German hospitals have seen a surge in the number of planned births this week after a generous government aid programme for parents of newborns took effect.
The government, worried about a shrinking population, introduced benefits worth up to 25,200 euros (17,000 pounds) to encourage working couples to have children. But only babies born from January 1 qualify.
"A lot of women who were scheduled for planned deliveries last month asked to postpone til this week,"
Klaus Vetter, chief doctor at Vivantes hospital in Berlin's Neukoelln district , told Reuters.
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