高齡孕產婦每年將逾300萬人 70後趕最後一班車

The number of pregnant women older than 35 in China is expected to exceed 3 million each year between 2017 and 2020, an increase of 30% compared with the average level in the past several years, a senior health official said.

一位衛生部高級官員表示，2017年到2020年，我國35歲以上孕婦數量每年預計將達到300萬人以上，較過去幾年的平均人數水平增長了30%。

The increase, a result of the universal second-child policy adopted at the beginning of last year, will impose great challenges on the country's health system, Ma Xiaowei, vice minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said.

國家衛計委副主任馬曉偉稱，去年年初實施的全面兩孩政策造成的這一增加，將對我國的醫療體系構成巨大的挑戰。

"For the present and a certain period in the future, ensuring the safety of mother and baby is a heavy task that deserves no optimism," Ma said.

馬曉偉稱：“當前和未來一個時期，保障母嬰安全的形勢不容樂觀，任務繁重。”

"Surveys show many couples born in the 1970s, who were hesitant about having a second child during the initial period when the universal second-child policy was adopted, are now hurrying and preparing to give birth to a second child so they will not miss that last chance."

“調查發現，不少70後在全面兩孩政策實施初期還在觀望，現在則在抓緊時間生二胎，這樣就不會錯過最後一個機會。”

Of the 90 million women made eligible to have a second baby in China with the new policy, 60% are older than 35, according to commission figures.

衛計委的數據顯示，依據新政，我國可生育兩孩的9000萬婦女中，有60%的人年齡在35歲以上。

Pregnant women of that age group are regarded to be more likely to suffer pregnancy-related diseases or complications and give birth to children with defects, according to the commission.

衛計委稱，此年齡段的孕婦羣體被認爲更易患有妊娠相關的疾病或併發症，生出有缺陷的孩子。

Ma urged health authorities at various levels to give priority to maternal safety and intensify measures to ensure the safety of mothers and babies.

馬曉偉敦促各級衛生部門將孕產婦安全和強化措施放在首位，以確保母嬰安全。