TAMWORTH hospital's maternity ward noticed a downward trend in births for the first in a number of years.
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The baby boom of recent appears to have fizzled out, with nursing staff confirming there was fewer than 1000 bubs delivered in 2019.
It comes after three-consecutive years where the total tot tally has topped 1000.
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There was only 973 births at the hospital in 2019.
While the figures were only down by a small percentage from 2018 (1002), it could be the start of a steeper downward trend.
The hospital's director of nursing and midwifery Michelle Keir noted the end of 2019 had been quieter than previous years in the birthing unit.
"It's usually a very busy, high activity time," she said.
"Historically, we have had a full maternity service at this time."
Historically, we have had a full maternity service at this time.
- Director of nursing an midwifery - Michelle Keir
Ms Keir suggested the drought could be behind the downturn.
There was even a longer than usual wait for the first baby of the year in 2020.
Hunter New England Health confirmed there was no baby born in Tamworth on New Year's Day.
While the festive season was a bit on the quiet side for the hospital, the real test will be about nine months from now.
Staff have previously said a spike in births tends to occur about 40 weeks after the holiday period.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
