Are you looking for postpartum care resources in Korea? Our volunteers have put together a list of resources to support English-speaking mothers who have recently given birth in South Korea. Listen to the BlogCast Don’t want to read? Listen to the South of Seoul BlogCast which provides accessible content through the use of AI technology. We don’t have time to read each article but we do our best to make more of our content accessible. If you would like to join our Accessibility Team apply to volunteer with South of Seoul. Please note that the pronunciation of some Korean words may be inaccurate due to AI technology’s limitations. About Postpartum Care Postpartum care is a critical and often challenging period, especially for those navigating motherhood in a foreign country. Understanding and accessing postpartum care resources is essential for a smooth and healthy recovery after childbirth. This blog post is dedicated to guiding you through the various postpartum care resources and services available in Korea. As our team diligently continues their research, we anticipate expanding this list. Should you have any additional suggestions or insights on postpartum care resources in Korea, please feel free to reach out to us at publichealth@southofseoul.net or connect with us on our Facebook page. 2022 SOS Public Health Maternal Health Research In 2022, SOS Public Health conducted a maternal health research study to learn about the English-speaking international community’s access to maternal health resources in Korea. The 2022 SOS Public Health Maternal Health survey (SOS PHMHS) revealed that 65% of respondents attended their first postpartum care visit within the first 3 weeks after giving birth, while the remaining respondents made their first visit 4+ weeks after giving birth. According to the Mayo Clinic, this time frame (first three weeks after giving birth) is the recommended time frame for the first postpartum care visit. Postpartum care is important because it allows individuals to watch for problems that may occur and to help them take care oftheir post-pregnancy body. As such, knowing where to go for postpartum care is just as important. Therefore, our SOS Public Health team has compiled a list of resources to access below. NOTE: Not all of the health centers listed below have English-speaking support. You may still need to utilize translation or interpretation services. The information below simply provides a list recommended by fellow community members who had positive experiences while using the services. Korean Terms to Know Knowing a few key maternal health terms in Korean may help navigating postpartum care a bit less stressful. Below are some terms you may see or hear in your search for postpartum care services. Postpartum Care in Bundang Below currently lists one community-recommended postpartum service located in Bundang. Cha University Bundang Medical Center Cha University Bundang Medical Center is located in Bundang. Their JCI-certified hospital offers postpartum care in multiple languages including English, Russian, Mongolian, and more. Learn more about their postpartcum care services on their website or by calling them. Postpartum Care in Gimhae Below currently lists one community-recommended postpartum service located in Gimhae. Morning Calm Birthing Services Morning Calm Birthing Services is a foreigner-owned registered childbirth service company based in Gimhae. They have full-time, certified doulas and childbirth educators who provide postpartum doula support in the Busan area. We recommend contacting this organization directly to learn more about their services and pricing. Postpartum Care in Pyeongtaek Below lists community-recommended postpartum services located in the Pyeongtaek area. Bestmom Pyeongtaek Anseong Branch Bestmom is located in Godeok-dong, Pyeongtaek. This branch offers postpartum care services in several areas of Pyeongtaek such as Songtan, Anjung, Seojeong-ri and even Anseong. Visit their website or call them to learn more about their services and pricing. Lahene Postpartum Care Center Lahene Postpartum Care Center is located in Hapjeong-dong, Pyeongtaek. They are a center that specializes in postpartum care. They do not have a website listed on their Naver profile, so we recommend calling the center to learn more about their services. Pyeongtaek St. Mary’s Hospital St. Mary’s Hospital is a general hospital located in Pyeongtaek. They offer an array of medical services including maternal health services. Additionally, St. Mary’s hospital has an international clinic available for those who need English language support. We recommend contacting this organization directly to learn more about their services. Yale Queens House Yale Queens House is a birth center that offers postpartum care services. Their website doesn’t have English translation so you may need to use the Google Translate plug in or Papago to access information from their site. Visit their website or call them to learn more about their services and pricing. Postpartum Care in Seoul Below lists community-recommended postpartum services located in the Seoul area. Dr. Sung’s Clinic Dr. Sung’s Clinic is located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. This