the u.s. birthrate exploded after world war ii. from 1941 to 1961, more than 65 million children were born in the united states. at the height of this baby boom, a child was born every seven seconds on average. factors that contributed to the baby boom consisted of young couples who started families after putting off marriage during the war, government encouragement of growth of families through the aid of gi benefits, and popular culture that celebrated pregnancy, parenthood, and large families.