All I want for Christmas is...a coronavirus baby boom?

The first coronavirus lockdown in the Netherlands back in March 2020 is set to lead to a baby boom across many parts of the country (and the world) from December. 

Coronavirus lockdowns have led to a baby boom

As events were cancelled and bars, restaurants, cinemas, and museums across the country were forced to shut down, people were forced to spend more and more time at home with the other members of their household - whether they be friends, family, or a significant other. Back in the spring, a number of experts believed this change to day-to-day life would bring about a baby boom. 

As the end of 2020 approaches, and December marks nine months since the intelligent lockdown in the Netherlands was announced, parts of the country are seeing signs that the first wave of the coronavirus baby boom is just around the corner. 

Filiz Bogazci, a midwife at the Eliff Birth Centre in Rotterdam, said: “For many people, the intelligent lockdown in the spring was like a holiday. Not going into the office for a while. Less stress. Nice at home, together with your partner. There is more time for sex.” 

More births expected in some Dutch cities

Nuvia, one of the largest maternity care organisations in the Netherlands says it doesn’t look like a national baby boom is on the cards for the Netherlands, but some parts of the country - such as The Hague and Twente - are expecting to see more births at the end of this year and in 2021 as a result of the coronavirus lockdown(s). Roderic Rosenkamp, spokesperson for Nuvia, told a local Twente newspaper that an increase of between 5 and 10 percent was definitely realistic. 

Iris Vermeer from the midwifery practice Verloskundigen aan de Maas in Rotterdam told De Telegraaf that, since the practice opened five years ago, the midwives had never been as busy as they are now.