Life of Guangzhou - Olympic Baby Boom Challenges Guangzhou

Compared with the year 2007, baby boom in the Year of Rat (2008) is hitting Guangzhou much stronger. Data from local hospitals shows that more babies were born this March than last year. Maternity matrons are very difficult to find.

Experts estimate that the baby-boom climax would appear during June, July and August this year.

Newly born babies at a hospital in Beijing, China.

Olympic sense plus traditional beliefs stimulate the boom

Most of lying-in Cantonese women concern much about the arriving year of their babies. The births in the Year of Cattle are considered unlucky to babies as the locals are worried these babies would be like cattle, too toilsome and less felicity. The babies born in the Rat Year (2008) would likely be as smart as rats..

What's more, it is believed to bring good luck to the babies to have birth just in this Olympic Year for China.

The central government estimates that there would be 18 million babies born this year, 2 million more than 2007.

More beds to be prepared for the baby boom

The childbearing cases of main hospitals in Guangzhou are more than the same period of last year. The increase ranges from 10% to 30 %.

It is estimated that there might be more lying-in women later this year. Many hospitals would lack of beds. More beds are being arranged for surging want.

At the same time, the workload of doctors and nurses will increase. A chief obstetrician needs to treat 30 lying-in women in half a day at least averagely.

Maternity matrons much undersupply

Maternity matrons of some housekeeping companies are booked till this September already. The public should have to book matrons 3 months earlier than the expected childbirth, otherwise it is hard for housekeeping companies to arrange a proper maternity matron, said the Provincial Housekeeping Hotline (96909).

They also said that it is not easy to find a good matron even in a high salary of 7000 yuan (US $ 989) per month during the busy time.

"80s" to-be mothers accompanied by senior parents

"Many couples are too eager to have babies, but they failed and lead to some problems. They come to hospital for help." said Kang Jiali, director of Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics from Guangzhou No.1 Hospital.

Many women at child-bearing age were born in 1980s. These young will-be mothers are well educated, but know little about pregnancy and giving birth. Some tend to be willful and not independent enough. Many need their parents to accompany to hospitals.

Maternity and baby merchandise sells good

Many supermarkets in Guangzhou are short of hottly-sold maternity dress, milk powder and diaper from the end of January this year.

Business surged by almost 30% from the end of last year at a maternity shop near the Guangzhou Women and Babies Hospital.

(by Luna Yang)

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