clinic provide postnatal care. We recommend calling this clinic to learn more about their services and pricing as their website has limited information. Hatvit Women’s Hospital Hatvit (English pronunciation: [haet-bit]) Women’s Hospital is located in Gangbok-gu, Seoul. Google Translate or Papago may be needed to navigate Hatvit Women’s Hospital’s website. This hospital appears to offer postpartum support, but their website doesn’t have a lot of detail on what their postpartum care entails. We recommend calling this clinic to learn more about their services and pricing. Hosan Women’s Hospital Hosan Women’s Hospital is located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This clinic boasts that they are a ‘brand for women’ and have premium values from childbirth to diagnoses for women. Hosan has a postnatal care center where postpartum care is offered. We recommend calling the hospital to learn more about their services. Houm OBGYN & Birthing Center Houm OBGYN & Birthing Center is located in Seocho-gu, Seoul. This center provides patient-centered care for women of all ages according to their website. They offer an array of postpartum care support. Visit their website or call to learn more about their services. Yeon & Nature Yeon & Nature is located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This clinic offers postpartum care in their Kangaroo Care House. Their website lists information on how to contact their international manager, and they offer online counseling. Naver and Kakao Map Search If you need a location nearer to you, conducting a Naver or Kakao Map search for nearby postpartum care centers may be your best option. Keep in mind, Naver or Kakao Map searches will only provide you with the nearest locations. Such locations may not have international clinics or English speaking doctors and staff. However, resources (listed in the next section) are available to help you navigate language barriers. To search for maternal health clinics, hospitals and centers near you, copy and paste the following into Naver or Kakao Maps: Additional Resources Below are a list of additional resources that may help you in your search for maternal health information and support. National Health Insurances Services (NHIS) For questions on postpartum care health insurance coverage, contact the NHIS directly. The NHIS has an English hotline. The NHIS may even be able to inform you of health centers or hospitals in your area that offer postpartum care services. Language Support Several language support options exist in Korea. Such resources include: Social Support Many folks find that reaching out to others online who have had similar experiences in their childbirth journey helpful. In the 2022 SOS PHMHS respondents reported that they utilized social groups most (84%) to find information on maternal health resources. Here are a few Facebook Groups to join to ask about maternal health or general health in Korea: Financial Support: The Happiness Card With Korea’s low birthrate, the government is actively seeking ways to support families, including providing financial aid. The National Happiness Card (국민행복카드 [goong-min-haeng-bok-cah-deu]) is available to all expectant mothers, regardless of nationality, provided they contribute to the National Health Insurance system. The amount offered on this card may vary from year to year, and can be utilized at hospitals and clinics for pregnancy-related appointments. Learn how to get a Happiness Card in Soul of Soul’s blog post: How To Get The National Happiness Card For Pregnant Women In Korea Additional Reading Check out the following blog posts to learn more about pregnancy and childbirth in Korea: Follow SOS Public Health for More Resources Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated on SOS Public Health Initiatives. If you have questions about healthcare in Korea, visit the Health and Wellness in Korea Facebook Group, or feel free to message SOS Public Health with any questions or concerns. Research Design & Implementation Team UX/UI Supervisor/Editor Research Team Lisa Peck, MPH, CPHMs. Peck graduated from the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon with a Master’s in Public Health and her Certification in Public Health (CPH). Ms. Peck also holds a Bachelor’s Degrees in Linguistics and one in International Studies with a Global Health emphasis. Ms. Peck is Korean American and speaks both English and Korean. She has moved between the US and Korea since childhood, finally settling in Korea after graduating from UAC. In 2021 Ms. Peck founded the South of Seoul Public Health Program which focuses on research and initiatives regarding the health and wellness of multinational residents in South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Peck oversees the SOS Public Health Graduate Student Practicum Program which provides mentorship and training for Master’s in Public Health students. The program works with two students a semester with a focus on ethical UX research design, survey development, and initiative implementation. www.southofseoul.net

The post Postpartum Care Experiences and Resources in Korea appeared first on South of Seoul.

