It's not just baby boom; it's dragon baby boom.

The reason is simple: Chinese across the world believe children born during the Year of the Dragon -- the symbol of ancient emperors -- will possess courage, wisdom and good fortune, and Hong Kong is of no exception. Those lucky babies are expected to give a handsome boost to related industries here.

In the previous dragon year in 2000, a total of 54,134 births were logged in Hong Kong, official data showed. The city's Hospital Authority said in an earlier estimate that Hong Kong is set to welcome upwards of 80,000 newborns this year under the stimulation, marking a 5-10 percent rise from last year.

Nanny services are one of the sectors most feeling the heat. At a job fair held in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in January, the maternity nannies are among the best paid jobs, with salaries in a range of 8,000-14,000 Hong Kong dollars.

A spokesperson of EasyHome Services, an in-home care services provider, said the demand for maternity nannies has been robust since last year, but this year it's surely going to be stronger, and that the company's quota has been fulfilled in the first quarter of 2012 with few available in the next three months.

Grace Ng Sing-ying, principal consultant of the BBcare Health Service Centre told Xinhua that thrilled moms-in-waiting begin looking for and making an appointment with maternity nannies soon after they were confirmed pregnant, instead of entering at least the second trimester as usual.

For nannies working for 48-hour six-day per week, the base monthly pay has been hiked to 12,000 Hong Kong dollars from 8,500 Hong Kong dollars due to the tight market.

Lui Fung-Kuen, a professional maternity nanny from the Centre, said she led an onerous timetable till August-end, and might be able to receive new clients from October at the earliest.