Valentine’s Day sees conception rate rise
By Julie Griffiths on 14 February 2018 NHS England Birth rate
NHS figures show a jump in pregnancies as a result of a rise in conception rates around Valentine’s Day – 14 February.
The new figures from NHS England reveal there was a 5% rise in conceptions around the most romantic day of the year, according to the data gathered to help the NHS provide the best possible care for expectant women and their babies.
According to 2015 figures that have been analysed for the first time, there were 16,263 babies conceived in the week of Valentine’s Day, up on an average of 15,427 each week.
Another 16,344 were conceived the following week meaning that the Valentine’s Day is second only to Christmas for the number of women becoming pregnant.
Chair of the Maternity Transformation Programme at NHS England Sarah-Jane Marsh said: ‘Love is most definitely in the air at this time of year and it is fantastic to learn that the NHS sees a mini-baby boom nine months later – bringing with it great joy to families across the nation.
‘Those of us who work in maternity services are so proud that there has never been a better time to have a baby, with record numbers of new mums saying they have been treated with dignity and respect, with more personalised care on offer and life expectancy at an all-time high. However, we know we have more work to do to ensure personal and safe care are delivered every time – and we are totally committed to doing even better.’
A record 88% of new mothers said that they were treated with dignity and respect throughout labour, according to the latest CQC survey, which was published last month.
Pregnant women in England are also increasingly offered more personalised care and a midwife who they know available throughout their use of maternity service, care which they would not previously get on the NHS.
Better care and medical advances also mean that a baby born in 2018 – the NHS 70th anniversary year – can expect to live longer than at any time in the past, with one in three girls set to live past 100.
RCM CEO Gill Walton said: ‘We have one of the best maternity services in the world and it is getting even better as the recent CQC maternity results show. There is always room for improvement though and England also has ambitious plans to transform its maternity services so women can look forward to more choice and even better care.
‘Whenever a woman conceives, midwives, MSWs and other maternity staff will be doing all they can to ensure they have the best experience they can though the pregnancy, the birth and beyond.’