Class of 2040 grows as pandemic shrinks

COVID-19 uncertainty and resultant financial concerns are just two of the reasons for a slight decline in pregnancies over the past two years. Yet, as our lives return to some form of normality, 2022 looks to be bringing a welcome baby boom to the community.

“It seems a lot of babies are being born this year,” says Johannesburg-based professional Natanya Ruso, who gave birth to her second baby in February 2022. “With weddings being back on in the past year, there are a lot of newly married couples who are keen to start families. Perhaps those who put off babies for a while due to COVID-19 feel that it’s a good time to start or expand their families, with there being minimal restrictions and less overall anxiety and unknowns about the pandemic.”

Ruso, who had her first baby in August 2020, says that the two pandemic pregnancy experiences were vastly different. “When South Africa entered its first hard lockdown, I was about four months pregnant. Suddenly everything closed down, and I couldn’t even buy so much as a baby-gro. Next thing, the hospital was sending out emails that fathers wouldn’t be allowed in the hospitals and all the prior excitement of having a baby was overshadowed by uncertainty and panic.

“The second time around was totally different – I had already been through the worst COVID-19 restrictions and although some restrictions were in place, I was confident I’d be able to handle it.” Ruso also found support amongst friends who had had babies at similar times as well as through various WhatsApp Groups, particularly one called The Class of 2040. “No questions are off-limits, and it’s incredible to see such camaraderie among women of varying ages, circumstances and levels of religious observance,” she says.

Having started the original WhatsApp group of this series called The Class of 2038 for moms expecting babies in 2020, Tali Gritzman, also based in Johannesburg, had no idea just how valuable the group would become. Named for the year that most of the babies would matriculate, the group, which started in March 2020, grew as mothers sought support during the pandemic as well as updates on the ever changing COVID-19 birth rules. At its height, the group had 90 members.

“The main idea was to support each other and offer a safe space where we could ask any questions about anything, from COVID-19 restrictions to what to pack in your hospital bag,” says Gritzman. “Looking back, I see how much of a purpose it served in creating a community of mothers during a challenging time and connecting those whose children would theoretically grow up together.”

Gritzman, who gave birth to twin boys in 2020, passed the baton on to another mother who ran the Class of 2039 group and she, in turn, passed it forward this year. The current Class of 2040 group has 110 members, more than ever before. Natasha Amber, a group member who gave birth to a baby boy in May 2022, says that as a first-time mom, the support has been wonderful. “You have a little community with these moms who are mostly the same age, and when you have a question there’s no judgement, just help,” she says.

Although a number of factors may have contributed to the rise in WhatsApp groups and more babies being born in 2022, many agree that the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions played a role.

Amber and her husband chose to start trying for a baby last year because they were financially stable and felt the time was right. For many, she says, “Life is going back to normal after COVID-19, people are settling back into their routine, and the timing just makes sense.” Some of the moms we spoke to also pointed out that friends with comorbidities such as diabetes held off falling pregnant until the pandemic became less of an unknown entity.

Doula and antenatal teacher Tziporah Orkin cannot categorically state that there’s a baby boom in progress, but she agrees that the lessening of restrictions has played a role in creating more positive birth experiences. “I’ve observed that generally, in terms of people’s physical, mental, and emotional health, they are feeling quite positive,” she says. “With births specifically, the healthcare restrictions in the past two years were severe with pregnant women.” Doulas – professional birth assistants – weren’t allowed, and in some cases husbands couldn’t attend births or had limited hospital access.

Indeed, Gritzman’s husband tested positive for COVID-19 shortly before their twins were born in June 2020, and couldn’t be at the birth. Danielle Katzeff, who gave birth to her third baby during the height of the pandemic, also couldn’t have her husband present as their baby was premature and there was no time for him to get a COVID-19 test. Both her third and her fourth baby, the latter born in January this year, had to spend two months in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), which was also complicated by COVID-19. “The first time, one parent was allowed to visit once a day, so we alternated days, and this year, they allowed both parents to go in on the same day but not at the same time.”

In general, though, restrictions are far more relaxed, says Orkin. “People who may have held back now are saying, ‘Let’s go for it’.”

Many, in fact, speak of the increasing difficulty of finding gynaecologists who also do deliveries. The demand is high and the supply low as few do deliveries these days because of high insurance costs, they say. It’s often hard to get an appointment if you’re a new patient.

Orkin concurs, saying that this may be because couples often want the same doctors as their friends because they prefer to go by recommendation, pursuing gynaes who they know are popular in the community. “However, there are plenty of new gynaes who have come into many of the hospitals, and midwives have also become more popular,” she says. During the pandemic, people around the world tried to avoid hospitals so found smaller birthing centres where just one midwife would look after them from start to finish. This created a more intimate experience, which also contributed to the increasing number of midwife-led births in our community.

Doulas  are also gaining in popularity as people seek a more positive birth experience. “Women are realising that they want to be more proactive in their whole birth journey,” says Orkin.” They’ve become much more empowered.”