Will this increase or decrease the birth rate?

[Makeitgoaway]

Do scared people in times of great uncertainty have fewer children or do bored people make more children?

Short time decrease and after it’s calmed down I think a baby boom. No idea what I’m basing it on, it’s just my feeling, absolutely nothing to back my assertions up

Short term*

There will be an increase.
Usually an increase after any major sporting event eg. Football world cup, Olympics. Or Christmas. Any period of time where people spend longer periods of time together than usual. I dont think Covid-19 will make any difference

Thought this was pretty accurate xD

I would hope that people stop trying to conceive at the moment. The last thing the NHS needs is even more pressure.

One of our clients is a online.... ahem.... Adult toy retailer (not giant jenga if you get my drift). They are insanely busy at the moment.

Less underage pregnancies I think!

I'm expecting there to be a baby boom as we near the end. I know I wouldn't be wanting to get pregnant when it's unknown how the virus is affecting pregnant women/unborn babies

I looked on the infertility board to see if people were still trying to conceive, there are so many people there desperate for a baby. I'd be too worried about getting pregnant atm, what about needing scans and appointments?

The divorce rate will probably increase!

Short term boom but long term reduction as life will be even more expensive.

Increase. Less to do= more sex. No contraception appts as sexual health clinics are closed. Less access to quick abortions for same reason.

Hopefully less there’s enough pressure on the NHS. Although I know it’s usually the opposite, why anyone would want to conceive atm I’ve no idea.

It will decrease. Nobody knows if they'll have a job in a year. Most people now semi hating their spouses and realising how paper thin the margins are already. Economic catastrophe incoming. My dear old parents could drop dead and leave me with a house that was previously worth £££ and is now unsellable.

Way too many unknowns. Plus, all NHS swamped for the foreseeable.

Increase. Though im not sure why anyone would want to bring a baby into the world right now. Definitely increase though

Yeah I agree it will increase as a pp said all sexual health clinics are closed and my doctors have cancelled all appointments now too, I have a 15 month old and a 13 week old and I'm terrified for their futures... so the thought of creating a new person right now is a scary thought!
completely off topic but I seen a woman pushing round a newborn in my local Asda.... each to there own but I wouldn't be taking my babies anywhere at the moment, they haven't left the house since this all started!

I’ve had my children but if I hadn’t, there’s absolutely no way I’d want to bring children into this.

Surely it will decrease? Why would anyone bring a child into the world at the moment?

Even when the virus has calmed down, and that could be ages, what are the after affects going to be? A really bad recession and high unemployment seem unevitable.

I can also see taxes having to go up quite a lot. Benefits will not increase. In fact I expect it to be even harder to get them because there will be no spare money.

I think there is likely to be food shortages. Our farmers are saying they have no one to pick the fruit and veg. Other countries are likely to have the same problem and a lot of our food comes from abroad

I’d say decrease
I’m pregnant and I’m anxious can’t see why anyone would either ttc or be reckless atm

I would say decrease because had I known this was about to happen, I would not be 23 weeks pregnant right now and I can't imagine that anyone sane would want to be