Australians rush to delay births

By Red Harrison
BBC, Sydney

Delaying could do damage, doctors have warned

Doctors in Australia say pregnant women are asking for help to delay their babies' arrivals until after 1 July.

That is when the government will begin paying a new bonus of A$3,000 (US$2,100) to parents of all newborn babies.

At the moment, every new mother receives a so-called baby bonus of just under $500.

Commentators say the new payment is a cynical attempt to win votes in this year's general election. Cynical or not, the move is popular.

Doctors at several city hospitals say there has been a scramble by women who want doctors to delay the arrival of their babies until after 1 July.

Dr Andrew Child, president of the Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, says some women who should be giving birth next week are asking doctors to postpone the delivery for more than 10 days - which could cause problems to the babies' health.

Dr Child says hospitals have received so many requests for caesarean or induced births in the first two days of July, he has asked the government to bring forward the date of the new bonus payments.

But the government says there is no time to change the system.