Maternal health news in Portugal

The two maternity hospitals with the most births in Portugal are private and this has helped push up the caesarean rate

Marques Mendes asks the President and Government not to stall the bill creating regional obstetric emergency departments

Specialist nurses to monitor low-risk pregnant women in pilot project

The model will operate within primary health care, integrated into local health units, and coordinated with hospital gynaecology and obstetrics services.

Specialist nurses will monitor pregnant women and request exams. Head of the Order of Nurses calls it a "historic step for the profession"

The Ministry of Health has published a regulatory dispatch allowing specialist nurses in maternal and obstetric health to monitor low-risk pregnancies. This new care model, which includes the authority to prescribe diagnostic exams, screenings, and supplements, aims to improve access to healthcare for pregnant women. The Shared Services of the Ministry of Health and the Executive Directorate of the National Health Service have 90 days to implement the system, which will eventually be tested in selected local health units.

UN: extreme heat threatens the safety of pregnancy and childbirth

According to data from a new study presented today, every one-degree Celsius rise contributes to a 5% increase in premature births and a 7% increase in cases of gestational diabetes.

Ana Couto: “I had postpartum psychosis and I survived”

Is support for maternal mental health failing? Ana Couto is categorical: yes. She experienced postpartum psychosis 15 days after her daughter was born and went through a traumatic compulsory hospitalisation.

Women prefer mobility during labour if they are empowered

A study by Maternal and Obstetric Health Nursing lecturer Marlene Lopes showed that “clinical environments are not always facilitating and professional practice limits women's choices.”

Study shows that maternal microbiota can reveal the health of the mother and newborn

The study aimed to investigate the role of microbiota and diet on heart health during pregnancy and the postpartum period for women and newborns.

Nurses request Government intervention in project to monitor pregnant women

The programme aims to provide monitoring for low-risk pregnant women without a family doctor by specialist nurses in maternal and obstetric health.

Nova rede de ginecologia e obstetrícia define cuidados e hospitais para casos graves

The article discusses the establishment of a new gynecology and obstetrics network in Portugal, which aims to define specialized care protocols and designate hospitals equipped to handle severe cases. This initiative seeks to improve maternal health services by ensuring that complex cases receive appropriate attention at designated facilities, enhancing overall healthcare quality in the region.

messenger.sapo.ao14 Mar

Ministra pede a mães estrangeiras que procurem serviços de saúde

The Portuguese Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, addressed concerns regarding an increase in fetal and infant mortality rates in Portugal, citing data from the Directorate-General of Health (DGS) showing a rise in fetal deaths (from 3.9 to 4.1 per 1,000 births) and infant deaths in 2024. She emphasized that Portugal maintains one of the lowest mortality rates in Europe and the OECD, considering it a significant civilizational achievement. However, she acknowledged that certain districts and socioeconomic groups, particularly vulnerable foreign mothers, require targeted attention. The Minister urged foreign mothers to seek healthcare services, highlighting the importance of pregnancy vigilance and ongoing efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes. She also reassured that recent healthcare reorganizations, such as the centralization of obstetric emergencies in Loures, are well-managed and do not impact the quality of care.

diarioviseu.pt12 Mar

DGS: Age is the greatest risk for maternal death

A DGS report covering 2020-2024 reveals a clear pattern: the later the pregnancy, the higher the risk. Circulatory diseases dominate the indirect causes of death.

More than half of maternal deaths are women over 35

61.8% of deaths occurred in women at ages considered high-risk for pregnancy.

More than half of pregnancy-related deaths occurred in women aged 35 or older

More than half of maternal deaths (during pregnancy or up to 42 days after the end of pregnancy) recorded between 2020 and 2024 occurred in women aged 35 or older, confirming the increased risk with age, according to a report.

Barreiro. Autarcas contra fecho de urgência de obstetrícia

The article discusses the opposition of local authorities in Barreiro to the proposed closure of the obstetric emergency service at the local hospital. They argue that shutting down this critical healthcare facility is a strategic mistake and unfair to the community, emphasizing the importance of maintaining accessible obstetric care for residents. The article highlights concerns about the impact on maternal health services and the need for strategic healthcare planning that prioritizes local needs.

messenger.sapo.ao3 Mar

Minister says number of births outside hospitals is similar to the last decade

According to Ana Paula Martins, 'the majority of extra-hospital births do not occur in public places, but at home.'

ULS Viseu Dão-Lafões reports increase in births

In 2025, 1,946 births were recorded, representing a 6% increase compared with the previous year. The municipalities with the highest numbers of registered births are Viseu with 793 and Guarda with 159.

Five times more foreign mothers in Portugal than a decade ago

Press review: births to Portuguese women have experienced a significant decline.

It's been ten years since so many babies were born in Portugal. Increase 'is being sustained by non-national mothers'

Experts link the rise in the number of births to immigration, noting that 30% of last year's newborns 'were born to mothers who are not Portuguese'.

320 pregnant women assisted on the road by Moita firefighters in 2025

The fire brigade says it performed 15 births in ambulances last year.

More than one third of babies born in Leiria have a foreign mother

936 babies were born to Portuguese mothers and 554 to foreign mothers, with the majority of the newborns being male.

President rubber-stamps proposal for ‘high performance obstetric centres’

President Marcelo has today ‘enacted the creation of high performance centres in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, hoping that it will allow for systemic and lasting responses and that The post President rubber-stamps proposal for ‘high performance obstetric centres’ appeared first on Portugal Resident.