Just nine months after a brutal cold snap that brought record-breaking cold to Wisconsin, some local hospitals are seeing an increase in births.
Wisconsin experienced a brutal winter this past year and that included the infamous 'polar vortex' in mid to late January. Just nine months later, southeast Wisconsin Ascension hospitals report a 10 percent increase in births compared to this time last year. Four local hospitals in particular saw increases:
- Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Milwaukee
- Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital – St. Joseph Campus
- Ascension All Saints Hospital (Racine)
- Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Ozaukee
Many people had to stay inside due to the brutal cold. Wisconsin saw temperatures that hadn't been seen in decades. Meteorologists even called these temperatures "arctic cold temperatures." In fact, it got so cold that Gov. Tony Evers had to declare a state of emergency.
Many schools were closed for several days, and, UWM and Marquette both canceled classes. People were stuck in their homes with nothing to do but wait out the cold.
Now, nine months later, there are more babies being born this month than there were in October of last year.
According to UnityPoint Health, the most popular time for births is July through October; however, August and September typically see the most births.
