Let’s Rescue Mothers and Babies From Postpartum Care Centers

Abstract

Copyrightc2023 by The Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health Previously, when extended families were the norm, Korean women learned about pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and childcare by observing family members. The term "Samchilil" refers to the traditional postpartum care period in Korea, which typically lasts 3 weeks. During this time, a birth rope known as ‘Geumjul’ was placed in front of a house gate to inform the neighbors about the birth news and restrict entry to protect the newborn with vulnerable immune system from the risk of infection (Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture, 2023). Even during the nuclear family era, many women learned about early childcare practices, such as breastfeeding, from their mothers or female relatives while providing postpartum care. Newborns lived primarily with their families during this period. Although the use of cloth diapers transitioned to disposable diapers and formula feeding became more common, most women learned from their mothers how to raise their babies. However, with the industrialization of postpartum care, Korean postpartum care culture has undergone significant changes. With the transformation and upscale development of post partum care centers, even financially secure women now prefer to utilize them as a natural option after childbirth. The majority of the population now believe that postpartum care centers are better than home care. However, several issues arise immediately after birth with babies living in group settings. First, newborns with weak immune systems are still infected, as they reside in group environments at postpartum care centers. Recently, a notable postpartum care center, known for its high prices (tens of millions of won), has experienced mass infection among new borns (Lina, 2023). The incident caused significant shock and Let’s Rescue Mothers and Babies From Postpartum Care Centers