Townsville University Hospital braces for coronavirus lockdown wave of births
Townsville maternity wards are bracing for a COVID-19 lockdown-induced birth boom predicted to begin in three weeks.
Townsville
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TOWNSVILLE maternity wards are bracing for a COVID-19 lockdown-induced birth boom anticipated to begin in three weeks.
Birth predictions by the Townsville Hospital and Health Service expect 210 births next month and 222 births in January 2021.
The prediction exceeds this year’s monthly average of 197 births.
Townsville University Hospital midwife and mum-to-be Ellie Beattie, 36, is 31 weeks pregnant and is due on January 7 next year.
Ms Beattie said news of her pregnancy was “a bit of a surprise”.
“It was when the situation was right and it was something myself and my partner were thinking about for a while but bub was a happy surprise,” she said.
“I feel so incredibly lucky being pregnant during COVID in Townsville because we did not have that many (coronavirus) cases.”
She said the Townsville University Hospital was ready to tackle the upcoming birth influx.
“The pregnancy care that has been delivered through the hospital during this year has not changed.
“There are amazing midwives at the hospital and they do amazing work every day so I have no doubt that everyone is going to be looked after.”
Townsville University Hospital midwifery manager Sari Holland said the hospital birth projections were on the “conservative side” with a 10 per cent increase expected.
“I think the idea that there would be a wave of lockdown babies was a little overblown but certainly it appears as though there has been some impact,” she said. “Given the lockdown was during April and May of 2020, it makes sense that we are anticipating an increase in babies born in December and January.”
Hospital data reveals a downward trend in births over the last five years.
In the 2015-16 financial year, there were on average 220 births a month compared to 201 births per month on average in 2019-20. Ms Holland said upbeat birth trends usually emerged after major disasters.
“We typically see a bump in our birthrates nine months after floods, cyclones and apparently now pandemics,” she said. “I think it is lovely that people are choosing to make the most of their time at home to keep busy and grow our next generation of North Queenslanders.”
Originally published as Townsville University Hospital braces for coronavirus lockdown wave of births