NY Blackout: Urban legend?

[Mooney252]

Twisted history (www.twistedhistory.com) repeats the story of the November, 1965 New York City blackout again today: "Perhaps because it was cold outside, the main result was an increase in births nine months later."

I remember the original stories about the spike in births, but also remember seeing stories declaring it an urban legend. However, I couldn't find any authoritative references on the web.

So did the births go up or was it within normal statistical expectations?

[Montfort]

I have no idea if more babies were born in the late summer of 1966, but I know that after the big blizzard here in DC in January 1996, a buncha babies were born in October...

And, oodles and oodles of babies were born in South Florida in the spring of 1993 after Hurricane Andrew stopped by for a visit in August 1992. I remember hearing how the hospitals were overloaded with moms-to-be.

I'd say this UL is a true one.

[MinkMan]

Nope its false. See snopes:

http://www.snopes.com/pregnant/blackout.htm

[AWB]

Speaking of baby booms: was there an increase in babies born around January 1 this year? Were a significant number of people aiming to have a Millennium baby?