China to make hospitals offer epidurals, hoping to boost birth rate
China to make hospitals offer epidurals, hoping to boost birth rate China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024.
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Influencer Nurse Hailey Dies From Rare Childbirth Complication
33-year-old Hailey Okula, known as Nurse Hailey on social media, died after a rare complication shortly after giving birth via cesarean section.
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Around 30% of pregnant women in China receive anaesthesia during childbirth, compared with 82% in France.
In China's Sichuan province, offiicals proposed extending materinty leave to 150 days to create a "fertility friendly society."
HONG KONG − China said that by the end of this year all tertiary level hospitals must offer epidural anaesthesia during childbirth, a move it said would help promote a "friendly childbearing environment" for women.
Tertiary hospitals - those with more than 500 beds, must provide epidural anaesthesia services by 2025 while secondary hospitals - those containing more than 100 beds - must provide the services by 2027, China's National Health Commission (NHC) said in a statement last week.
Authorities are struggling to boost birth rates in the world's second largest economy after China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024 with experts warning the downturn will worsen in coming years.
More: Birth rates are close to a historic low: See charts
Around 30% of pregnant women in China receive anaesthesia to relieve pain during childbirth, compared with more than 70% in some developed countries, the official China Daily said.
The World Health Organization recommends epidurals for healthy pregnant women requesting pain relief and it is widely utilized in many countries around the world, including France, where around 82% of pregnant women opt to have one, and in the United States and Canada where more than 67% do.
More: The White House wants women to have more babies. They're ignoring part of the problem − men
The move will "improve the comfort level and security of medical services" and "further enhance people's sense of happiness and promote a friendly childbearing environment," the NHC said.
A growing number of provinces across China are also beginning to include childbirth anaesthesia costs as part of their medical insurance schemes to encourage more women to have children.
High childcare costs as well as job uncertainty and a slowing economy have discouraged many young Chinese from getting married and starting a family.
In June, health authorities in China's southwestern Sichuan province proposed to extend marriage leave up to 25 days and maternity leave up to 150 days, to help create a "fertility-friendly society."
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China to make hospitals offer epidurals, hoping to boost birth rate China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024. Show Caption Hide Caption Influencer Nurse Hailey Dies From Rare Childbirth Complication 33-year-old Hailey Okula, known as Nurse Hailey on social media, died after a rare complication shortly after giving birth via cesarean section. unbranded - Entertainment Around 30% of pregnant women in China receive anaesthesia during childbirth, compared with 82% in France. In China's Sichuan province, offiicals proposed extending materinty leave to 150 days to create a "fertility friendly society." HONG KONG − China said that by the end of this year all tertiary level hospitals must offer epidural anaesthesia during childbirth, a move it said would help promote a "friendly childbearing environment" for women. Tertiary hospitals - those with more than 500 beds, must provide epidural anaesthesia services by 2025 while secondary hospitals - those containing more than 100 beds - must provide the services by 2027, China's National Health Commission (NHC) said in a statement last week. Authorities are struggling to boost birth rates in the world's second largest economy after China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024 with experts warning the downturn will worsen in coming years. More: Birth rates are close to a historic low: See charts Around 30% of pregnant women in China receive anaesthesia to relieve pain during childbirth, compared with more than 70% in some developed countries, the official China Daily said. The World Health Organization recommends epidurals for healthy pregnant women requesting pain relief and it is widely utilized in many countries around the world, including France, where around 82% of pregnant women opt to have one, and in the United States and Canada where more than 67% do. More: The White House wants women to have more babies. They're ignoring part of the problem − men The move will "improve the comfort level and security of medical services" and "further enhance people's sense of happiness and promote a friendly childbearing environment," the NHC said. A growing number of provinces across China are also beginning to include childbirth anaesthesia costs as part of their medical insurance schemes to encourage more women to have children. High childcare costs as well as job uncertainty and a slowing economy have discouraged many young Chinese from getting married and starting a family. In June, health authorities in China's southwestern Sichuan province proposed to extend marriage leave up to 25 days and maternity leave up to 150 days, to help create a "fertility-friendly society."
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