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.
“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
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
ECONOMIC BENEFITS: The imports from Belize would replace those from Honduras, whose shrimp exports have dropped 67 percent since cutting ties in 2023 Maintaining ties with Taiwan has economic benefits, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials said yesterday, citing the approval of frozen whiteleg shrimp imports from Belize by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an example. The FDA on Wednesday approved the tariff-free imports from Belize after the whiteleg shrimp passed the Systematic Inspection of Imported Food, which would continue to boost mutual trade, the ministry said. Taiwan’s annual consumption of whiteleg shrimps stands at 30,000 tonnes, far exceeding domestic production, the ministry said. Taiwan used to fill the gap by importing shrimps from Honduras, but purchases slumped after Tegucigalpa severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan
RSS