Relaxed policy boosts demand for midwives

Zhang Cuiqiong, who has been a midwife for more than 20 years, is gearing up for the busiest year ever, as China's relaxation of its one-child policy will aggravate an already severe midwife shortage.

"I saw a midwife help deliver 22 newborns in a single day in my hospital. And the record will surely be broken soon," said the 46-year-old Zhang, who works at the Second People's Hospital of Guangdong.

Guangdong province is expected to see a big baby boom after relaxing its family planning policy in late March to allow couples to have a second baby if either parent is an only child.