Chinese Character - 'Golden Pig Year'keeps maternity hospitals busy

CITYLIFE / Hip & New






'Golden Pig Year'keeps maternity hospitals busy

(Shanghai Daily )
Updated: 2006-11-07 11:37


Maternity hospitals in Shanghai have been busier than usual over the past
few months as many young women try to have babies next year, an
especially auspicious time according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

"I found there are many pregnant women this year," said local resident
Jiang Yan. "I know friends, co-workers and other people working in my
office building are going to have kids."

"Some of them did tell me they want to give birth to a 'golden pig baby'
for the good luck."

The lunar calendar gives each year one of 12 zodiac signs and years
rotate through the five elements - gold, wood, water, fire and earth.

Children born when the Year of the Pig coincides with the element of
gold, something that happens every 60 years, are said to be blessed.

The expected baby boom is causing headaches for doctors.

"Pregnant women will be given a number first every morning and wait for a
check," said a doctor from Changning District Maternity and Child Health
Hospital, adding that every day the hospital has 20 newly pregnant women
booked for their first check.

In normal years, women don't need to take a number to get a health exam,
the doctor said.

A pregnant woman who identified herself as Yueyue said she learned about
the "Golden Pig Year" from her mother.

"I cannot tell whether it is true or not," Yueyue said. "But I chose to
believe it rather than miss a good opportunity."

The Shanghai Population and Family Planning Commission predicted that
131,000 babies will be born in the city this year, up from 123,901 last
year. The number will rise to about 137,000 next year and peak in 2015 at
160,000.

Some city officials worry that the baby boom may result in a series of
social problems, with too many children competing for spots in schools or
jobs over the next several decades.










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