To implement President Lai's Healthy Taiwan vision and promote health for pregnant and postpartum women, government-funded postpartum healthcare services have been provided since May 1, 2025. Theses services extend the current prenatal healthcare to the postpartum period enabling board-certified physicians or midwives to provide mothers with physiological measurements, disease and physical function assessment, and consultations on postpartum lifestyle and fertility, offering more comprehensive care for pregnant and postpartum women.

Postpartum healthcare safeguards mothers’ health

In a bid to foster a childbirth-friendly environment, enhance positive pregnancy and delivery experiences, and promote the physical and mental well-being of postpartum women, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, after consulting recommendations from professional medical associations and extensive expert discussion, has introduced two additional postpartum healthcare services beyond the existing 14 prenatal check-ups. These services are to be provided within one month postpartum (ideally between one to two weeks) and again within three months postpartum (ideally between six to eight weeks). The services focus on the following aspects:

l  Physiological measurements: Body weight and blood pressure are measured to assess the recovery progress of postpartum women and maintain their health.

l  Disease and physical function assessment: Board-certified physicians or midwives conduct follow-up evaluations for pregnancy- and childbirth-related conditions, as well as assessments of chronic diseases, overall physical function, and pelvic floor urinary function in postpartum women.

l  Mental well-being self-assessment: Postpartum women are encouraged to complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale using a QR code provided in the Maternal Health Handbook to conduct a self-assessment. Physicians will then provide follow-up consultation or referral based on the assessment results.

l  Postpartum lifestyle and fertility-related counseling: The first healthcare session offers guidance on sleep, smoking cessation, high blood pressure, and other chronic conditions. The second session covers topics such as exercise, nutrition, sexual health, contraception, and preparation for future pregnancies.

Collaboration between professional pregnancy and childbirth teams to safeguard the health of mother and child

Minister of Health and Welfare Tai-Yuan Chiu stated that while welcoming a new life into a family brings great joy, it also comes with considerable pressure. Mothers and their families often focus entirely on the baby, unintentionally overlooking the mother’s needs. However, postpartum mothers also require attentive care, adequate rest, strong family support, as well as professional medical guidance and consultation. This comprehensive support is essential for empowering mothers to nurture and accompany their babies.

Healthcare institutions contracted with the National Health Insurance Administration that provide prenatal check-up services are also eligible to offer postpartum healthcare services. For more information or inquiries about postpartum healthcare services, the public is encouraged to visit the Health Promotion Administration website. For further inquiries related to pregnancy and childbirth, please feel free to call the Maternity and Child Consultation Service Hotline at 0800-870-870 ("Hold You Tight"), where dedicated personnel are available to assist you. You may also visit the Maternity and Child Care Website (https://mammy.hpa.gov.tw/) or the Health 99+ Education Resource Website (https://health99.hpa.gov.tw/theme/5) for comprehensive information on prenatal and postpartum care.