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.
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
RSS