Chinese woman’s quest for successful childbirth despite 26 miscarriages sparks criticism

A Chinese mother who gave birth after 26 miscarriages is facing online criticism after the hospital released her story.

With her most recent miscarriage occurring in 2019 at the age of 34, the woman gave birth to a baby girl through a C-section this year, according to a press release from the hospital. Although she had “lost hope” after her 26th miscarriage, the hospital’s surgical intervention allowed for a successful childbirth, reported South China Morning Post.

The 37-year-old mother’s story generated controversy regarding women and childbearing in the country. The hospital reportedly released her story as a “dream to be a mother coming true,” stating that “we intended to focus on the efforts and skills of our medical workers, but the readers apparently saw it from another perspective, which has caused disturbance to the patient.”

Weibo’s users were horrified by the woman’s sacrifice and seeming obsession with having a child.

A top comment encouraged respecting one’s own life before anything else, criticizing the promotion of the new mother’s story. Another comment reportedly mocked the country’s childbearing pressure on women and suggested that the mother had broken Guinness World Records.

In recent years, China has been facing a rapidly declining birth rate. Due to COVID-19-related factors, the downward trend is expected to continue into 2023.

Featured Image via Aditya Romansa

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