BEIJING -- About half of China's 15.23 million newborns in 2018 were second children in the family, according to a recent report by the National Health Commission.

The country has made steady progress in improving its maternal and child health services, the report says, adding that lactation facilities had been provided in 88.3 percent of public places that should be equipped with such facilities.

The commission said it had been coordinating with other authorities to improve policies regarding early childhood education, employment, housing and tax after the country allowed married couples to have up to two children from 2016.