Chinese media have noticed a trend of pregnant women rushing to have caesarean sections before the end of August, so that their yet-to-be-born children will be in the academic year ahead of September-born babies.
中国媒体注意到一个趋势,一些准妈妈们急于在8月底之前进行剖腹产,这样的话,自己即将出生的孩子会比9月出生的孩子早一年上学。
China News Service has released a video featuring a "busy scene" of pregnant women at a hospital in the city of Wuhan. The video has prompted an online debate about Chinese parents' attitude towards education.
中新社发布的一段视频展现了武汉市一家医院里孕妇们的忙碌画面。该视频引发了一场关于中国父母对待教育所持态度的网络讨论。
Some said striving to have a child before September leaves parents feeling they have "won time" regarding their child's education.
有网友称,争取在9月之前生下孩子这一举动让父母觉得他们为自己孩子的教育“赢得了时间”。
But most said the trend is "crazy" and shows the way in which Chinese parents are putting too much pressure on their children.
但多数网友表示这种趋势很“疯狂”,体现出中国父母正对孩子施加过大的压力。
"Do people nowadays no longer care about the health of a foetus?" one social media user asks. "A full-term birth is more conducive to a baby's health."
一位社交媒体用户发问道:“现在人们不再关心胎儿的健康了吗?足月分娩更有利于婴儿的健康。”
"The trend is ridiculous, and these women are ridiculous," another adds.
另外一人补充道:“这种趋势够荒谬,这些女人也是够荒谬的。”
Many social media users say they think China's competitive education system is to blame, and some fear the impact on infant health.
许多社交媒体用户表示,他们认为中国竞争激烈的教育体系是罪魁祸首,一些人担心这会对婴儿健康造成影响。
"Premature births can have an impact on a child's intelligence," one user notes.
一位用户写道:“早产会影响孩子的智力。”