‘Oh, COVID baby’: New mums, midwives deliver verdicts on regional ‘baby boom’, demographers not so sure

In January last year, before Australia had its first COVID-19 lockdown, Longreach Hospital was buzzing as its revamped maternity unit welcomed four babies.

In the first six weeks of this year a whopping 20 babies have been born there, and midwife Meri Howden says the unit is alive with celebrations.

“Oh, it definitely feels like there’s a big boom,” she said.

“There’s lots of laughing going on.”

Ms Howden’s not alone in thinking something’s afoot. Hospital…