Postnatal care

The weeks after birth decide your recovery. Do not try to carry it alone.

The options

1. Postnatal care centre — often next to the hospital. Expensive.
2. Maternal and newborn health management support — a health manager comes to your home. Subsidised by income and far cheaper than a centre. Ask the health centre or 129.
3. At home with family — combine it with Family Center home visits and counselling.

What to watch for

• Bleeding — sudden increase means hospital
• Fever — 38°C or above means hospital
• Breast pain and engorgement
• Pain or signs of infection at the perineum or surgical site
• Postnatal depression — very common, and nothing to be ashamed of

Signs of postnatal depression

• Constant tears for no reason
• No joy even when looking at the baby
• Unable to sleep, feeling anxious
• Thoughts of harming the baby or yourself — get help immediately

Call 1577-1366 (13 languages, 24 hours), 109 or 1577-0199.

Steps

1. Decide your postnatal care plan before discharge.
2. Apply for support at the health centre or community centre — look into it before the birth.
3. Attend the postnatal check-up, usually a few weeks after birth.
4. Check the baby's check-up and vaccination schedule.
5. Say when you are struggling. Enduring it slows recovery.

Where to go

• Your nearest public health centre (maternal and newborn support)
• 129 health and welfare counselling
• The hospital where you gave birth (postnatal check-up)
• 1577-1366 Danuri Helpline (13 languages, 24 hours)
• 109 · 1577-0199 when you are struggling
• Your local Family Center

Questions people ask

I have no family in Korea. The visiting health manager support helps enormously. Ask the health centre.

My husband doesn't help. Talk to a Family Center. They offer couple counselling and home visits.

A care centre is too expensive. It is not essential. Look into the visiting health manager support first.

I want to follow my country's postnatal customs. That is fine. But danger signs such as bleeding and fever mean hospital regardless of custom.

Take care

Postnatal depression is common and treatable. Do not endure it because "everyone goes through it". For the baby's sake too, the mother must recover first. 1577-1366 connects 24 hours in your own language.

Related

childbirth-cost · newborn-checkup · depression-support · pregnancy-support

Source

Ministry of Health and Welfare www.mohw.go.kr / As of 2026-08