Family-Centered Maternity Care in China

Suzhou Municipal Hospital

Since 2004, Family-Centered Maternity Care has taken root and is beginning to flourish in the Jiangsu Province of China. One of the primary elements of this transformation is the shift in focus from what is best for the hospital to what is best for the mother, baby, and family. To facilitate this change, Dr. Phillip's award-winning textbook Family-Centered Maternity Care was translated into the Chinese language and is being published and used in hospitals in China.

Under the leadership of Dr. Kangmin Yu, Suzhou Municipal Hospital began practicing FCMC in May 2004.

The first International Symposium on Family-Centered Maternity Care was held at Suzhou Municipal Hospital in Suzhou, China on May 27, 2009. Approximately 50 hospitals were represented by the 150 participants. Dr Fenwick and Dr Phillips were honored guests and gave presentations at this symposium.

Dr. Fenwick, Dr. Phillips, and Dr Yu at Suzhou Hospital

A second International Conference on Family-Centered Maternity Care was held five months later at the same hospital on Oct.21, 2009. Over 60 presidents and administrators from all of the women's and children's hospitals in Jiangsu Province attended. Dr Kangmin Yu and his colleagues hosted and presented at this latest Symposium.

In May and June of 2010, two clinical experts from Suzhou Municipal Hospital traveled to The Birthplace at Gaston Memorial Hospital in Gastonia, North Carolina, to learn about FCMC from this world class facility. Also in June of 2010, a team of physicians and nurses from Suzhou made a site visit to Gaston Memorial Hospital, in Gastonia, North Carolina. This same team also visited Sutter Surgery and Maternity Center in Santa Cruz, California, accompanied by Dr. Celeste Phillips.