Hospital officials told the publication at least five of Houston-based Memorial Hermann’s area hospitals saw a rise in births the week Harvey made landfall. At Memorial Hermann Katy (Texas) Hospital, for instance, staff assisted with between 10 and 12 deliveries daily that week, about twice as many as normal, according to Gail Saunders, the hospital’s director of women’s services. Other locations, including Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital and Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center, both in Houston, also reported at least twice as many births that week compared to normal.
Ms. Saunders told the Houston Chronicle a correlation between storms and a rise in births, while not proven from a scientific standpoint, is a happening healthcare workers are familiar with.
“When the storms start brewing and the barometric pressure changes, that’s when the mothers start showing up,” she added.
The report notes Memorial Hermann hospital officials were uncertain whether any of the new mothers gave their child the same name as the storm. But one mother at Corpus Christi (Texas) Medical Center Doctors Regional did just that. The hospital said in a news release Harvey Rodriguez arrived at 7:55 p.m. Aug. 25 weighing 7 pounds. Hospital officials said Harvey’s mother, Irma Rodriguez, did not have a name chosen before going into labor, but she decided to go with the suggestion from one of the hospital nurses.
“It was exciting delivering my baby during the hurricane. We are thankful for the care we received at Doctors Regional and for the good health of our family,” Ms. Rodriguez said in a prepared statement.
Jay Woodall, CEO of CCMC, added, “Patient care is our highest priority, even during a Category 4 hurricane. We are blessed with outstanding nurses, physicians and staff to serve the community.”
