If we want more babies, take better care of the mother
A difficult birth has been linked to some women putting off or ruling out another child.
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If Singapore wants couples to have more children, it cannot afford to overlook how mothers are cared for after giving birth, say the writers.
PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO
Harshini Suresh and Rebecca Koh
Three days after giving birth, a mother leaves the hospital still sore, surviving on snatches of sleep and unsure whether her exhaustion is normal or a sign that something is wrong. She knows she can seek help, but is reluctant to make a fuss. So, she doesn’t seek out a healthcare professional, and just carries on as best she can.
Nothing in that situation is a clinical failure. It is simply a system that waits to be approached by the person needing help. And some new mothers are falling through the cracks.