Bay of Plenty District Health Board clinical midwife manager Natasha Rawiri said Tauranga Hospital also had a busy month with 195 babies born.
"(It) is just a little higher than our average of 180. August to October are traditionally busy times for us due to being nine to 10 months out from Christmas."
The Bethlehem Birthing Centre opened in 2014. Photo / NZME
A drop in births nationwide in the year to June confirmed that New Zealand did not see a post-lockdown baby boom.
Data released by Stats NZ last month recorded 57,723 registered live births in New Zealand, down from 58,506 in the previous year.
In spite of suggestions of a Covid lockdown baby boom, Stats NZ insight analyst Rebekah Hennessey said the findings fitted with previous data during times of crisis.
"A lot of the research has shown that when there's that economic uncertainty and other things going on, you do get a decrease in the number of births.
"So we haven't really been surprised but I was interested to see what it would do because you do hear a lot of stories either way."
And a post-Covid baby boom can't necessarily be expected in the coming years, as women were simply choosing to have fewer children.
She said the fertility rate was projected to stay "relatively stable for the next 25 years".
"We've got the fertility rate staying at 1.61 which is at the lower end but I think that just shows that fewer women are having children at the moment."
Deas attributed the August boom at the Bethlehem centre to the nationwide level 4 lockdown, which ran from August 17-31.
"What we have found is because women are struggling with lockdown, a lot of people are fearful of going to the hospital because of Covid."
During level 4, the centre allowed people giving birth to have a partner or support person stay locked down with them in their room.
Other visitors and family were not allowed, but she said most clients had seen an upside in this.
"They just get this 48 hours of bliss where they can breastfeed, hang out together, get to know their baby without all the pressures of the world," Deas said.
Inside the Bethlehem Birthing Centre with founder Chloe Wright (right). Photo / NZME
Lockdown restrictions had made it hard for midwives and maternity care assistants to bond with mothers.
"It's a massive challenge for us because the PPE puts a barrier in place, where we are normally used to being able to connect - plus it is extremely hot and uncomfortable."
Deas said all her staff pushed their concerns to one side as their main focus was the mothers and babies.
Among the centre's August arrivals was one with a special connection to the facility - the grandson of centre founder Chloe Wright.
Jackson, her ninth grandchild, was born on August 31, Wright said.
"My son and his wife [Ollie and Kylie Wright] actually had their firstborn in lockdown last year which is unusual."
