Hospital passes 10,000 babies

In celebration of 10,000 babies being born at St John of God Health hospitals across Australia so far this year, babies born last Monday were given a gift.

An average of 36 babies are born every day in the 11 maternity wards across the country.

The busiest month so far this year was March, with 1167 babies born in 31 days.

It is expected that more than 13,000 babies will be born by the end of the calendar year at St John of God hospitals – a 19 per cent increase on 2015.

Of the 10,000 babies, 51.5 per cent were boys and 48.5 per cent were girls.

The most popular name for boys was Oliver and for girls, Charlotte.