Hundreds of women welcomed their bundles of joy on 25 December 2024, with one mom delivering her Christmas baby on her birthday.
The year 2024 has seen nearly 800 babies being delivered on Christmas Day. The current number is considerably low compared to other years. In 2023, 1 708 newborns were delivered while 1 414 were welcomed in 2022. Here are pictures and videos of the new moms and their little ones.
NEARLY 800 CHRISTMAS BABIES WELCOMED
eNCA reported on 26 December 2024 that Gauteng and the Eastern Cape have recorded the highest number of births of Christmas babies. Those born in the country’s public health facilities include over 10 sets of twins.
The Gauteng province recorded 393 deliveries – 209 boys and 184 girls, according to a media statement from the Gauteng health department. A total of 39 of these babies were welcomed at the Tembisa Hospital.
Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, Gauteng MEC for health and wellness, congratulated the mothers on the new additions to their families. She also urged the parents to ensure the babies are immunised. Nkomo-Ralehoko said:
“Congratulations to all the families. We would like to encourage parents to ensure their bundles of joy are immunised on specified dates set out on the road to healthcare booklet to protect them against diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis, measles and meningitis. Immunisation is free at all public clinics and community healthcare centres in the province.”
The importance of the babies being registered was also highlighted. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Njabulo Nzuza, expressed:
“The entry into the national population register is through birth registration. Without it the children cannot fully access service. Through our collaboration with the department of health nationally we have made it easier for parents to register their children by opening home affairs offices within health facilities.”
KWAZULU-NATAL CHRISTMAS BABIES
The KwaZulu-Natal province had the third highest number of births on Christmas Day recording 47 newborns. They include 26 girls and 21 boys. According to the KZN Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi, 15-year-olds were among those who gave birth yesterday, SowetanLIVE reported on 26 December 2024.
MOM GIVES BIRTH ON HER BIRTHDAY
An Eastern Cape mom reportedly gave birth to twins on her birthday, reported The Citizen on 25 December 2024. The woman welcomed twin boys at the Mthatha General Hospital. The province has recorded 118 Christmas babies.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OUR CHRISTMAS BABIES THIS YEAR?
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