TAIPEI, Taiwan - Numerous babies were born yesterday on New Year's Day in hospitals across the island, bringing joy to their families.

Several hospitals in Central Taiwan, including Taichung Veteran Generals Hospital, Cheng Ching Hospital, Department of Health's Taichung Hospital, Kuang Tien General Hosptial and Lin Shin Hospital reported births on New Year's Day.

As of press time, Lin Shin Hospital alone saw eight babies safely born, while another four mothers were still in labor.

Family members crowded in front of the nursery's window, as new fathers took pictures of their babies in a joyous atmosphere.

Of the eight infants born, six were boys. The first baby was born naturally on 12:30 a.m. The mother said that the birth was initially expected to take place in mid-January, and that she was surprised when the contractions started while she was watching a New Year's Eve event on television.

Her son was born as the fireworks burst across the sky.

The father went into the delivery room and took a photo of his wife and newborn son. He said that his first two children were girls, and that he and his wife had waited seven years to have their third. "We are happy that our son chose to be born on New Year's Day," he added.

Five were born via caesarean section at Lin Shin Hospital. In addition to personal reasons of the mothers, a father said that he and his wife chose to have their child born on New Year's Day because it was a good day according to the charts.

Kuang Tien General Hosptial, on the other hand, said that it did not have any appointments for caesarean sections on New Year's Day, but that two babies were born naturally yesterday.

The two mothers said that they were extremely happy over the birth of their children regardless of it being New Year's Day.