Pregnant Germans seek cash bonus

Many German mothers-to-be are reportedly trying to delay labour so their births coincide with a generous new government scheme.

Parents of babies born on or after 1 January will be
entitled to up to 25,200 euros (£16,911, $33,300) to ease the financial
burden of parenthood.

But those born even a minute earlier will not be covered by the scheme.

The cash subsidies are part of a government initiative to boost Germany's dwindling birth rate.

German women have an average of 1.37 children, well
below the average of 2.1 needed to keep a population stable. One
minister recently warned of "the lights going out".

Under the current system of Elterngeld, parents receive a maximum of 7,200 euros (£4,831, $9,472) over two years.

But the parents of children born in 2007 will be granted
over two thirds of their former salary for up to a year - up to 25,200
euros.