Nasty winter creates baby boom in West Virginia

Apparently sex was only thing to do during snowstorms

By Marisa Matyola, WBOY-TV General Assignment Reporter

Hospitals across north central West Virginia are experiencing a bit of a baby boom, all thanks to the infamous polar vortex this past winter.

The Thomases have just added another little boy to their family. Noah Robert Thomas was born Monday night at United Hospital Center, nine months after the polar vortex.

Chad Thomas, Noah's father said, "With the cold weather people, don't have much to do, so they're just going to camp out and try to stay warm."

Noah Is part of a baby boom in West Virginia this summer. The record-low temperatures and heavy snows that hit the area last winter have now left a legacy: a little boomlet of "polar vortex babies" that are expected to be born from August to September.

Le Ann Romeo, UHC's Patient Educator and Supervisor said, "Yes, we have actually seen an increase in deliveries this summer. I think in July we had 25 more deliveries this year that last. People are enclosed together and especially during a long cold winter, we can see an increase in babies and it may continue into the Fall months too."

Romeo added the hospital is always prepared for an increase in patients, "As far as having enough staff to take care of patients and rooms to take of patients, we do have plans in place in case we do have an excessive amount of deliveries."

For the Thomases their baby is perfect regardless of the month he was born, "It's very exciting it was a long time coming. We have three girls, I have a daughter and she has two and this going to be the boy. I'm just excited."

The increase isn't just happening at United Hospital Center in Bridgeport, Fairmont General Hospital also said it expects a baby boom.