Songpa-gu 'Pregnant Women Experience Zone' Operated Regularly to Create a Birth-Friendly Environment

At Songpa Sanmo Health Promotion Center ▲Operating Pregnant Women Experience Zone ▲Providing Customized Health Management for Pregnant Women, Infants, and Reproductive-Age Men and Women Draws Attention

Amid South Korea's total fertility rate recently hitting a historic low of 0.7, Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) is gaining attention for implementing various projects to create a pregnancy- and childbirth-friendly environment at the Songpa Maternal Health Promotion Center (20 Chungmin-ro 2-gil).

Among the 25 autonomous districts in Seoul, Songpa-gu has the highest proportion of newlyweds. In 2014, it became the first district in the country to open a public Maternal Health Promotion Center, taking the lead in caring for the health of pregnant women and newborns in the area. The postpartum care center within the facility has gained popularity among mothers due to its affordable prices and operations comparable to private facilities, leading to fierce monthly reservation competition.

In particular, the Maternal Health Promotion Center operates a Pregnant Women Experience Zone to foster a social atmosphere that understands and considers the difficulties faced by pregnant women as well as their health. Participants wear a 6.5kg experience kit and perform simple missions to experience the actual challenges pregnant women face in daily life.

In fact, the pregnant women experience program has received much empathy from family members and other participants. A soon-to-be father who took part in the experience on-site said, “I had an idea, but through the actual experience, I was able to empathize with how uncomfortable pregnant women are,” adding, “I resolved to be more considerate of my wife and other pregnant women around me who are going through hardships.”

Additionally, the 'Mom's Clinic' located on the second floor of the Maternal Health Promotion Center supports health management for a wide range of people, from pregnant women to infants and toddlers, as well as men and women preparing for pregnancy.

Pregnant women can receive customized checkups according to gestational weeks, including early and late pregnancy tests, gestational diabetes, fetal anomaly screening, and ultrasound examinations. After childbirth, various comprehensive services are provided, such as 'Seoul Baby Health First Steps,' where professional nurses visit to monitor the baby's development; 'Visiting Happy Breastfeeding' by breastfeeding experts; 'Nutrition Plus' to assist with nutrition management for mothers and children; and 'Maternal and Newborn Health Care.'

Furthermore, men and women of reproductive age who wish to conceive can undergo various prenatal tests, including semen analysis and ovarian function tests linked with external medical institutions, and receive medical consultations from specialists based on the test results, making it even more beneficial.

This year, the district received the Ministry of Health and Welfare's top award in the comprehensive health promotion category at the joint local government performance competition, being the only autonomous district in Seoul to do so. It was also selected as an excellent local government in the regional health care plan, recognizing its efforts to promote residents' health both domestically and internationally.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “Based on the know-how accumulated from operating the Maternal Health Promotion Center, we have provided various support for the health of mothers, babies, and prospective parents, as well as proper childcare,” adding, “At the district level, we will continue our efforts to overcome the low birthrate issue and strive to make Songpa a good city to have and raise children, and a great place to live.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.