Hospitals in northern Taiwan welcome 'National Day' newborns

Taipei, Oct. 10 (CNA) Hospitals across northern Taiwan celebrated the arrival of babies born just in time to share their birthday with the Republic of China's National Day on Friday.

Among them was a baby born at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital in Taipei to a woman surnamed Weng (翁) in her 30s, who said she had not planned for her child to arrive on the special date.

"I didn't pick the date on purpose, as babies born on this day don't come with a lifetime of perks," Weng said with a laugh.

"At first we wondered if it might be a Mid-Autumn Festival baby," she said. "Then as the due date got closer, we started guessing -- could it really be a National Day baby?"

Weng, who continued working as a reporter throughout her pregnancy, recalled a memorable moment while covering Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安). "He congratulated me after learning I was pregnant and even posed for a photo with me," she said.

As of around noon on Friday, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in New Taipei had reported eight "National Day babies," while Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital recorded two. Mackay Memorial Hospital and Cathay General Hospital -- including their Xizhi and Hsinchu branches -- each reported five births.

Shin Kong hospital said it had welcomed four babies, and that two more were expected later in the day.

Lee Wei-chun (李維鈞), director of Shin Kong's high-risk pregnancy center, discouraged parents from scheduling cesarean deliveries simply to choose an auspicious date, noting that staffing levels are typically lower on holidays and that medical resources should be reserved for those in genuine need.

Meanwhile, Da Chien General Hospital in Miaoli County welcomed five newborns on Friday, including two pairs of twin boys delivered by cesarean section.

The mother of one of the twins, a 34-year-old woman surnamed Chen (陳), had gestational diabetes, the hospital said. She reached 37 weeks on Friday, and her doctors scheduled the cesarean section for that day.