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I'm curious as well but in the opposite. People are spending more time at home together, could there be a birth boom in Q1/Q2 of next year?

CalRobert 6y ago
Maybe for first babies.
whynotminot 6y ago
Apparently the divorce rate is skyrocketing. Wouldn't surprise me to see both results: lots of new babies and lots of broken relationships.
readarticle 6y ago
Economic crises almost always cause huge drops in fertility rates, look at the US rate post GFC. Fertility being correlated with income levels, the people spending time at home together are already not going to have kids, the others are unemployed/under massive financial stress/still going to work.
caymanjim 6y ago
I assumed there would be a baby boom, but so far the evidence doesn't support it. Google turns up plenty of statistics in opposition to the notion.
lm28469 6y ago
> People are spending more time at home together, could there be a birth boom in Q1/Q2 of next year? Birth control is cheap and well understood these days, I doubt many people are actively trying to have kids during a pandemic (financial + health risks). If anything I'd expect more breakups than births
saagarjha 6y ago
Birth rates generally decline in times of uncertainty; most people are aware of and practice family planning. For many, having a child right now would be fiscally irresponsible.
- swyx 6y ago
  not just fiscally - if you have a choice, why would you choose to go to the hospital for a traumatic process, tying up valuable doctors but also potentially exposing yourself to covid...
rileyteige 6y ago
Anecdotally where I live several OB/GYNs (my wife is a resident) have told me they will be delivering a ton of babies over this upcoming winter, and that they are busier than ever - with obstetric cases. Also anecdotally, we're expecting our first - we were waiting for the right time, had it all planned out.. then COVID pulled the rug out from under everything so we said screw it and just went for it. I suspect we're not alone in this...
- swyx 6y ago
  > screw it heh heh heh you sure did. congrats on becoming a parent soon!

CalRobert 6y ago

Maybe for first babies.

whynotminot 6y ago

Apparently the divorce rate is skyrocketing. Wouldn't surprise me to see both results: lots of new babies and lots of broken relationships.

readarticle 6y ago

Economic crises almost always cause huge drops in fertility rates, look at the US rate post GFC. Fertility being correlated with income levels, the people spending time at home together are already not going to have kids, the others are unemployed/under massive financial stress/still going to work.

caymanjim 6y ago

I assumed there would be a baby boom, but so far the evidence doesn't support it. Google turns up plenty of statistics in opposition to the notion.

lm28469 6y ago

> People are spending more time at home together, could there be a birth boom in Q1/Q2 of next year? Birth control is cheap and well understood these days, I doubt many people are actively trying to have kids during a pandemic (financial + health risks). If anything I'd expect more breakups than births

saagarjha 6y ago

Birth rates generally decline in times of uncertainty; most people are aware of and practice family planning. For many, having a child right now would be fiscally irresponsible.

swyx 6y ago
not just fiscally - if you have a choice, why would you choose to go to the hospital for a traumatic process, tying up valuable doctors but also potentially exposing yourself to covid...

rileyteige 6y ago

Anecdotally where I live several OB/GYNs (my wife is a resident) have told me they will be delivering a ton of babies over this upcoming winter, and that they are busier than ever - with obstetric cases. Also anecdotally, we're expecting our first - we were waiting for the right time, had it all planned out.. then COVID pulled the rug out from under everything so we said screw it and just went for it. I suspect we're not alone in this...

swyx 6y ago
> screw it heh heh heh you sure did. congrats on becoming a parent soon!