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The first weekend in May represents a special day for mums but at Gold Coast University Hospital¡¯s birth suite, every day is Mother¡¯s Day.

Acting Director of Midwifery Paula Stanton said the COVID-19 pandemic hadn¡¯t slowed down the number of babies being born at the GCUH.

¡°In 2020 we had 5244 babies born here. Last year that number grew to 5621. In 2020, 49% of the births were girls and 51% were boys and we're tracking the same for 2022 so far,¡± she said.

So far, in 2022 (to 30 April), 1828 babies have been born at the hospital. 

¡°We continue to have well over 400 births a month. For example, in March we had 495 births and in April we had 468,¡± Ms Stanton said.

While it¡¯s yet not the record-breaking numbers experienced in 2021, Ms Stanton said the birth suite remained consistently busy.

¡°May 2021 holds the record for the highest number of births at GCUH with 534 babies welcomed into the world that month. So, we¡¯ll be waiting to see how May 2022 compares,¡± she said.

¡°It¡¯s not likely to be just one reason as to why that number jumped but COVID-19 may have influenced it. Whether it was extra ¡®snuggling¡¯ due to people staying closer to home or the ongoing population growth on the Gold Coast, it all plays its part.

¡°We have some of the best facilities and maternity services in Australia, so it¡¯s easy to understand why more women are opting to have their baby here. It¡¯s a great place to have your baby and raise a family.¡±

Ms Stanton said there were 95 sets of twins born in 2021 with 21 sets born this year so far (to 30 March).

¡°While it continues to be busy, our amazing midwives and nurses remain focussed on supporting each family through this very special time in their journey.¡±

Birth data for Gold Coast University Hospital