China's post-quake baby boom

[Coventina]

Source: Baltimore Sun

MIANZHU, China - Ten months and 25 days after he buried his only child, Luo Gang became a father again at a makeshift hospital cobbled out of aluminum trailers.

For weeks after his 11-year-old daughter was killed in last May's massive earthquake here in Sichuan province, his wife cried so uncontrollably that her family feared she might be having a breakdown.

"If you don't have another baby, my sister will be grieving her whole life," Luo said his brother-in-law advised him.

Luo said he was shocked by the tactlessness of the suggestion.

"We were in a bad way after the earthquake. My wife couldn't stop crying," recalled Luo, a 35-year-old welder, his eyes sunken deep with fatigue after a long night waiting for his wife to give birth to their son. He spoke outside the hospital room where his baby born a few hours before lay wrapped in bunting in a metal bassinet next to his mother, both sleeping contentedly.

"Now, we are better. A new life has been created to take the place of the one that was taken away."


Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.babies10may10,0,794538.story

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The article focuses on couples in their 30s & 40s who lost their only child in the earthquake, and so have had babies, or are pregnant, with a "replacement" child. They feel they can't afford to wait for circumstances to get better, due to the "biological clock."

The article calls it a "bittersweet baby boom."

[Mari333]

1. having another child is a good thing but

you never get over the other one who passed, and no one can replace them.

[madaboutharry]

2. That article is so sad.

Maybe these people will find some peace and joy with their new babies.

[underpants]

3. A friend is one of 11 kids "The lights went out a lot" she says

Well..... there's no TV :shrug:

:bounce:
:rofl: