Rahima Moosa’s Christmas babies

While the rest of Johannesburg was fast asleep waiting for Christmas to come or preparing food for the big day, 25 mothers at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital were in labour.

Northcliff Melville Times visited the hospital the day after Christmas to have a look at the babies who came as a gift to mothers on the Christian holiday.

While 25 mothers in the hospital gave birth on the day, hospital staff said they were out of the hospital as fast as they got in, leaving only four mothers by the time Northcliff Melville Times arrived and even then the remainder was getting ready to go home.

A total of 11 baby girls and 14 baby boys were born.

A matron from the hospital commented on the number of births and said it was unusual for them to see so few Christmas births as the maternity ward usually overflows during the holidays.

Because of the festive atmosphere, the hospital gives mothers and babies special gifts for their Christmas births depending on where their donation supply levels are at.

As a general practice, the hospital gives the first three female and male babies born on Christmas a gift but if donation levels are high, they attempt to give as much as they can to the babies and their mothers.

Kgomotso Kgatwane, mother to Christmas baby Katlego, said she is relieved to have given birth and that the procedure went well. She is excited and cannot wait to get home to rest with her baby and family.

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