent of those were deemed as preventable, Huang cited US medical authorities as saying.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
“If we ignore the fatality rate in the postpartum period, then we are giving up on women who are willing to undergo pregnancy and childbirth,” he said. “That is not right.”
“We have a ministry program in place for 14 prenatal medical checks, but postpartum medical services have been neglected for too long,” Huang said.
Under the new program, health authorities subsidize funding for two postpartum health checkups, following the “fourth trimester” concept, or the first three months after childbirth, he said.
“We are changing Taiwan’s traditional ‘one month rest and recuperation’ period for postpartum mothers to enhance postpartum healthcare and medical services,” Huang said.
“It is also helps reset the body to a healthy state to prepare it for the next pregnancy and is critical in preventing chronic illnesses,” he added.
Taiwan Society of Perinatology chairman Shih Ching-chung (施景中) said obstetricians would start tracking women’s health conditions at the start of pregnancy and record illnesses or symptoms they experience, as those might not disappear after childbirth.
Checkups are usually made six weeks after giving birth, but postnatal depression could occur earlier, Shih said.
“We have found some postpartum mothers were under physical and mental stress, and would break down before going in for a checkup after six weeks,” he said.
“Some parents were also unable to care for and handle babies with genetically inherited illnesses, and due to being unaware, it led to neglect or abuse and eventually tragedy,” Shih added.
“Therefore, earlier medical intervention can help stabilize the family and assist parents in caring for the baby,” he said.
National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) officials said mothers can go to hospitals and medical centers included in the subsidized programs for their checkups, and recommended that they do so in two stages: one or two weeks after childbirth and then another between six to eight weeks.
The checkups include weight and blood pressure checks, examining for pregnancy-related illnesses, checking urinary and pelvic functions, and assessing mothers’ mental health using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, NHIA officials said, adding that they could be transferred to specialized centers for further checks if needed.
The first checkup would also educate mothers on sleep, chronic illnesses and the dangers of smoking, while the second checkup would involve a consultation on fitness, nutrition and sexual activity, and give advice on contraception or preparing for another pregnancy, officials said.
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