By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
There were times when pregnancy was considered a natural burden for women and few showed interest in the delivery. But these days childbirth has become a major family celebration, Dr. Kwak Sang-ro of the Kwak Sang-ro Ob & Gyn Clinic said.
Kwak, who has been running his clinic in Seongnam, south of Seoul, for more than three decades, is more of a historian on child delivery. When Seongnam was less affluent, some mothers gave birth at home to save money. It was an exception, rather than a rule, for mothers to be rushed to the hospital for delivery.
``There were times when mothers almost had their babies in the taxi. They would walk to the door of my clinic and I could instantly notice that the baby's head was partially visible,'' he said.
With so many interesting stories, his has become one of the most unique obstetrics clinics in Korea. ``Some of our staff were actually born, grew up and got a job here. Don't you think we are really more of a family?'' said Kwak, who leads the more than 150-staffed hospital,.
``My clients' children come to me when they are pregnant and show me their children as they grow up. That's what I do this job for,'' he said.
Until around the 1970s, after giving birth at home mothers used to return to work after a few days of rest ― with no follow-up treatment.
These days, childbirth involves all family members watching, waiting, cheering and welcoming new babies, and encouraging the mother. Water births, in which lights are dimmed and noise is kept to a minimum, can help ease the trauma of the experience for mother and baby ― but it remains controversial.
``These days, it's about the mother's pain and securing the baby's welfare,'' Kwak said.
Kwak provides services at affordable prices in the Gyeonggi area. His clinic was ranked seventh in the country in child delivery category with 4,118 deliveries in 2007.
Many obstetricians are closing shop as birthrates fall in Korea. Some have applied for salaried positions as doctors at major hospitals.