Sophia or Maximilian? Emma or Elijah? In 2021, close family circles thought about many baby names and found many names for newborns. More than ever. Because in the second year of the pandemic, 24,089 children were born in the state capital, according to the Munich City Clinic. That means an increase of 3.8 percent compared to the previous year, when 23,198 babies were born. Munich is thus slightly above the nationwide increase of 2.7 percent.
6,740 children were born in the three urban women’s clinics of the Munich clinic alone – i.e. Harlaching, Schwabing and Neuperlach. Nine percent more than in the previous year. The Munich Clinic makes it clear that this is also a new record. And that in Corona times.
Working from home has made the desire to have children more achievable
More time for each other? Christoph Scholz, professor and chief physician at the women’s clinics in Harlaching and Neuperlach, does not want to put up with clichés when looking for reasons for more babies in the city. So with the common assumption: If it’s cozy and warm, if couples spend more time together, more children would be born. You have to be careful with this thesis. That would correspond more to an image of women, as he says, from the 1950s. “No,” says the 45-year-old, “the individual factors are much more complex.”
He sees a possible reason for the increase in births in the “social changes”, for example through home office. “The desire to have children,” explains Scholz, “maybe become more feasible.” Because work and family are more easily combined, because couples can be there for the newborn together. And he adds that social changes caused by Corona could even be a “first sugar for more family-oriented planning”.
Imenta T. had a severe course of Covid 19 and suffered a premature birth in the 29th week last autumn. Mother and daughter had to be treated in intensive care in Harlaching.
(Photo: Munich Clinic)
62 Sars-CoV-2-positive women gave birth in 2021 in the women’s clinics of the Munich clinic. In 2020 there were a total of 27 births. A huge challenge. Because pregnant women and women suffering from Covid have a higher risk of a severe course of the disease. According to the Munich Clinic, they have to be treated in intensive care two to five times as often. The risk of premature birth also increases.
As Scholz remembers, there was a woman who had to be ventilated and whose child had to be fetched much earlier. Only after waking up from the coma could the mother hold her child in her arms. There were cases when one had to protect the life of the mother and induce a premature birth. But there were also cases that, with all the precautions and protection, even made outpatient care at home possible. Despite Corona. “Women are courageous,” says Scholz. “They often put their health aside for the life of their child.” That is why the protection of the mother is extremely important and has now become “more relevant” again.
50 percent of pregnant women are now vaccinated
An experience remains. That, according to chief physician Scholz, many expectant mothers were not vaccinated, mainly for fear of infertility. It was not until September 2021 that the Standing Vaccination Commission recommended the injection. More than 50 percent of pregnant women are now vaccinated. “There has been a significant boost in the last eight weeks,” says Scholz.
The chief physician is proud that the gynecological clinics have succeeded in making childbirth safe in times of Corona with a strict hygiene concept – with strict separation of pregnant women with Covid-19 and those who are not, strict testing of pregnant women and theirs partners and the separation of service teams. Above all, it is important to him to enable “family unity”. For him, this also means, for example, that his partner can be present in the delivery room. According to the Munich Clinic, this was “continuously” possible. They also “didn’t lose a mother”.
And Christoph Scholz also has hope. That there is currently no indication that the course of the disease is becoming more severe in expectant mothers who have been infected with the omicron variant. Rather lighter. But he makes it clear once again how important it is that women go into pregnancy already vaccinated and refresh their vaccination protection with a view to Omikron. “Vaccination is not a risk.” Protection only. For Emma. For Maximilian. And all the babies to come.