Are you looking for childbirth resources in Korea? Our volunteers have put together a list of resources to support English-speaking expectant mothers in South Korea. Listen to the BlogCast Don’t want to read? Listen to the South of Seoul BlogCast which provides accessible content through the use of AI technology. We don’t have time to read each article but we do our best to make more of our content accessible. If you would like to join our Accessibility Team apply to volunteer with South of Seoul. Please note that the pronunciation of some Korean words may be inaccurate due to AI technology’s limitations. About Childbirth The experience of childbirth may come with a mixture of feelings such as excitement and anxiety, especially for anyone living in a foreign country. Understanding and accessing childbirth resources is crucial for a comfortable and safe delivery experience. This blog post aims to provide you with various childbirth-related resources and information available in Korea. As our dedicated team continues its research, expect this list to grow, and if you have suggestions, please reach out at publichealth@southofseoul.net or via our Facebook page. The following blog post includes 1) information regarding women’s experiences with childbirth in South Korea and 2) resources for women who plan to give birth in South Korea. 2022 SOS Public Health Maternal Health Research In 2022, SOS Public Health conducted a maternal health research study to learn about the English-speaking international community’s access to maternal health resources in Korea. The 2022 SOS Public Health Maternal Health survey (SOS PHMHS) revealed that respondents utilized various types of medical facilities- with Specialized Maternity Clinics (52.8%) and Private Hospitals (22.2%) being utilized most- for childbirth in Korea as shown in the figure below. Additionally, the 2022 SOS PHMHS surveyed respondents’ preferred childbirth delivery method in Korea. The majority (76.4%) reported a preference for natural childbirth, while a smaller percentage preferred methods such as assisted vaginal delivery (12.5%) and scheduled C-section (8.3%). Two top challenges that respondents reported regarding their access to maternal health resources included (1) language barrier and (2) cultural differences. Language barriers and cultural differences can be a big challenge in accessing crucial information and resources during pregnancy. As such, our SOS Public Health volunteers took to social media to ask English-speaking mothers in Korea about their preferred child birthing centers. Below is a list of community-recommended health centers which provide childbirth support. Taking such information into account, our SOS Public Health team has compiled a list of hospitals and clinics that specialize in childbirth, some of which support specific types of childbirth delivery methods. NOTE: Not all of the health centers listed below have English-speaking support. You may still need to utilize translation or interpretation services. The information below simply provides a list recommended by fellow community members who had positive experiences while using the services. Korean Terms to Know Knowing a few key maternal health terms in Korean may help navigating childbirth in Korea a bit less stressful. Below are some terms you may see or hear in your search for childbirth services. Childbirth Services in Gwangmyeong Below currently lists one community-recommended childbirth service located in Gwangmyeong. GM Cheil Women’s Clinic GM Cheil Women’s Clinic is a birthing center located in Gwangmyeong (northern Gyeonggi-do area). This birthing center specializes in natural birthing. According to their website, they are staffed with an OBGYN, midwife, and hypno-birthing specialist. Additionally, their labor rooms provide a warm, home-like environment. Childbirth Services in Pyeongtaek Below is a list of community-recommended childbirth services located in the Pyeongtaek area. Pyeongtaek St. Mary’s Hospital St. Mary’s Hospital is a general hospital located in Pyeongtaek. They offer an array of medical services including childbirthing services. Additionally, St. Mary’s Hospital has an international clinic available for those who need English language support. This hospital’s website doesn’t specify a type of delivery method that they specialize in. We recommend calling the clinic to learn more about their services. Yale Queens House Yale Queens House is a birth center that offers birthing services. Their website doesn’t have English translation so you may need to use the Google Translate plug-in or Papago to access information from their site. According to their website, this birthing center offers ‘painless delivery’ through the use of an epidural. Epidurals are not required but are recommended at this clinic. This hospital’s website doesn’t specify a type of delivery method that they specialize in. We recommend calling the clinic to learn more about their services. Childbirth Services in Seoul Below is a list of community-recommended childbirth services located in the Seoul area. Cha Gangnam Medical Center Cha Gangnam Medical Center is a university hospital located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. They have an international clinic to aid in English language support. According to their website, Cha Gangnam Medical Center also has English-speaking, doctors, nurses, and coordinators. This hospital is known for its OBGYN and fertility center. Their website doesn’t specify the type of birthing method they specialize in. We recommend calling the clinic to learn more about their services. Hatvit Women’s Hospital Hatvit (English pronunciation: [haet-bit]) Women’s Hospital is located in Gangbok-gu, Seoul. Google Translate or Papago may be needed to navigate Hatvit Women’s Hospital’s website. This hospital offers an array of obstetric services. According to their website, they offer a natural childbirth