Pausing TTC to avoid Christmas birthday

Sorry don’t know where I got the ivf idea from - obviously more scope to pause for a bit when just normal TTC, but I still don’t think I would wait.

DD has a December birthday (not ivf but we were older and didn’t feel we could afford to wait). Due date was Boxing Day, which I wasn’t thrilled about, but as it happened she was delivered early (planned C-section) towards the beginning of the month.

She’s 5 now and so far it’s been fine - nice even. Everyone’s in a festive mood but not yet bored of Christmas/celebrating, lots of sparkly lights everywhere, and far enough away from Christmas itself for it not to merge together. Plus now she’s in Reception she’s one of the oldest in her year, which has made a huge difference. Yes, it has its downsides too (mainly weather and options for parties etc a bit more limited), but honestly I’d much rather take a December birthday over a January/February/August one.

My own birthday is 29th December and I've always loved it! I love it being part of a festive season when everyone is happy and excited. Also meant it was easier to see wider family etc as part of celebrations. We used to go to the Panto as my birthday treat and my name would get called out on the birthday list etc... It was all really magical! The downside is all the excitement coming at the end of the year and then done.. and never getting a summer birthday so no picnics etc.. but then a Summer baby never gets a Winter birthday with log fires etc.

My niece was due on 29th Jan and then came early on 20th Dec... You can't always predict these things!

We have loads of December birthdays in the family so part of me thinks March must be a lucky time for our genetics hahah so I'm not going to pause things. The right baby will come when it comes and if that is December, so be it! 😄

My bday is 10th January. Yes I have always wanted my bday to be in the summer.

Well in my early twenties I moved to Australia and now my bday is right in the middle of summer!

Doesn't actually change your life I have to say, it's literally just a day. Feels silly to postpone ttc, life is so unpredictable

I wish I’d started TTC earlier. It’s been 3 years as I have PCOS so I need to try every cycle I get. As long as they are healthy, I don’t care when they are born!

I am postponing starting TTC for this reason. DH and I are pretty much ready to start TTC but going to skip next month and the month after to avoid being due at the start of December or start of January!

As someone else said, all birthdays have pros and cons. My eldest was 22nd august and I was a complete mess in 30 degree heat 40 weeks pregnant. He is the youngest in the year so struggled with the work when most of his peers were nearly a year older than him. School holidays meant arranging parties was difficult because you couldn’t contact anyone like you can when they’re in school.
My youngest is 11th January and I won’t lie I feel sorry for him every year because it’s so long to wait between his birthday/Christmas each year and I never know what to buy him because he’s just had his Xmas presents!
My middle one is 21st march and that is perfect in my opinion as the weather is getting better and it breaks up the year.
But all that being said I wouldn’t wait when TTC, they come when they come and you make the most of it whatever happens 😊

I planned my due dates, didn’t want December or August. I think it fine. I got pregnant really easily, so could afford to be choosy!

I wanted Spring babies, and I got one but the other was born late July. Not the best time fue a baby - very young in the school year, no one around for birthday parties....

After trying unsuccessfully for 5 months to get pregnant I decided I needed a month off. I just wanted to enjoy my birthday, stop stressing over ovulation tests etc and was also looking at laser eye surgery which I couldn't do pregnant. Nothing to do with Christmas babies. As we had been TTC we weren't exactly careful and fell that month......and we had a Christmas day baby 🤦‍♀️ having said that ds loves his Xmas birthday, even now at 14yo. It's a really special time of year - DDs birthday is in January and as much as I try it never feels as special as everyone is going about their ordinary lives whereas for DS's birthday everything and everyone feels like they have stopped for a day.

I didn't really want a summer baby but if we'd struggled to conceive I wouldn't have cared.
I have a Christmas baby and it's great! So exciting, double celebrations, the world is all twinkly lights and decorations. So festive and lovely and tons of choices for presents. My brother, who is a Jan birthday says December is much better! (I'm early Feb and like mine despite nothing good in the shops for pressies!)

Yes, I would and did.
It gets harder though, as Christmas seems to expand!

DD1 and all 3 of my nephews and niece have December birthdays - all within 8 days of each other (and within 10 days. Before Christmas!) And they all love it!

DD1 is the youngest and although we would joke with my SIL about avoiding a December baby, after 2 years of trying we weren't even paying attention to the potential birth month.
SIL's 3 kids were all via IVF (a single and twins) and that's just when their cycles worked.

DD2 is an April baby and I think she might feel a bit left out as she gets a little older knowing they all have their birthdays so close together.

We always make sure we do something non-Christmassy on their birthdays and gifts are never joint (until they become old enough to want more expensive presents) and birthday gifts are never wrapped in Christmas paper!

You really can't plan it. Chances of you conceiving exactly when you want are very slim so gotta crack at it at every opportunity

My middle child was due 26 December…was actually born 2 January. Apart from the obvious wondering if It Christmas Day was going to be “different” that year, ( we actually spent it very quietly with our eldest son), it made absolutely no difference whatsoever! Can’t really see the problem.

My nephew has a Christmas Eve birthday and the whole family love it!

i have a friend with two December born DCs. They have half-birthdays in the summer… get a small gift, and can choose to have their party then if they want to that year.

I have several friends, and one child, with Jan / early Feb birthdays and they are pretty rubbish.

Does it really matter though ?

Not agreeing with it, just explaining by the way. My own child was born less than a month from Christmas!

so given a choice you would have had a different baby?

really?

thats very unlikely to be true

@

My 8 year old has a Christmas birthday and the biggest problem we’ve had with it so far is adults telling her how awful it must be to have a birthday in December.
I know a lot of people do dislike having their birthday close to Christmas and maybe my DD will be one of them one day but for now she likes being the only person in our family who has a Christmas tree up on their birthday and we haven’t had any issues with friends not being able to come to her bday party (which was something I was worried about while I was pregnant)

I would. Two friends have December birthdays and they hate it.

I had a c section booked for 1st September to try and too Dts into the school year they should have been in. They were due in October, turned up end of July.

I would just go with it, and wouldn't delay there are issues with all birthdays!

Whatever the reason, I still think it’s silly. Having a child’s birthday close to Christmas is not the end of the world, more like first world problem. Anyway good luck with whatever you decide OP

I’ve got 2 Xmas babies. It’s never been a problem