Blackout Baby Boom

Sometimes we have to do a little research. Yesterday, we got this question:

Do you know how many births there were in the Northeast this past weekend? The big "blackout" on August 14th 2003 was 9 months ago. Just curious!

Statistic reports haven't been published yet, but the answer is basically: no more than at the same time last year.

Turns out the buzz about there being a baby boom after a traumatic event (like the August black out or 9/11) is a myth. So no more people than usual got jiggy in the dark. If we remember correctly, it was too hot to even move. The AP corroborates. One woman said:

"Sex was the last thing on my mind," said Kam, 30. "It was hot and muggy. We didn't have working showers. We went into survival mode, not sex mode."

So there you have it. No baby boom.

Gothamist on the blackout.

Email This Entry


Comments (3) [rss]

user-pic

Ah, but does an increased amount of getting it on really have to end up with an increased amount of babies?

Maybe there was a increased amount of sex that all happened to be protected.

I'm just sayin', is all.

user-pic

plus, you don't count back 9 months, you would count back 40 weeks. pregnancy goes thru the ninth month - hence 40 weeks. i realize i may be the only mom/pregnant woman reading this but it is worth noting.

Every why has a wherefore...

Post a comment (Comment Policy)

Tips

Get your daily dose of New York first thing in the morning from our weekday newsletter, now in beta.

About Gothamist

Gothamist is a website about New York. More

Editor: Jen Chung
Publisher: Jake Dobkin

Newsmap

newsmap.jpg

Contribute

Latest Tip:

Saving Public Housing By Building Anew
[more]

Latest Photo:

Subscribe

Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.

All Our RSS

Follow us