http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000154642417163&rtmo=Q9xxwOQR&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/99/7/24/nbaby24.html

ISSUE 1520 Saturday 24 July 1999

Millennium baby boom fears fade, + By Robert Shrimsley, Chief Political Correspondent

FEARS of a Millennium baby boom which could swamp the NHS over the New Year are proving groundless, the Department of Health has been told.

A survey of the eight English health regions has shown "no significant" increase in maternity bookings for the period. Ministers and health officials had feared a surge in births during the period. Their fears were exacerbated by news that the first-born British baby of the new Millennium could expect to earn thousands of pounds for its parents in sponsorship and publicity deals.

The concern was so great that health officials urged couples not to try to plan a baby for the the Millennium because hospital and maternity wards would be understaffed and overstretched, and there were concerns over the Millennium bug.

ITV is understood to be preparing a documentary series, called Birthrace 2000. It will focus on 10 couples aiming for a Jan 1 baby. The first child to appear on that date will be the subject of televised progress reports as he or she grows up.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), July 24, 1999