delivery method. We recommend calling the hospital to learn more about their services. Hosan Women’s Hospital Hosan Women’s Hospital is located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This clinic boasts that they are a ‘brand for women’ and has premium values from childbirth to diagnoses for women. Their website doesn’t specify the type of delivery method they specialize in. However, they do mention ‘painless delivery,’ similar to Yale Queens House. We recommend calling the hospital to learn more about their services. Houm OBGYN & Birthing Center Houm OBGYN & Birthing Center is located in Seocho-gu, Seoul. This center provides patient-centered care for women of all ages according to their website. They follow a “Mother & Baby – Integrated Care System (MB-ICS).” Learn more about MB-ICS on their webpage. Their site doesn’t specify the type of delivery method they specialize in. However, they do mention that the expecting mother has flexibility of choice in their birthing position during labor. We recommend calling the hospital to learn more about their services. ItoB ItoB is located in Seocho-gu, Seoul. This clinic offers child birthing services. Google Translate or Papago may be needed to navigate their website. This specialized maternal health clinic offers 3 delivery methods: (1) Leboyer’s Delivery Method, (2) Natural Birth Method, and (3) C-Section. We recommend calling the clinic to learn more about their services. Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital is located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. This hospital has an obstetrics and gynecology department which includes childbirthing services. They also have an international clinic with English language services. Their website doesn’t specify the type of delivery method they specialize in. We recommend calling the hospital to learn more about their services. Yeon & Nature Yeon & Nature is located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This clinic offers obstetrics and gynecology services which include childbirth services. Yeon & Nature offers natural birth delivery methods and boasts ‘your birth, your way” as one of the mottos listed on their webpage. They have English-speaking staff to assist with the expecting mother’s needs. We recommend calling the hospital to learn more about their services. Naver and Kakao Map Search If you need a location nearer to you, conducting a Naver or Kakao Map search for nearby obstetrics and gynecology centers may be your best option. Keep in mind, Naver or Kakao Map searches will only provide you with the nearest locations. Such locations may not have international clinics or English-speaking doctors and staff. However, resources (listed in the next section) are available to help you navigate language barriers. To search for maternal health clinics, hospitals, and centers near you, copy and paste the following into Naver or Kakao Maps: Additional Resources Below are a list of additional resources that may help you in your search for maternal health information and support. National Health Insurance Services (NHIS) For questions on childbirth health insurance coverage, contact the NHIS directly. The NHIS has an English hotline. The NHIS may even be able to inform you of health centers or hospitals in your area that offer childbirth services. Language Support Several language support options exist in Korea. Such resources include: Social Support Many folks find that reaching out to others online who have had similar experiences in their childbirth journey helpful. In the 2022 SOS PHMHS respondents reported that they utilized social groups most (84%) to find information on maternal health resources. Here are a few Facebook Groups to join to ask about maternal health or general health in Korea: Financial Support: The Happiness Card With Korea’s low birthrate, the government is actively seeking ways to support families, including providing financial aid. The National Happiness Card (국민행복카드 [goong-min-haeng-bok-cah-deu]) is available to all expectant mothers, regardless of nationality, provided they contribute to the National Health Insurance system. The amount offered on this card may vary from year to year, and can be utilized at hospitals and clinics for pregnancy-related appointments. Learn how to get a Happiness Card in Soul of Soul’s blog post: How To Get The National Happiness Card For Pregnant Women In Korea Additional Reading Check out the following blog posts to learn more about pregnancy and childbirth in Korea: Follow SOS Public Health for More Resources Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated on SOS Public Health Initiatives. If you have questions about healthcare in Korea, visit the Health and Wellness in Korea Facebook Group, or feel free to message SOS Public Health with any questions or concerns. Lisa Peck, MPH, CPHMs. Peck graduated from the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon with a Master’s in Public Health and her Certification in Public Health (CPH). Ms. Peck also holds a Bachelor’s Degrees in Linguistics and one in International Studies with a Global Health emphasis. Ms. Peck is Korean American and speaks both English and Korean. She has moved between the US and Korea since childhood, finally settling in Korea after graduating from UAC. In 2021 Ms. Peck founded the South of Seoul Public Health Program which focuses on research and initiatives regarding the health and wellness of multinational residents in South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Peck oversees the SOS Public Health Graduate Student Practicum Program which provides mentorship and training for Master’s in Public Health students. The program works with two students a semester with a focus on ethical UX research design, survey development, and initiative implementation. www.southofseoul.net

The post Childbirth Experiences and Resources in Korea appeared first on South of Seoul.