Milking the millennium

The race to conceive the first baby of the year 2000 is competitive - and it starts with sex today.

Nine months from today, the first child of the year 2000 will be born, prompting some University of Arizona students to say they would consider being proud parents of the "millennium baby."

"That would be pretty neat," said Dave DaCruz, a visual communication freshman. "If it was at the point I was starting a family - I'd try."

But experts are wondering why some couples are trying to be the first parents of the 21st century.

"I think everybody has the same idea - the question is why?" said Kenneth Iserson, director of the UA Bioethics Program. "It's a manufactured media event. There is a lot of hype about it and it's the media's fault."

A San Francisco Web site is selling a Millennium Conception Kit for $49.99, which includes a fertility guide, a pregnancy test, ovulation prediction tests, candles and massage oil.

The hype reached the heart of Texas, as a Houston radio station is offering a free college education for the millennium tot. A British TV station plans to follow hand-picked couples aiming to have the first baby of the year 2000.

Also, a New Zealand radio station secured free hotel rooms for couples hoping to conceive as the world confronts Y2K.

But the glory and history may not be at UA students' fingertips. Iserson, a surgery professor, said 90 percent of the children born Jan. 1 will not be expected that day.

"Conception is not a perfect scientific event," he said.

Tucson couples are working against a formidable opponent - time zones. Conceiving couples in the New Zealand, Fiji and Russia time zones will have a jump on making the 2000 baby because of the international dateline.

Dr. Barry Gershweir, a Tucson obstetrician and gynecologist, said he has not been approached by any couples attempting to get their names in the history books.

Gershweir said April 10 is actually the best day to conceive according to his menstrual chart.

"If somebody knew they were going to ovulate that day, they will have a shot at it," Gershweir said. "If they want to do it for fun, that's fine. They just might be disappointed."

But women have a short time in which they can get pregnant - 24 to 48 hours each month, he said.

"I wish them good luck," Gershweir added.

Mike Freeman, a UA business marketing freshman, said gaining fame from producing the millennium baby would not be an issue if he were planning to start a family.

"I could care less," he said. "I'm not trying to make history when I have a child."

Couples should not be having children solely to attract attention, Freeman said.

"I hope we aren't having women having premature births and then squeezing them out," he said. "That would be a shame."