Bounty

Hospitals in Portsmouth are braced for a surge in births this autumn and the long, cold winter is to blame, according to an independent midwife.

A baby boom is being expected from this September by health chiefs in the Hampshire city after more than 600 12-week scans took place in March, 100 more than the normal monthly average.

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust's spokeswoman said they could not speculate on what had caused the spike in pregnancies, but Birth Joy's Joy Horner said bad winters tended to lead to rising birth rates.

"We do see a rise in conception rates when there's been severe weather. The weather does have an impact," she told Portsmouth News. "The snow could definitely be the reason for the baby boom next month.

"If you can not get out of your house, you've got to find some way to keep yourself occupied."

Julie Dawes, director of nursing at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Having a baby is a very special time for anyone and we are excited for all mums-to-be who are expecting this autumn.

"A 'baby boom' is determined by how many women are having pregnancies confirmed by a 12-week scan.

"In a normal month that number would be about 500. In March this year we carried out more than 600 12-week scans and in April more than 550 were done."#

Copyright Press Association 2010