"Open The Pink Book" — Doctor Urges Future Parents To Take Pregnancy Check-Ups Seriously
"Even if you're busy, try to take a day off and take your wife to open the Pink Book," he urged.
A doctor has taken to social media to remind expectant parents about the importance of having a Mother's Health Record Book, also known as the Pink Book
Amid the viral controversy involving a couple accusing a hospital of withholding their deceased baby's body over unpaid hospital bills, the topic of 'unbooked mothers' — mothers who have not undergone any antenatal check-ups — has surfaced.
According to Dr Firdaus Haris of Facebook page Medical Mythbusters Malaysia, the Pink Book and the process of 'booking' is incredibly crucial in a mother's pregnancy journey.
"To all future fathers, take your wife to get the Mother's Health Record Book or the Pink Book.
"It doesn't matter how much you dislike going to the health clinic. It doesn't matter even if you plan to deliver at a private hospital.
"Even if you're busy, try to take a day off and take your wife to open the Pink Book," he urged.
Image via senivpetro/Freepik
What is the Pink Book and why is it important?
A mother's first antenatal appointment is known as the 'booking' visit, during which the clinic gives the mother her very own Pink Book, a book where healthcare providers compile all of the mother's and baby's medical information.
Mothers are recommended to have their first antenatal visit before 12 weeks of pregnancy.
All subsequent check-ups, tests, and scans are recorded in this book, making it an essential tool for monitoring the health of both mother and baby.
It serves as a reference for healthcare providers to assess a mother's pregnancy status, regardless of the healthcare centre they visit in the country
"This book is incredibly useful in times of emergency. During the nine months of pregnancy, we don't know what might happen until the baby is born," said Dr Firdaus.
"Even if you've saved up and planned for your wife to deliver in the most comfortable private hospital suite, you might find yourself in a situation where you're in a rural village with only a small local clinic.
"With the Pink Book, it's easier for frontline health workers — whether a doctor or a community nurse — to know what needs to be done," he explained.
Image via Majoriti
Dr Firdaus stressed that the details in the Pink Book help healthcare workers plan the safest course of action for both the mother and the baby, especially in high-pressure situations
"Does the mother have any health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or pre-eclampsia that require attention? Does the latest scan show any abnormalities in the baby? Does the mother have a high risk or postpartum haemorrhage?" he questioned.
Dr Firdaus concluded his message by urging all expectant parents to value the Pink Book.
"Appreciate the Pink Book. Take good care of it, and always keep it in a bag when traveling with the expectant mother," he advised.
The hospital accused of withholding a baby's body has denied all allegations made by the couple. Read about the issue here:
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