SA delivers over five hundred Christmas babies

Some of the provinces which recorded the first childbirths include Limpopo and Mpumalanga, where the healthy babies were born exactly at 00:00.

The department also congratulated the parents and healthcare professionals. Photo: iStock

The Department of Health has welcomed all the babies born on Christmas Day across the country.

It said over 500 babies were born across the country between midnight and midday on Christmas Day, and majority of them were delivered in Gauteng.

The department also congratulated the parents and healthcare professionals for the successful and safe delivery of the bundles of joy.

First Christmas babies

“Some of the provinces which recorded the first childbirths include Limpopo and Mpumalanga, where the healthy babies were born exactly at 00:00 at Voortrekker Hospital in Mokopane and Themba Hospital in Kabokweni outside Mbombela.

“In the Eastern Cape, the first baby was born at 00:01 at Sipetu Hospital in Mount Frere,” said the department in a statement.

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Free State recorded the first baby weighing 3.01kg from National District Hospital in Bloemfontein at 00:04.

The North West recorded a baby boy at 00:50 weighing 1.2kg at the JB Marks Community Health Centre. The baby was placed in the Neonatal ICU at Potchefstroom Hospital. The mother and baby are both in stable condition.

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Youngest mother

Health department spokesperson Foster Mohale said the youngest mother to give birth was a teen.

“Amongst the youngest mothers were two 15-year-olds who gave birth at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, in KwaZulu-Natal, and Tonga Hospital in Mpumalanga.”

The department said it would provide the consolidated statistics of all babies born on Christmas Day across the country at a later stage

Gauteng

Meanwhile, public hospitals across the Gauteng province delivered about 223 babies.

In 2021, Gauteng welcomed 403 newborns into the world.

MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo–Ralehoko shared in the excitement as she visited Bertha Gxowa Hospital to celebrate with their parents, as well as gift them with presents.

“The department wishes to extend its appreciation to healthcare workers who have been working tirelessly throughout the year ensuring that the people of Gauteng receive the best service when visiting health facilities.”

Academic and tertiary hospitals

“Thank you for always making Christmas time cheerful and filled with love to mothers and their newborns. We wish all parents well and encourage mothers to opt for breastfeeding their babies as it is essential and has many health benefits for their babies,” Nkomo-Ralehoko.

The Gauteng Health Department said academic hospitals delivered 30 babies with Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital accounting for 12 deliveries, followed by Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital with 8 deliveries.

“Tertiary Hospitals delivered a total of 31 babies with Tembisa Hospital delivering 23 and Kalafong with 8 deliveries.”