All couples in China will be allowed to have two children beginning next year. The move is expected to result in about 60,000 more babies being born annually in Shanghai. To cope with the likely increase in new births, some maternity hospitals in Shanghai are setting up special clinics for second-time mothers.
The Changning District Maternity and Infant Health Hospital has seen a growing number of newly registered pregnant women since the second half of this year. More than 20 percent of them are having a second baby. 35-year-old Shen Qianwen is one of them. She came to the hospital this morning for an early-pregnancy screening.
"I had a C-section to deliver by first child two years ago. At that time I was not considered a pregnant woman at high risk, but now I am. So I think I'll be more cautious," Shen said.
Doctors say the possibility of complications is much higher in women over 35, and also for mothers who had their first child by cesarean section. That's why starting next year, the hospital will do earlier pregnancy screenings for second-time mothers.
"For now, we screen pregnant women above the age of 35 when they are 16 weeks into pregnancy. But considering that many second-time mothers have already passed the prime time for giving birth, we've decided to do the screening between 8 and 12 weeks into pregnancy. This will allow us to discover any possible risks as early as possible," Tang Longying, outpatient dept., of C. N. Maternity & Infant Health Hospital, said.
Doctors say babies born to older women have a higher risk of birth defects, low birth weight and certain chromosome problems such as Down syndrome. Since mothers were not allowed to have more than one child before, they could only have abortions after an unexpected pregnancy. Those women now have a higher infertility rate. Doctors are suggesting older couples do thorough checks before making a final decision to have another baby.
"We have opened a consultation clinic that provides guidance for couples who are thinking of having a second child. For now, pregnant women who give birth naturally leave the hospital 24 hours after giving birth. Those who have C-sections go home 72 hours after the baby is born. That's why we have also set up a newborn clinic, for fear that problems like jaundice could occur in the future," Tong Xinghai, vice director of C. N. Maternity & Infant Health Hospital, said.
Shanghai Health Authorities say about half of all births here are by cesarean sections, but doctors for couples who plan to have more than one child, it makes more sense for them to have their first child via natural birth if conditions permit. That's why hospitals are also promoting the benefits of natural births.
Maternity hospitals in Shanghai are also introducing better pain-management to make the experience less traumatic. For better communication with patients, some hospitals now use tablet computers to illustrate surgeries for patients.
Between 200,000 and 220,000 children are born in Shanghai each year.
