Is anything good about giving birth in January?

[m00ngirl]

Like lots of us here I'll now be TTC this month for a January baby...

Is there anything good about giving birth in January?

I really do want to start a family, been trying for ages and soon to have first fertility clinic appointment as well. But I generally hate January and find it quite depressing.

It's not a winter thing. I'd have loved giving birth in November or December when things are Christmassy and fun and cosy.

But I get terrible January blues for some reason - and I'm finding it hard to get excited about this cycle. I'm not being shallow, I really do want a baby and will be delighted just to have a pregnancy if I ever do manage to and would cherish them at any time of year, I'm just worried about January blues making late pregnancy/birth/those first weeks harder...

Has anyone given birth in January?! Any pros and cons?!

True but statically they will be more likely to do better.

Both my daughters are January born. Was something exciting to look forward to after Christmas and New Year... took away the January blues...First born did take a while to drive to the hospital it was thick with snow.
Both born with just Gas and Air.. but they are 40 and 32.. didn't even know what l was having.

I had a January baby.

I worked until 23rd December and then started my maternity leave on the 24th.

Because I was 9 months pregnant I didn't do anything over the Christmas period. We walked to my in laws for Christmas lunch. Other than that we did nothing, didn't travel, didn't host, just chilled out at home.

After she was born I spent the first 6 weeks hibernating at home getting feeding established. There were days when I didn't go outside and because the weather was crap I wasn't missing anything.

Then once I felt up to getting out and about, the flowers were starting to bloom, the days were starting to lengthen, and spring was round the corner.

I got the whole of spring, summer and most of the autumn on maternity leave before I had to go back to work, so I got to enjoy all the nice weather with my baby.

My DD is a January birthday, she is 9 now. Good things about it was when we were in the newborn first few weeks stage and not wanting to go out much the weather was rubbish anyway so we just stayed in nice and cosy, then by the time we were ready to venture out a bit more we had the whole spring and summer in front of us to have lovely walks etc.
Also it's something nice to look forward to in January (her birthday is towards the end of the month).
I always get her birthday presents in the January sales too

I imagine good place in school year, even if they're early. Also I think sometimes it's conception that does it. People start seeing all the baby animals in field etc, more daylight, get broody. It's like theres always a bump in due dates 38 weeks from December from people being less careful than usual at Christmas/NYE parties.

Babies are a blessing whenever they arrive ❤️

I was born early- mid January. I've always been grateful for celebrating a new calendar year with my birthday milestone. It connects me to our earth and our natural rhythm. It makes looking back across my life easier. Baby will spend most of life adult, and sometimes adults benefit from this kind of thing subconsciously, emotionally. Best wishes for the future

Apart from it costing a fortune around Christmas it’s like having any other birthday, DS is right at the beginning of Jan, he doesn’t have any issues with it. At least I wasn’t heavily pregnant in the biggest ever heatwave the country had seen at that time. Only 5/6 months.
dd on the other hand, September baby, had a massive 7 week heatwave when I was 9 months pregnant, wasn’t great 🥺

You might not even deliver Jan. I've been due twice in January and had them both st Christmas. One on Boxing Day the 26th and one on the 27th. Most stressful birthdays ever. But so fun.

Absolutely not true about doing better academically.

Oooh yes the perfect excuse not to go anywhere or do anything. No invites or expectations as everyone is hibernating too. Snuggles in blankets with a fire or candles to make everything super Hygge. Lots and lots of Christmas food / chocolates to indulge to your hearts content as you'll be ravenous.

Perfect excuse to sack off the crap bits of Xmas too as you'll be too pregnant to do anything useful.

Eldest born in Jan. Winter heavy pregnancy was more enjoyable than summer imo - had my own wee hot water bottle when I needed one rather than sweltering hot when I didn’t want to be. