Question for those born in December & January!

[IVF20233]

Do you like your birthday being in December or January (and around Christmas time)?

We are at the beginning stages of going through fertility treatment. I’m not sure if i’m over thinking things but i’ve been wondering whether it would be best to continue as planned or avoid TTC during the two months which will most likely mean I give birth during December/January.

i’m not even sure it’s ethically or morally ok to avoid certain months! Please let me know your thoughts

New Years Eve birthday here. Hate it. Everyone is skint and busy with their own plans. Birthday gifts in Christmas paper is always a bit of a sore point for me personally.

Just to add to my earlier post (early Jan bday here who hates it), I think so long as you're not within 2 weeks of Xmas it's not quite as bad. As in, from mid-Jan onwards I can stomach a meal out/ cake again. Early December is before the proper build up. I think Dec 10th - Jan 10th are the shit zone.

I have a December birthday as does one of my children. I love it, everything feels celebratory, lights, sparkle and parties. I think January is harder, unless it is right at the end. Everyone is broke and trying to cut down on cake etc, so it must be the hardest birthday month. Most months have both pros and cons though.

I made a point of TTC so they would not have winter birthdays. Mine is mid-late Jan and it's absolutely the worst time. I remember one year my birthday was on a Monday and I was listening the radio while stood at a bus stop in the pouring rain while buses went past full of people. The radio announcer stated it was "officially the most depressing day of the year" and "more people commit suicide on the third Monday in January then any other day" etc etc.

My DC were born in early July and late April - it was a conscious decision.

Hate it but I've never had to work on my birthday

Surely anytime would be a blessing? Especially in your circumstances? What another interesting thread.

My baby is 13 December. She's only 1 but i think it'll be a great birthday for her going forwards. We'll be able to take her to the pantomime and do fun stuff and everyone is in such high spirits! This year she had a birthday party which was lovely and then excitement begins for Christmas shortly after.

I'd feel differently if she was a Jan baby though

January birthday here. Perhaps see my post from earlier this morning.

It's absolute shite. Would not wish it on anyone.

I have a January birthday and it doesn’t bother me now. When I was a teenager birthday presents tended to be clothes in the sales, which was great! My only grouch was that I went to boarding school and my birthday was ALWAYS in term time, which I hated. Otherwise, no problem.

End of January birthday and ivf mum here. I like that my birthday gives me something positive in such a dreary month. Personally knowing the struggles and pain of infertility (in my case at least) it never occurred to me to avoid birthdays at a particular time of year. I'd just get on with it, that egg, that month could be the one that makes you a parent. I wouldn't miss the opportunity personally. We are who we are because that egg travelled down that tube at that moment. A month later and we wouldn't be here, someone else would.

Mid January birthday here. It is a bit shit to be honest. Everyone is skint and a bit partied out so soon after Xmas plus the days are so dark, cold and wet so I'd prefer a summer birthday. DP and DD are mid summer birthdays and I really enjoy their celebrations, DGS is due in May so I'm glad we'll have another sunny birthday in the family.

We thankfully don’t have any known fertility issues (just lack of sperm as we’re a same-sex couple) and age is ‘on our side’.

Not that my experience will be your experience but I also was only undertaking IVF due to being in a same sex relationship and yet it’s turned out not to be smooth sailing. So if you want to be a realist then don’t necessarily bank on it working quickly and to plan.

But if like you say age is on your side and you’re not in a rush I can see why you’re thinking it all through.

(Probably best to keep in mind that babies don’t arrive on time often either and a premature birth could throw your plans out too.)

I used to love my birthday being in mid December, it was party month, now I'm older and don't get excited about birthdays anymore.

I hate it so much. My birthday is January. No one cares. No one has any money and i have never really looked forward to it! But I wouldn't bother not ttc due to a 'wrong birthday' month.
My December birthday friends all seem to enjoy the build up to Christmas meaning everyone comes out for their birthdays.

My kids have Dec and January birthdays. It's not great, but I wouldn't let that stop me from trying to conceive

I have an early January birthday and I don't mind it. I do mind it though when people send me Christmas cards and add 'p.s happy birthday too'.

No, no, I want a Christmas card AND a birthday card too! Other than that, no complaints. 😂

DD, now 16, was born the week before Christmas, she says she loves her birthday and wouldn’t change it. That said, we are very careful that birthday and Christmas are recognised as separate and there’s two sets of presents etc. We have tried half birthdays in the past but she honestly loves her Christmas birthday as ‘it’s a very sparkly time of the year’! 😀❄️💎🥳

I have a December Birthday and was never a fan when I was younger as it’s only a few days before Christmas so for big birthdays it can be hard to organise a group to party with. Also the one present had to do both occasions. Now I am late 30’s I don’t pay much value in my birthday.

I have a summer baby and a winter baby. The summer baby is great from my perspective as I tend not to buy toys, video games etc through out the year. So twice a year DC gets a bit spoiled. Outdoor stuff in summer when he will use it.
The winter baby is much younger and honestly to go 10 months of year getting nothing in terms of toys seems like a long time. If I buy the outdoor stuff in winter he won’t get much use of it for ages after getting it.
It took us 5 months to conceive the winter baby. I wouldn’t change a thing about him.

My sister is an Xmas Day baby. We all hated it (took focus off Xmas day for the rest of us). She was due January though, so you might need to hold off/waste three months in case you get a premie.

We took a while to conceive dc2, though weren't yet at the IVF stage, but yes, I avoided the couple of months that would have meant a winter baby, as I did for dc1.

I have a very early January birthday and I never felt I went without or that it was bad as a kid, kids are always up for parties. Now I'm an adult it is sometimes a bit tricky, but mainly my family insisting we do something when I'd rather keep it quiet! Sometimes even I don't have the energy after Christmas for it though but then it's my birthday and my choice, I've had parties in the summer as a grown up when I fancied it. I also used it to totally to my advantage to get bigger and better gifts once I worked out I could.

I have also experienced 8 pregnancies to get my two kids. I had no choice in when I conceived the ones that made it and I had no choice but to keep trying. Their birthdays are a few days either side of the school year which is also a difficult time, maybe more so when you're a kid, than one near Christmas. School holidays as a whole are a nightmare for kids birthdays, there's no way you could plan to avoid them all.

So I think you are overthinking it and you do not want to look back and say I wish we hadn't had that break trying or what if. Just go for it and good luck 🤞🏻

Also just read your update OP. I'm not up on how successful IVF is first time in your situation, I do know others who have done it with lack of sperm who have had issues and others who haven't. But I think what I'm trying to say is don't assume anything when trying to make babies!

I was always happy on my birthday as a kid and as an adult I can do what I like. I struggle more now sorting my kids parties than my parents did with mine.

Whatever happens you seem very aware of your future child's happiness which is a lovely thing and you will be a lovely parent.

Mine is just after New Year and I don't mind at all. For the last 10 years I tag the first week back to work as holiday so have a long break incorporating Xmas/New Year/birthday and it feels a magical time of year with all the twinkling lights.

I've had holidays in the UK and abroad for my birthday and it didnt make any difference being warm and sunny. The UK breaks can be subject to snow or rain, but this year we went to East Anglia and it was 13 degrees on my bday, beautiful weather and again, all the twinkly lights out, people chilled in town still in holiday mood.

I've attend family parties in May when it's peed with rain all day and been cold, so it's not something I get uptight about.

I also like thinking about about things and knowing that I was 16 during that year, I'm that age for the whole year!!

Mines this weekend!

I love it being when it is. For the following reasons:

1. Everything is cheaper. There’s offers in pubs and restaurants, tables are easy to book, flights and hotels are at bargain prices.
2. Most folks still have the inclination to go out but there’s less alternatives on offer so you can normally get a crowd. Also the case whilst at school.
3. Lots of people doing dry January so there’s no shortages of designated drivers or babysitters for said nights out.
4. You get lots of presents. Granted some will be re gifts or sale stuff but still it’s nice to receive something.
5. The weather is invariably cold or wet so you can plan accordingly. No rained off birthday barbecues or freezing guests in marquees.
6. It’s nice to have to celebrate after the huge build up and come down of Christmas and New Year. Breaks up a long month.

I’ve a few friends with December birthdays and always felt a bit sorry for them. Most of my points are the opposite for their birthdays.

Happy birthday to all the January babies on here.
Obviously good wishes to the December bunch too!

January 2nd and no! I don't like it! My friend (December born) and I both said we would prefer it in the summer so we could have a picnic! At my time of year no one wants to do anything (still getting over Christmas) Plus everyone always seems to have viruses etc.

Funnily enough, although Mum used to forget to get a card until the last minute, she always remembered a cake! It was my Brother's April birthday that she would forget a cake. She used to have to run to the Co op to get a batternburg cake. This became a tradition and now his wife carries it on!!!