Expectant Parents and Babies Spread Word About Mapo-gu Sunshine Center

Mapo-gu Opens 584㎡ Sunlight Center on 2nd Floor of Health Center in July... One-Stop Service for Pregnancy Preparation, Childbirth, and Parenting
Comfortable Facilities Including Infertility Couple Counseling Room, Nutrition Counseling Room, Maternal and Child Health Education Room, and Rest Area
1,017 Prospective Parents Registered for Testing, 2,911 Pregnant Women Registered and Managed, 978 Infertility Counseling Sessions Provided with High User Satisfaction

Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Kang-su) is shedding bright sunlight on the hearts of expectant parents by operating the ‘Haetbit Center,’ established on the 2nd floor of the Mapo-gu Health Center last July to address the serious ultra-low birthrate issue.

The Mapo-gu Haetbit Center offers comprehensive services in one place, from infertility counseling and pregnancy preparation to postpartum maternal health care and infant health checkups. It provides step-by-step services throughout the entire pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting process, including ▲pregnancy preparation for men and women ▲support for infertile couples ▲pregnant women registration and customized health management ▲postpartum helper and postpartum care expense support ▲home visits for Mapo babies’ first health steps and happy breastfeeding support ▲postpartum depression prevention ▲mother-child health specialized programs.

As of November, a total of 1,017 prospective parents registered for pregnancy preparation at the Haetbit Center, of whom 969 completed pregnancy preparation examinations. Additionally, 978 cases of infertility counseling and medical expense support for infertility treatments (fresh embryo transfer, frozen embryo transfer, artificial insemination) were provided.

The infertility counseling staff at the Haetbit Center stated, “Many residents are satisfied because they can comfortably share their concerns about infertility and receive guidance on health status checks and available support benefits all in one place.”

Furthermore, 1,014 pregnant women and infants received oral care, and 2,301 pregnant women benefited from nutrition counseling and supplementary food support.

Home visits were made to 806 families with newborns for postpartum health consultations and parenting education. Medical expenses for premature and congenitally abnormal infants, as well as diaper and formula support for low-income families, were provided in a total of 437 cases.

Support for postpartum care expenses totaled 742 cases, and maternal and newborn health management accounted for 1,020 cases. Postpartum depression screenings, which greatly affect infant care, were conducted 1,087 times, along with newborn vaccination management (95,646 cases) and health checkups (99 cases).

In addition, the Haetbit Center operated seven educational programs, including childbirth preparation classes, Saturday expectant parent classes, and grandchild care education, held 57 times with a total of 620 participants.

Ms. Lee, a pregnant woman who attended the Saturday expectant parent class with her husband, said, “Through the Haetbit Center lectures, I was able to gain practical information, and it was an opportunity for my husband and me to think about parenting methods together.” She added, “I like the warm and friendly atmosphere of the Haetbit Center, so I will actively spread the word to those around me.”

Mayor Park Kang-su said, “The name ‘Haetbit Center’ was chosen to mean ‘the sunlight a child sees for the first time after birth.’ We will do our best to operate the Mapo-gu Haetbit Center so that all prospective parents can feel that pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting are not burdens to bear alone but precious and noble tasks shared by the community.”

Meanwhile, in November, Mapo-gu also opened the ‘Cheokkeut Center’ at the Haetbit Center for non-married mothers. The district explained that through the Cheokkeut Center, adolescent and unmarried pregnant women who face difficult situations alone can receive counseling in a cozy space and be guided to customized support suitable for their circumstances.