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Pregnant women hope babies late for German govt aid
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 26 - 12 - 2006

Expectant mothers in Germany are
doing what they can to put off giving birth until Jan. 1 when a
generous government aid programme takes effect, according to Reuters.
The media has been filled with tips and warnings from
doctors and midwives about holding off birth until Jan. 1.
While experts have warned women to refrain from medical
intervention to delay births, they acknowledge the allure of a
financial incentive worth up to 25,200 euros ($33,300).
"We're bracing for a siege on New Year's Day and will have a
full staff on hand," said Klaus Vetter, chief doctor at Berlin's
Vivantes hospital.
Worried about a shrinking population and a birth rate at a
post-war low in 2005, the government in September introduced the
law to encourage working couples to have children. Babies born
on or after Jan. 1 qualify for the new benefits.
Parents who take time off from work to care for newborns can
receive two-thirds of their net monthly salary, up to a maximum
of 1,800 euros, for 12 months. If the other parent takes a
further two months off, the benefit is extended to 14 months.
"It should send a clear signal that our society wants to try
to compensate for some of the financial loss young parents
face," Family Minister Ursula von der Leyen was quoted saying in
the online edition of Der Tagesspiegel on Tuesday.
Christian Albring, president of the German association of
gynaecologists, told the Berliner Zeitung all his patients have
asked how they could safely extend their pregnancies to January.
"They've all asked about possibilities of delaying delivery,
but none want to risk their babies' health," he said.
Physicians and midwives have been saying that avoiding red
wine, stress as well as physical or sexual activity are among
the recommended natural methods to help prevent inducing birth.
"Try to lie down a lot and avoid stress," midwife Stefanie
Koehn said is the advice she has been giving. She added they
should avoid cinnamon and cloves in Christmas baked goods.
Gynaecologist Folker Adam said delaying births, by methods
such as taking magnesium, has been a hotly discussed topic at
his office but said none of the mothers wanted to risk the
babies' health.
Sonja Kastner, 34, is expecting her first child on Dec. 31.
"I've been telling him 'take your time'," said Kastner, who
added she would have 300 euros more per month if he comes later.
A pregnant doctor named Lucia C. said her due date is Jan. 7
and calculated she will lose 15,000 euros if her baby arrives
before Jan. 1.
"I'm going to relax as much as possible," she said, adding
she was annoyed at the unnecessary pressure.
Berlin bishop Wolfgang Huber has called on the government to
make a Christmas gesture and advance the start date for the new
benefits to Dec. 24.
"It would be anti-bureaucratic act in the spirit of
Christmas to move the date from Jan. 1 to Dec. 24," Huber, a
leader of the Protestant church, said in the Berliner Morgenpost
newspaper.


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