On April 22, 36-year-old Wang Lin became the first woman in Pingtan county to obtain a permit for a second child.

She will be eligible to have a second child starting in January 2015, according to the permit.

Wang, who had her first daughter in 2001, received the good news after Fujian relaxed its birth policy in early April, allowing parents to have a second child if one of them is an only child.

Wang, who is the only child in her family, applied for a birth permit right after the new policy took effect, and after about two weeks, she received the document that will allow her to have a second baby.

“A single child is usually lonely. A sibling will mean not only a playmate, but also a source of help and support in the future,” said Wang, adding that she was prepared to be expecting again.

The first batch of mothers in pursuit of a second child is more likely to be older ones like Wang, whereas younger mothers are not in a rush, physically or mentally, according to Wang Xuanxing, deputy director of the family planning bureau in Pingtan.

More than 10 applications for a second child were submitted to the bureau as of April 22, sources said.