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Pregnancy

"August baby...unlucky"

109 replies

Tea1Sugar · 06/02/2014 16:25

This is what I heard one woman say to another in the GP waiting room today. Gobsmacked!!

I know there's the whole school debate but woah.

Dd1 is a May baby and dd2 will be making her appearance in April. I like that they are both spring babies but does anyone actually plan to have/avoid a certain birth month?! That's madness to me!!

OP posts:

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Pinkandwhite · 06/02/2014 16:30

OMG, I can't believe people would say that! Yes, I do think some people plan around the school year though... My baby is due 25th of August so it didn't affect my decision making process.

They say kids born late in the school year may find it a little harder initially but any difference is no longer apparent by the time they're 7. I don't know whether that's true but a teacher friend of mine told me that this is what the research suggests...

sharkey1187 · 06/02/2014 16:33

I'm due August 19th... I was chuffed. I mean, we didn't plan a month, it just happened then, but we were just pleased we didn't have yet another birthday in the week before Christmas.... was getting a touch expensive! Some people just don't know when to keep their mouths shut..

batteryhen · 06/02/2014 16:37

After 3 MMC my son was an August baby. I consider myself very lucky indeed!

BakingBunty · 06/02/2014 16:48

DS1 was due 21st August. I finally went into labour on 30th... And he took so bloody long to arrive that I ended up with a September baby after all!
I remember being quite shocked about how stressed people seemed to get about Aug vs Sept - even got lots of comments from midwives during labour about 'hanging on a bit' even though I was just desperate to deliver DS quickly and safely.
Now expecting DC2 in early Aug... Seriously hope I'm not still pregnant in September

2beornot · 06/02/2014 16:49

I'm due in August and have my response ready.

"I can see why other parents might be worried, but my kids are so advanced that to be honest it would just even it out. If they were September babies then they'd be so bored!"

Honestly it depends on the children. I know plenty of successful summer babies.

ChicaMomma · 06/02/2014 17:21

So, what is the 'optimum' month to have a baby then?

I cant get my head around this at all.
surely you can just hold them back for a yr and send them to school a yr later?
I was an April baby and went to school that September at 4.. my baby's due in June- as i understand it nowadays it's more common to send them to school at 5 (i live in Dublin btw), but we'll play it by ear and see how he develops first!

AlmondFrangipani · 06/02/2014 17:28

My DS1 was born on 2nd August last year. It had crossed my mind about having a 'young' baby at school but the thought of not trying for a month after a MC was not for us! My best friend is a reception year teacher and she said if we are proactive parents and read with him at home etc then he should be fine. She also said that a lot if primary schools are doing merged years now. So the youngest of one year will be with the eldest of the year below so they are closer in age etc. Someone also kindly pointed out to me that you save a year in nursery fees with an August baby!! Good news for us as we have no grandparents nearby to help with childcare!

AlmondFrangipani · 06/02/2014 17:30

Oh...and I also wouldn't swap the first 12 weeks of newborn baby whirlwind for the winter! I was out walking every day in the beautiful warm sunshine without bundling up DS. I would have been positively depressed if I had to do it now in the dark gloom!!

TheBookofRuth · 06/02/2014 17:31

My sister-in-law was born end of July and has a first. And my uncle was an August baby and is a self-made millionaire.

My DC2 is due at the end of July - I'm sure s/he will do even better.

HavantGuard · 06/02/2014 17:31

'surely you can just hold them back for a yr and send them to school a yr later'

It's not that easy.

neolara · 06/02/2014 17:33

My dc1 was born in July. My dc3 was due in the August / September border. I was very, very relieved she turned up on Sept 2nd.

neversleepagain · 06/02/2014 17:33

My twins were due in early November. I was worried about having premature babies (which twins are 50% of the time) and even more worried that they would be born in August. TBH I breathed a sigh of relief when August ended. They were September babies in the end.

mrsbug · 06/02/2014 17:45

I was born in late July and summer birthdays are great. You get to go on lovely birthday day trips to the beach or the countryside and you never, ever have to go to school on your birthday.

I feel a bit sorry for my poor, December born baby.

I love 2be's response

puddleduck16 · 06/02/2014 17:56

I planned to not have a baby in December!!!! Stopped my pill after that point.

This thread confused me a lot until I twigged that in England you guys must have a different cut off to Scotland. Our school cut off date is end of Feb. So my wee one due in a few days will also have that school debate!

eurochick · 06/02/2014 17:59

When we started ttc we waited a month in an effort to avoid an August baby (because of the school issue). However, I'm now pg after our 4th IVF cycle and my EDD is late August. I couldn't be happier! Not everyone gets to plan when their babies are born!

Plateofcrumbs · 06/02/2014 18:03

I'm due late July and was mentioning this to my DPs - then remembered they're both born in August! Both very clever!

icklekid · 06/02/2014 18:03

After ttc for 9+ months I don't mind the fact they are a July birthday, even though as a teacher its a shame I use up maternity leave over the summer. I'm just delighted to be having a baby. I'm a July born and have coped fine with lots of lovely garden parties :-)

FrankelInFoal · 06/02/2014 18:07

It never fails to surprise me that people would go to the lengths of planning a conception in such detail. It took 3 long hard years of TTC before we finally conceived and I honestly couldn't give a rats arse what month my baby arrives in.

somedizzywhore1804 · 06/02/2014 18:12

We are both teachers, me with a September birthday and DH with an October one so we did both say it would be better for the baby from an educational POV if it came between September and March as- well, it's our business, so it's something that looms large for us- but as it happens our much wanted DC1 is due July 8th. You can't plan these things and lots of people have said how lucky we will be to have a summer baby and be able to enjoy the long summer holidays with it before DH has to go back to work.

GlaikitFizzog · 06/02/2014 18:12

Born in August! Also in scotland, if someone said this to me whilst PG I might punch them in the face!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 06/02/2014 18:13

After I had mine I did hear of people planning autumn babies with the idea of getting every advantage for their DC. I was surprised really that people think that far ahead and that broodiness/ luck doesn't get in the way.
I have one autumn baby but PFB dd was a gorgeous April baby And was lovely to have that first summer ahead of us with friends and their babies too.
My DBro was an August baby and I don't think it made much difference to him - just more confident about having a gap year and not getting behind his peers. He had a great time!

MrsExtraOrdinary · 06/02/2014 18:27

I've had 2 summer born babies amongst my brood. Dd struggled academically. Ds has caught up now, he will be 7 this year. Dd is 14 this year and I know bring summer born hindered her to begin with as dhs was half days for 2 terms. Least amount of schooling god those that needed it most. But that silly rule has now changed. She also doesn't like the stigma of being one of the youngest. It doesn't bother ds.

However dd had far more fun birthday parties than everyone else as in the summer the garden is always an option. And it wax always hot and sunny. My birthday is January and I would swap her in a flash.

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SantiagoSky · 06/02/2014 18:28

I am born in August and have a PhD with distinction, a good career and a normal social life. But I was struggling when starting primary school, so I do get the point of it being a disadvantage when very young.

Tea1Sugar · 06/02/2014 18:37

I'm a teacher so see day to day that yes, July and August babies do often struggle. It's rather noticeable to be honest. That said, as quietly pleased as I am that both my girls will be spring babies, I don't think I would actually try not to conceive a summer one!

OP posts:

SweetPea86 · 06/02/2014 20:38

Being pregnant has opened my eyes at what some women say. Idiotic things to be exact.

Numpties

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