always kind of imagine. Shelby Parker of Ohio is the mother of a two year old girl, and she and her husband, Ben, had hoped to deliver Little Abby a sister or brother, fairly soon. We always kind of imagined having two kids having them just a couple years apart, but when the pandemic hit, it changed everything. It just felt irresponsible, um, to bring a kid into this world. Couples having lots of times stuck at home led many to joke. We'd see a surgeon births nine months later, but it looks like that baby boom is actually a baby bust. Eliana Dr Monroe recently wrote about it for Time magazine, So I think that it just comes down to People are not able Thio afford both in terms of money, but also emotionally. The Brookings Institution estimates this year could see a dip from 2019 approaching 300,000 fewer births. And Dr Min says lower income women, especially minorities, are disproportionately affected. There simply is just not enough child care available. Schools there closed, and so somebody has to take care of the kids. With jobs and healthcare uncertain, it appears many couples are actively trying not to conceive. I think many women just got very, very exhausted and thought to themselves. Can I take on Thebe Man's of a pregnancy or the demands of newborn care? Shelby Parker has led to a feeling of morning like, I am so incredibly grateful for the beautiful, healthy daughter that I have. But, you know, you have this picture of a family in your head, and I always pictured my family with two kids. But with vaccines being distributed, um, or on the horizon, things can change in a hurry. Another potential baby boom is always nine months away. Chris Pallone, NBC News.