The importance of taking the proper steps in starting a family

Starting a family is a big responsibility. That huge step takes a lot of planning, from providing the basic needs of each member to ensuring support for everyone’s emotional needs to keep relationships healthy. However, that step does not have to be taken alone. You may not be aware that there is help and support for you every step of the way.

Before making that big move, here are some points to remember that are important to your family’s welfare:

Follow family planning.
Starting a family of your own starts with planning. Deciding how many children you want and making sure that you can meet their needs are important. According to the Department of Health’s Family Health Guide, it is recommended that children be 3 to 5 years apart for the full body recovery of the mother as well as for the health of the children and the family. If you’re unsure of how to go about with family planning, it’s vital to consult your health provider on the matter.

Keep maternal health in check.
Upon pregnancy, a mother has many needs. Keeping the baby healthy means keeping the mother healthy. Have at least four prenatal checkups to monitor the pregnancy and to make sure it is progressing smoothly. A pregnant woman should have at least one check up each in her first two trimesters and at least two check-ups in her third trimester. It is also important to give birth at a proper facility to make sure that any complications are properly managed. After birth care is also important for the mother as much as it is for the newborn.

Monitor your newborn.
The first 28 days of a newborn are the most critical. Newborn screening should be done 24 to 72 hours after delivery for early detection of developmental disabilities of disease. Immunization is also important to prevent diseases that may cause disability or may be critical to the infant’s health. Breastfeeding has also become an important aspect of keeping babies healthy and more resistant to diseases. Start breastfeeding within 1 ½ hours after delivery of your newborn.

Keep track of your children’s growth.
Through your children’s growing years, it is essential to help them and keep them healthy. Aspects like nutrition, oral health, and hygiene are basics that should be taught and implemented in every household. These are factors that affect their health in the long run and should be constantly carried out. Adolescents especially need guidance with the physical and psychological changes that they undergo when growing up.

Meet the emotional needs of your family.
Healthy relationships within the family, both mental and emotional, are large factors in ensuring that every member grows up of sound mind. Feeling loved and understood, as well as having a support system within the family are only a few things that contribute to the happiness and well being of every member. Don’t forget to check in on all family members regularly.

In every stage and aspect of life, proper care is important because needs and behavior change with age. Maintaining health is important to keep the family living happily ever after.

The Department of Health has set up services in every municipality to help Filipino families with the complicated process of planning and caring for a family. Affordable and reliable family health care is now accessible to Filipino families when they need it. The Department advises couples to visit their local health center for family planning counseling, check-ups, and fertility concerns. They have also launched a show that tackles all of these in detail to make sure that every Filipino can easily follow the path to proper family health. Healthy Ever After, hosted by celebrity couple Max Collins and Pancho Magno, who is also a registered nurse, gives you in-depth discussions on real issues that affect the health of Filipino families. They immerse themselves in real life family concerns like taking on the responsibilities of being parents to six children and visiting different public spaces to inspect their breastfeeding facilities—all to educate Filipinos on proper family health.

You still have the chance to watch all twelve episodes of Healthy Ever After through the GMA Public Affairs’ YouTube Channel, youtube.com/gmapublicaffairs.