AIBU to predict another baby boom?

[lockdowndreamer]

As couples been locked together since the end of March, is it unreasonable to predict the next baby boom coming early 2021?

Not in my house!

DD is disabled and has learning disabilities and is HARD WORK!! She has not been going to school or respite and we have not had any carers in due to her shielding. So, I have been looking after her and DH has still been working 14 hour days. We are both exhausted!!!! Not even DTD since lockdown began 😳

Not from existing parents.

Yep, already have two friends announce early pregnancies.

Personally, I don't think it's likely. There were quite a few articles in March predicting one, but studies are suggesting the opposite because of financial uncertainties.

This is a summary of one study:
medicalxpress.com/news/2020-05-covid-baby-boom.amp

And this is an interesting opinion piece:
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/covid19-baby-boom-bust/

My view....

Those who already have children - unlikely as they've had to juggle childcare / WFH or financial concerns with furlough.

First time parents - lower liklihood if it's being planned / thought about because of the uncertainty. Though there's still always "accidents".

One night stands - well, night clubs etc are closed, so in theory fewer....

After WW2 there was a boom, but during the Great Recession there was a drop in birth rate. I think there was also a drop following 9/11.

We'll find out in 9 months I guess 🤷‍♀️

You’re a bit behind the times - many people predicted this at the start of lockdown.

I think probably not. The only people who have a chance will be those living together who don't already have kids, id have thought. God knows I'm not getting any 😂

Not since the two child cap. Might have a small rise but i think a boom is pushing it.

Only of PFBs if at all, but tbh I think the (necessary) changes to maternity care have put a lot of people off TTC right now.

People thought so at first, but actually it's the opposite. www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52490023

No, lots of people I know have put off TTC due to the worries about covid, the economy and finances etc. Others have been put off having another child by being home for so long with their current child/ren.

If anything, the divorce rate will be going up.

I don't think so. Not for existing parents anyway. Maybe for furloughed childless couples with secure jobs. I find that when we were ttc a bit of extra time together always helped the process. Out of my 8 pregnancies 4 were conceived when the clocks went back and 2 were on the Easter bank holiday weekend.

I'm bloody glad I had my tubes tied after the last DC or I dread to think...

We were thinking about TTC after a slew of events was up in August (big trips abroad, weddings etc). But as soon as lockdown was announced we bulk bought condoms.

All my longed-for events are being rescheduled for April-June next year, and I'm not even thinking about TTC until they're all complete.

Not from existing parents.

Exactly what I was going to say, once both DC are asleep, I just want peace and quiet and no body touching me!

If there is one, I imagine it will mostly be first born children!

Not from me. With a teenager in the house, who goes to bed at 3-4 am we simply couldn’t have sex. I think we only managed some action twice.

I made a joke about a baby boom of first born children at the start of lockdown... I'm now 7 weeks pregnant with dc2! It turns out spending lots of time together as a family made us realise we wanted more of it!

our wedding got cancelled and it was always the plan to ttc our second straight after so we figured why wait another year. so I'm now 13 weeks pregnant with dc2. our situation is different in that we havent been financially impacted by coronavirus as were both key workers

I think it won’t be a baby boom but a divorce boom....

I know one person but they have been very open about trying for a second since Jan, announced their 12 week scan last week.

No one else I know will even entertain the idea of another baby, but we all have the desired number we want 🤷‍♀️

I'm pregnant and a lot of people are joking with me about it being a COVID baby Thing is we were TTC anyway and I conceived about a month before the lockdown. I hope there's not a boom, I'd like not to have to fight for a school place!

I have 2 DC already but fortunately they've been great throughout the lockdown so it hasn't put me off!

I’m also pregnant but luckily announced just as lockdown started so no one thinks it’s a lockdown baby. DH and I had been TTC DC2 for a year.

As a PP said, I don’t want to have to fight for a school place as my baby is due in September and any Covid babies will be the same year.

Only if they’ve no children at present - opportunities in this house have been somewhat limited due to the teenagers being here ALL THE BLOODY TIME! 🤣

Only of second babies!

God no. Well not for people who already have kids