Could lockdown have led to a baby boom at Antrim Area Hospital?

The question is being asked by teams at Antrim Area Hospital after the hard-pressed staff had the busiest month ever in August.

A tweet by Jennifer Welsh (Chief Executive Northern Health & Social Care Trust) revealed that 350 babies were born at the site over the end of summer month. According to Ms. Welsh, a busy month would have previously been 250 babies delivered.

The bundles of joy that arrived last month would have been conceived during the Autumn of 2020, mostly in October and November, leaving some questioning if there is a correlation between lockdown and a busy maternity suites nine months later.

The Northern Trust Chief Executive thanked the dedicated a staff times of the Midwifery and Obstetric teams who she said, “have been incredibly busy!”