NASHVILLE, TN--Some say recent low pressure systems are bringing more than just
storms to the Mid-State! The idea that pressure, or the weight of the air above
us could cause child birth, seems a bit far fetched. But following drops in
barometric pressure area hospitals have noticed significant spikes in
deliveries. "Well it worked for me you know, I don't know if it's an old wives
tale or not but I'm telling you when that low pressure system came through I
went into labor," said our own FOX 17 anchor Erika Kurre.

Meet week old
baby Luca, he was delivered following last week's storm system that brought
nasty weather and a drop in barometric pressure. "They were very busy that
night, I can remember nurses and doctors coming in and saying that this is the
busiest they've been in a long time, they don't know what it is but something's
in the air seems like everyone's gone into labor," said Kurre.

On August
16 Baptist Hospital delivered 35 babies--the most in one day all month! In fact,
other peaks around the 2nd and 10th of
August also correlate to drops in barometric pressure. "If the weather
changes suddenly, I expect if I"m on call I'll start getting more calls about
water being broke or contractions," said Dr. Allison Strnad of Heritage Medical
Associates. We checked over
at Vanderbilt University Hospital and they too had peaks in deliveries at those
times. "Certainly we do see that a fallen barometric pressure, a full moon we
all notice that we feel like we are a little bit busier," said Dr. Kimberly Fortner at Vanderbilt
University Hospital.

The science behind the theory comes
down to one key principle that high pressure gravitates toward low pressure. So
when a large system comes through  the pressure in the atmosphere is dropping.
Meaning on a very small scale the pressure in our bodies is a little higher.
That exerts a small force outward toward the air's lower pressure. It's the same
concept behind headaches and old broken bones aching when storms come through.
"When the weather changes suddenly, a lot of times people will rupture their
membranes or break their water, there's an increase number of babies born around
that time," said Dr, Strnad.

Studies done back in the 90s support
the theory. "They went through and tried to analyze were there any facts to the
wifes tale and there appears to be," said Dr. Kimberly Fortner. Wives tale or not, Erika Kurre says she
is just happy to be at home with her new bundle of joy, "yeah I was ready and I
can remember trying to grasp at anything that might spur labor!"

Low Barometric Pressure: Time for a Baby?