Slavonski Brod Maternity Ward Surpasses Last Year's Numbers
By August 6, 47 more babies were born in Slavonski Brod than during the entire year of 2025, offering encouraging news amid Croatia's concerning decline in birth rates.
By August 6, 47 more babies were born in Slavonski Brod than during the entire year of 2025, offering encouraging news amid Croatia's concerning decline in birth rates.
At a time when Croatia continues to record a worrying decline in birth rates, news from the Slavonski Brod maternity ward brings a ray of optimism. The Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the "Dr. Josip Benčević" General Hospital announced that from the beginning of the year until August 6, 2026, 47 more babies were born in their facility than during the entire year of 2025.
Although nearly five months remain until the end of the year, the number of newborns has already surpassed last year's total. This significant increase is particularly heartening for the medical staff and for those who have rightly highlighted concerning demographic indicators in recent years.
The maternity ward shared this encouraging data on the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week, which is observed worldwide to emphasize the importance of breastfeeding as the best start in life for every child. To mark the occasion, the medical staff of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics organized a public health campaign aimed at further raising awareness among parents about the benefits of breast milk and providing support to women beginning their journey into motherhood.
Pediatrician Dr. Dijana Brelis-Grozdanić, a neonatology specialist, emphasized that breast milk is the best possible nutrition for a newborn.
"Breast milk represents the ideal nutrition for a newborn, providing all necessary nutrients, strengthening the immune system, and contributing to the healthy growth and development of the child. At the same time, breastfeeding offers numerous health benefits for the mother and fosters a strong emotional bond between mother and child. Our goal is to provide every mother with professional support, information, and encouragement so that she can begin and continue breastfeeding with confidence. Through the joint efforts of healthcare professionals, families, and the community, we create an environment where every mother can achieve a successful breastfeeding experience," said Dr. Brelis-Grozdanić.
The observance of World Breastfeeding Week thus gained additional symbolism in Slavonski Brod. In addition to highlighting the importance of natural infant feeding, medical experts were also able to share one of the most joyful pieces of news this year, that the maternity ward in Slavonski Brod is recording more newborn cries than in the previous year.
Finally, the members of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics extended heartfelt congratulations to all mothers, wishing them abundant support, success, and pleasant moments during the breastfeeding period, emphasizing that they will continue to be a reliable source of support in the first, often most challenging days of parenthood.
