The goal of postpartum care is to prepare women for long-term child care amidst limitations and to have a clear understanding of postpartum options, whether to raise the child themselves or to give the child up, and to prevent unplanned pregnancies in the future with semi-permanent contraception. The goal for the child is to be healthy, receive breast milk, and vaccinations as scheduled, and to have a family for long-term care.
Women with unplanned pregnancies who continue with the pregnancy may still face unpreparedness even after childbirth. Therefore, during the postpartum period, they should receive counseling to make decisions that align with their lives, empowering them, building confidence, and readiness in what they have decided.
Postpartum options are as follows
- Want to raise the child themselves Even if they decide to raise the child themselves, some may not be ready initially due to needing to return to work, continue studying, or other necessities. They can seek advice or contact support agencies by consulting the One Stop Crisis Center or the social welfare department of the hospital where they gave birth, children’s and family shelters, or consult private organizations working in this field. Issues and available assistance and limitations of this approach
- Need shelter while waiting for childbirth Available assistance: Stay at a maternity waiting home operated by both government and private sectors. The government includes children’s and family shelters, currently available in every province. The private sector includes emergency shelters, Sukruthai Home, Phra Khun Home, etc. Limitations: Children’s and family shelters in each province have varying readiness to care for unprepared pregnant women. State and private shelters have different conditions for admission and residency criteria, which should be studied before deciding to stay.
- Not ready to care for the child after birth Available assistance:
- Place the child in a child welfare home for temporary care for no more than 3 years, during which they can visit the child until they are ready to take care of the child themselves. Limitations: Child welfare homes are available in some provinces, with a high caregiver-to-child ratio, leading to insufficient care.
- Placing the child in a temporary foster family for weekday care, allowing the mother to work or study, and taking the child home on weekends. The child can be taken home permanently when the mother is ready. Limitations: Services are available at private service units such as the Sahathai Foundation. Foster families are limited and may not meet demand.
- Place the child in a child welfare home for temporary care for no more than 3 years, during which they can visit the child until they are ready to take care of the child themselves. Limitations: Child welfare homes are available in some provinces, with a high caregiver-to-child ratio, leading to insufficient care.
- No job, insufficient income to care for the child Available assistance:
- Request immediate financial assistance of 2,000 baht, infant formula, or vocational training assistance from social welfare agencies, or inquire at 1300. Limitations: There is a time limit for assistance as follows:
- Immediate financial assistance can be requested no more than 3 times a year
- Infant formula assistance is provided for about 3-6 months
- Vocational training offers limited career options
- Request immediate financial assistance of 2,000 baht, infant formula, or vocational training assistance from social welfare agencies, or inquire at 1300. Limitations: There is a time limit for assistance as follows:
2. Do not want to raise the child themselves but want to give the child to others for permanent care If, after receiving counseling and thoroughly considering options, it is concluded that they are not ready to care for the child, they can give the child up by using child care services of both state and private welfare homes. These homes also coordinate with the provincial social development and human security to arrange adoptive families for the child. In this case, the right to care for the child is transferred to others or other agencies, who will have the right to the child instead of the mother, supported by legal provisions. This is divided into two cases:
- Permanent placement in a welfare home: The child will be cared for in a child welfare home until someone adopts them. In this case, once the child is given up, they cannot be reclaimed for personal care, similar to temporary placement.
- Giving the child to someone who wants to adopt: This must follow the adoption process. Failure to follow the correct process may result in the child being sold in human trafficking. It is advisable to consult officials to prepare documents for the child’s long-term benefit and safety. Even if they cannot care for the child themselves, they should ensure the child is sent to a good and safe place.
Addressing other issues
- For women who continue with the pregnancy, if it is a legal case such as experiencing violence or abuse, they can request services to support or monitor the progress of the case in the justice process from agencies that handle these issues, such as the One Stop Crisis Center of the hospital, the provincial social development and human security office, children’s and family shelters, etc.
- For women who continue with the pregnancy, after childbirth, if they are still in difficult circumstances such as being unable to support themselves, lacking caregivers, or having housing issues, they should receive assistance with “postpartum housing” to stay until they are ready to care for themselves. Agencies providing this service include provincial children’s and family shelters or various private sector agencies offering services in this area.