In Indonesia, motherhood sits at the intersection of culture, economics and public health. The question “Apa pesan Anda untuk para ibu di Indonesia?”—what is your message for mothers in Indonesia—cannot be answered with sentiment alone. It demands evidence, context and an honest look at both progress and persistent challenges. From falling maternal mortality and child stunting rates to stubborn gender gaps in the workforce, today’s Indonesian mothers are raising children in a society that is changing fast, but not fast enough.

Image Illustration. Photo by Polina Kuzovkova on Unsplash

Health First: Pregnancy, Birth and the First 1,000 Days

For any mother, health is the foundation. Indonesia has made major strides in protecting women during pregnancy and childbirth. Between 2000 and 2023, the country cut its maternal mortality ratio from 311 to 140 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to recent United Nations estimates reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Yet, newer national and UN figures cited by WHO still put maternal mortality at around 189 deaths per 100,000 live births—high compared with many middle‑income countries.

The message to mothers here is two‑fold. First, your health is not a luxury; it is a right. Antenatal visits, facility-based delivery with a skilled birth attendant and postnatal check‑ups save lives. Indonesia’s network of community health centers and midwives is designed to provide these services, but access can still be uneven, especially in remote areas. Second, you should not navigate pregnancy alone. Advocating for transport to health facilities, asking questions of health workers and joining local mother groups are acts of protection, not inconvenience.

Beyond birth, the “first 1,000 days” of life—from conception to a child’s second birthday—are crucial. Indonesia’s national stunting prevalence, a key marker of chronic undernutrition, fell from 27.7% in 2019 to 19.8% in 2024, according to the 2024 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI). This is a significant achievement, but it still means roughly one in five Indonesian children are too short for their age because of long‑term nutritional deprivation.

For mothers, the implication is clear: nutrition in pregnancy and the early years matters enormously. Iron and folic acid tablets, balanced meals with sufficient protein, regular weighing of children at Posyandu, and seeking help when a child loses appetite are not minor details—they are investments in a child’s brain and body. The government’s ambitious free nutritious meal program for school‑age children and pregnant women, which aims to combat malnutrition among tens of millions of beneficiaries, reflects how central this issue has become in national policy. A recent analysis by international media highlighted that the initiative is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars through 2029 and could reach more than 80 million students and pregnant women if fully implemented.

Breastfeeding, Nutrition and Everyday Care

One of the quiet success stories in Indonesia is breastfeeding. Rates of exclusive breastfeeding for infants under six months have risen steadily, from 52% in 2017 to 66.4% in 2024, according to a joint UNICEF–WHO briefing on breastfeeding in Indonesia. Health agencies credit this increase with lowering child illness and mortality and improving cognitive development among Indonesian children.

The message to mothers is both encouraging and cautious. If you can breastfeed, you are already giving your child a powerful form of protection and nutrition that no product can fully replace. Global evidence shows that exclusively breastfed babies are substantially less likely to die before their first birthday and are less at risk of obesity and certain non‑communicable diseases later in life. At the same time, mothers have the right to accurate information and practical support—lactation counselling, time and space to breastfeed or pump at work, and protection from aggressive marketing of breast‑milk substitutes.

Nutrition, of course, extends beyond infancy. Indonesia’s push to reduce stunting emphasizes balanced diets, micronutrient supplementation and regular growth monitoring, particularly in provinces where stunting can still exceed 30%, such as parts of eastern Indonesia, according to analyses by the Health Development Policy Agency of the Ministry of Health. For mothers, paying attention to height‑for‑age, not just weight, and seeking advice when a child’s growth falters can make the difference between temporary illness and long‑term developmental loss.

Balancing Care and Work in a Changing Economy

Indonesian mothers are not only caregivers; many are also workers, entrepreneurs, farmers and students. Yet, the numbers show how heavy the unpaid care burden remains. Only around 53–54% of working‑age Indonesian women participate in the labor force, compared with about 85% of men, creating a gender gap of roughly 30 percentage points, according to a World Bank brief on gender equality and labor participation in Indonesia. The female participation rate also lags the East Asia and Pacific regional average of 67.7%, highlighting how many Indonesian women are still kept out of paid work or pushed into informal, low‑paid roles.

Recent analysis from the World Bank suggests that limited access to affordable, reliable childcare is a major factor holding women back from entering or remaining in the workforce. In a study that compared mothers living with elderly family members (who can often help with childcare) to those without such support, researchers found that better access to care was linked to higher female labor participation, as detailed in a World Bank publication on childcare and women’s labor market outcomes in Indonesia.

For mothers, this is not just an economic statistic; it is a daily reality. The message is that your aspirations—to work, study, start a business or simply have time for yourself—are legitimate and increasingly recognized in policy debates. But until childcare systems, workplace protections and social norms fully catch up, the burden often falls on individual families. Negotiating responsibilities with partners and extended family, seeking out community‑based childcare options and knowing your rights to maternity leave and safe working conditions can all help, even as broader reforms are still underway.

Mental Health, Social Support and the Invisible Load

Behind the visible statistics lies an invisible load: the emotional and mental health strain of motherhood. While national data on maternal mental health in Indonesia are still emerging, global research consistently shows that postpartum depression and anxiety affect a significant share of new mothers, especially where social and economic pressures are high. Indonesia’s Health Ministry has begun integrating mental health screening into broader public health initiatives, including a large‑scale health check‑up program that offers free screenings at primary care facilities. A recent report from international news agencies noted that this program aims to reach about 100 million Indonesians with blood pressure, stroke risk and mental health checks, among others, underscoring how mental wellbeing is gaining policy attention.

For mothers, the message is simple but often hardest to accept: your mental health is as important as your child’s vaccination card or report card. Feeling overwhelmed, sad or constantly anxious after giving birth is not a personal failure. It is a health issue that deserves support—from health workers, family and community. Reaching out—to a midwife, a Puskesmas counsellor, a trusted friend or an online support group—is not a sign of weakness but of responsibility, to yourself and to your children.

Between Tradition and Change: A Collective Responsibility

Indonesia’s mothers stand at a crossroads of tradition and change. They are expected to uphold cultural values, care for extended families and increasingly contribute to household incomes. Meanwhile, national targets—to cut stunting to 14.2% by 2029 and to close gender gaps in education and employment—depend heavily on how well mothers and children are supported today, as reflected in the Health Ministry’s medium‑term development plans and gender equality strategies backed by international partners.

So, what is the core message for mothers in Indonesia? You are not alone, and you should not be left alone. The state has clear obligations: to ensure safe pregnancies and births, to provide nutrition support and quality health services, to guarantee maternity protection and childcare, and to include women fully in the economy. Communities and families have responsibilities too—to share care work more fairly, to challenge harmful norms and to listen when mothers say they are tired or unwell.

But mothers also have a voice in this story. Asking questions at the clinic, insisting on respectful treatment in health facilities, advocating for breastfeeding‑friendly spaces at work, voting for leaders whose policies reflect family realities—these are all forms of quiet activism. Every time an Indonesian mother demands better care, better food or better education for her child, she is also pushing the country a little closer to its own goals.

In the end, the most honest message to mothers in Indonesia may be this: You are carrying far more than you should have to, in a system that is still catching up with your needs and your rights. But the data show that when mothers are supported—through strong health services, nutrition programs, childcare and fair work policies—children thrive, economies grow and societies become more just. The real question is not what mothers must do next, but whether everyone else is ready to do their part.