KUWAIT CITY, Jan 21: The recent announcement of the KD 1,000 Amiri grant for all Kuwaitis has prompted some pregnant women to ask their doctors to help pre-pone their delivery so that they can deliver before Feb 1st, which is the last date for children to be eligible for the grant, reports Al-Anba daily.

Head of Gynecology and Obstetrics Department at Al-Adan Hospital Dr Jassim Hajji stressed that certain conditions have to be fulfilled before a healthy baby can be delivered. The baby must complete at least 37 weeks of gestational age or more, otherwise the baby is considered premature. He said although the baby might be of proper weight, the problem lies in the inducing of delivery before the due date. Hajji added that such incidents may take place in private hospitals, but can never happen in public hospitals due to strict regulations.

Medical Director of Sheikha International Clinic and OB/GYN specialist Dr Amr Al-Sayad said many have already started scheduling their delivery dates. Al-Sayad expressed his strong opposition to such acts, and urged his colleagues to refrain from participating in such deliveries. He also called on doctors to prevent deliveries before the proper due dates.

Babies who are born prematurely suffer many health problems, said another OB/GYN specialist Dr Hossam Al-Qadhi. He said such babies suffer from difficulties in breathing which affects oxygen levels reaching the brain, and they are prone to Jaundice. Mothers who induce labor before their natural due date increase their chances of having a caesarean section operation instead of normal delivery. This is due to the fact that their cervix is not yet ready for normal delivery.

HH the Amir has instructed that all Kuwaitis born on or before Feb 1st be granted a KD 1,000 allowance and free ration supplies for a period of 14 months to mark the country’s 50th year of independence, 20th year of liberation from the Iraqi occupation and five years of HH the Amir’s ascension to power.