Network to ensure safety of pregnant women and infants

Severe hemorrhage after birth is the top cause of death for pregnant women in Shanghai, while heart and cerebral diseases accompanied with pregnancy are also leading causes of death, medical specialists told a gynecology and obstetrics forum launched in the city.

Shanghai has been leading the field of maternity and infant care in China. The national average death rate among pregnant women was 19.6 in every 100,000 last year, while 6.8 in every 1,000 infants died.

The figures were much lower in Shanghai, which reported 3.01 deaths in every 100,000 pregnant mothers and 3.71 in every 1,000 babies.

“The figures in Shanghai has been in line with developed countries and regions for the past decade,” Dr Di Wen from the Shanghai Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics said.

After the government allowed all couples to have a second child, hospitals saw an increasing number of older pregnant women.

“Older women have a much higher incidence of pregnancy-related complications and a high possibility for deformed children,” said Dr Zhao Deqiang, president of Putuo District Maternity and Child Health Hospital.

To ensure the health and safety of pregnant women and babies, Shanghai has adopted a network to identity and follow the condition of each pregnant woman by different levels of risk. They will be divided into five levels, indicated by different colors, and those being identified to be at high risk will receive different levels of monitoring and inspection.

“Every pregnant woman can receive nine free prenatal checks covering the entire pregnancy process," Di said. "Any risk factors can be identified in time for appropriate monitoring and management."