Bendigo Health is preparing for a January baby boom as the number of newborns expected in the first month of 2021 is markedly higher than compared to previous years.
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Next January, 156 babies are scheduled to come into the world at Bendigo Health, compared to 128 in January 2020 and 119 in January 2019.
Bendigo Health chair Bob Cameron speculated that the coronavirus lockdown, which came into effect in late March, may be behind the rise in Bendigo's expected newborn population.
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"While there are many factors that influence people, it seems the coronavirus pandemic has had an impact, with people reassessing their priorities," Mr Cameron said.
"There has been quite significant growth in the number of expected newborns for January 2021 compared to previous years."
Bendigo Health women's and children's clinical director Nicola Yuen said regional hospitals were protected from the harsher impacts of the pandemic seen in metropolitan facilities.
"We are seeing more women choosing Bendigo to birth their baby who perhaps live between here and Melbourne," Dr Yuen said.
"I think the pandemic spared regional Victorian hospitals and women have made a choice that they are safer here."
Dr Yuen said Bendigo Health's facilities are more than capable of handling the expected rise in newborns, which is forecasted to increase in subsequent months.
"We are not near capacity and we have the ability to open more rooms as required," Dr Yuen said.
"In February, March and beyond we are definitely expected more babies to be born at Bendigo Health."
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