If it seems like you're seeing a surge of new babies around town, it is more than just your imagination. When it comes to the number of babies born in a year, Mercy Hospital has broken the state record for three straight years. The Channel 13 newsroom alone has seen nearly a dozen babies born to employees in the last year. It led us to look into the question: is Iowa seeing a baby boom?
The business of babies is booming at Mercy Hospital these days. "Numbers are through the roof here at Mercy. Last year was the third year in a row that Mercy has broken a state record as far as the total number of deliveries at a single institution," says Dr. Cary Murphy.
And Mercy isn't the only hospital seeing a surge. "We're seeing a lot of babies being born: all over the city, all over Polk County, all over central Iowa. Many months out of the year, we've been breaking records," says Julie Schomer, a registered nurse at Mercy.
"My daughter and my daughter-in-law are both pregnant, too. So it seems to me like everybody's pregnant," says Renee Chiaramonte, RN. New mom Carissa Sauer agrees, "You see a lot of babies lately. At my husband's work, it seems like it's been in the water, a lot."
The recent baby craze has many wondering, are we in the midst of a baby boom?
According to numbers from the Iowa Department of Public Health, in 2006, the number of babies born in Iowa surpassed 40,000 for the first time since 1985. The number grew to nearly 41,000 in 2007. Last year's numbers aren't yet available.
While the numbers are up, so is the overall population, which is why the birth rate matters -- that's the number of babies born per 1,000 people. In 2002, the birth rate in Iowa bottomed out at 12.8. By 2007, the birth rate had grown to 13.7 -- a level not seen since 1992.
While the numbers indicate a rise in births, experts in Iowa demographics say, they don't constitute a baby boom just yet. They say, a few more years with births edging closer to 45,000 would be necessary to label this a trend. Yet, the question remains: What's the reason for this current surge in babies? "You wonder where it's coming from and what could be the catalyst. I think its just a combination of a lot of things," says Schomer.
The most obvious answer is traced back to the original baby boomers, now in their 50s. Roughly 30 years ago, they had children, creating an echo-boom. Today, their grandchildren mark the beginning of the echo of the echo. Schomer, herself, will soon be one of those baby boomer grandmothers: "I'm going to be a first-time grandma in about three weeks."
Other explanations for the rise in births include immigration, as well as improved fertility rates, and fertility treatment. "I think you're seeing people born in the early part of the 70s who postponed giving birth to children for careers or later marriages and now they're also having babies," says Schomer.
Of course, fertility treatment can often lead to more than one baby born at a time. "So you get a two for one bang, if you will," says Dr. Neil Mandsager, who specializes in high-risk obstetrics. Improved pre and post-natal care may also be a reason for the baby boost.
"He's kind of surprised everybody and done really well so far," says 29-year-old Carissa Sauer, whose son, Blake, was born nearly three months premature. Years ago, the chances of a successful birth would have been low. However, today, Sauer is already looking forward to taking him home. "They give an estimate of his due date which was April 22nd. That's what we shoot for. Depends on him, how well he does," she says.
So now the question is: Will the current baby surge develop into a full-blown boom? "There's some speculation that the economy will drive the numbers down, as people have more concerns about whether they can afford to raise children. They may opt to wait until the economy gets better," says Dr. Mandsager.
As for the immediate future, however, the business of babies shows no signs of slowing down. "You kind of get a second wind and it gives you lots of energy. It pumps you up. It's great," Schomer says.
With a true baby boom, we could expect to see some impacts on society, for instance, on school enrollment. However, experts say, at this point, it is way too soon to predict any impacts of the sort.
As for our neighboring states, they are seeing a similar rise in birth rates. Minnesota's 2007 birth rate was 14.2. Missouri's was 14.1. And in 2006, Nebraska's birth rate hit 15.1.
The business of babies is booming at Mercy Hospital these days. "Numbers are through the roof here at Mercy. Last year was the third year in a row that Mercy has broken a state record as far as the total number of deliveries at a single institution," says Dr. Cary Murphy.
And Mercy isn't the only hospital seeing a surge. "We're seeing a lot of babies being born: all over the city, all over Polk County, all over central Iowa. Many months out of the year, we've been breaking records," says Julie Schomer, a registered nurse at Mercy.
"My daughter and my daughter-in-law are both pregnant, too. So it seems to me like everybody's pregnant," says Renee Chiaramonte, RN. New mom Carissa Sauer agrees, "You see a lot of babies lately. At my husband's work, it seems like it's been in the water, a lot."
The recent baby craze has many wondering, are we in the midst of a baby boom?
According to numbers from the Iowa Department of Public Health, in 2006, the number of babies born in Iowa surpassed 40,000 for the first time since 1985. The number grew to nearly 41,000 in 2007. Last year's numbers aren't yet available.
While the numbers are up, so is the overall population, which is why the birth rate matters -- that's the number of babies born per 1,000 people. In 2002, the birth rate in Iowa bottomed out at 12.8. By 2007, the birth rate had grown to 13.7 -- a level not seen since 1992.
While the numbers indicate a rise in births, experts in Iowa demographics say, they don't constitute a baby boom just yet. They say, a few more years with births edging closer to 45,000 would be necessary to label this a trend. Yet, the question remains: What's the reason for this current surge in babies? "You wonder where it's coming from and what could be the catalyst. I think its just a combination of a lot of things," says Schomer.
The most obvious answer is traced back to the original baby boomers, now in their 50s. Roughly 30 years ago, they had children, creating an echo-boom. Today, their grandchildren mark the beginning of the echo of the echo. Schomer, herself, will soon be one of those baby boomer grandmothers: "I'm going to be a first-time grandma in about three weeks."
Other explanations for the rise in births include immigration, as well as improved fertility rates, and fertility treatment. "I think you're seeing people born in the early part of the 70s who postponed giving birth to children for careers or later marriages and now they're also having babies," says Schomer.
Of course, fertility treatment can often lead to more than one baby born at a time. "So you get a two for one bang, if you will," says Dr. Neil Mandsager, who specializes in high-risk obstetrics. Improved pre and post-natal care may also be a reason for the baby boost.
"He's kind of surprised everybody and done really well so far," says 29-year-old Carissa Sauer, whose son, Blake, was born nearly three months premature. Years ago, the chances of a successful birth would have been low. However, today, Sauer is already looking forward to taking him home. "They give an estimate of his due date which was April 22nd. That's what we shoot for. Depends on him, how well he does," she says.
So now the question is: Will the current baby surge develop into a full-blown boom? "There's some speculation that the economy will drive the numbers down, as people have more concerns about whether they can afford to raise children. They may opt to wait until the economy gets better," says Dr. Mandsager.
As for the immediate future, however, the business of babies shows no signs of slowing down. "You kind of get a second wind and it gives you lots of energy. It pumps you up. It's great," Schomer says.
With a true baby boom, we could expect to see some impacts on society, for instance, on school enrollment. However, experts say, at this point, it is way too soon to predict any impacts of the sort.
As for our neighboring states, they are seeing a similar rise in birth rates. Minnesota's 2007 birth rate was 14.2. Missouri's was 14.1. And in 2006, Nebraska's birth rate hit 15.1.
