As lifestyles change, post-natal care services provide needed support for new parents

Fatimah (right) takes a closer look at a pillow which can be used by new mothers when breastfeeding while Ting (second right) and Kho (left) look on.

KUCHING, Feb 6: Confinement services and post-natal care centres can offer new parents much needed support which used to be available via family members but are now harder to access due to changing lifestyles.

Minister of Welfare, Community Well-Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah believed that current family structures and the demanding lifestyle of the younger generations have created opportunities for confinement services business and post-natal care services to flourish by offering caring services for new mothers.

“Now, our family structure is different.

“Last time, when we (women) give birth, we have the support system of the extended family.

“During my time, we had family members from the in-laws side to provide the help and assistance to us,” she told journalists after visiting LoveBond Care, a confinement services and post-natal care centre here today.

She noted times have changed and mothers need to be provided with better services and care after giving birth.

Fatimah observed that when a women conceives, there will be changes to her body and hence, it is important for new mothers to have access to extra care after delivery so that they can bond well with their babies.

She added her ministry is fully supportive of mothers breastfeeding for at least six months.

“We fully support breastfeeding exclusively for at least six months. It is good for the babies and it is good for the mothers.”

Aside from that, Fatimah noted the LoveBond Care centre also provides massage services to mothers to assist them in their recovery during the confinement services.

Meanwhile, Betty Kho, one of the partners for LoveBond Care centre, revealed that the centre is concentrating on providing care for new mothers and that they have plans to offering healthcare services in the future.

She disclosed that the whole centre is sterilised every week using ultraviolet (UV) ray sterilisation to ensure that the centre is clean at all times.

Apart from that, Kho revealed that the centre’s staff comprised experienced and competent professionals who have the knowledge and experience in taking care of mothers and babies, including those with nursing backgrounds and post-natal care qualification or early childhood certificate holders.

Kho (left) briefs Fatimah (right) on the services provided by the centre. Also present was Ting (second right).

Another partner for the LoveBond Care centre, Jean Ting, revealed that the centre has 11 rooms which are ready to welcome new mothers for their confinement services and post-natal care.

Ting, who is also a registered nurse with more than 10 years of experience said the centre is allocating one nurse to take care of three mothers.

Services offered at the centre include professional nurses and caregivers to take care of mothers and babies, 24-hour security and closed circuit television monitoring (CCTV), five nutritious meals, daily housekeeping and baby care with daily note recording. — DayakDaily