The increase in births at this time of the year was seasonal and unrelated to a lack of beds or doctor practice, the Health Division said this afternoon.
The division was replying to a statement issued by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses earlier today in which it gave the division 24 hours to start changing what it said was the doctors' practice of inducing labour, rather than allowing births to start naturally.
The MUMN said that midwives at the Maternity Section were facing major problems because the number of mothers was greater than the number of beds, to the detriment of safe practice.
The union warned it may take industrial action unless this practice was changed.
But the health division said that consultants always took their decisions in the best interests of mothers and babies and the division respected their judgement.
It appealed to the MUMN to continue working and dialoguing with consultants, doctors, midwives, and nurses, especially during these festive times, in the best interest of mothers and their babies.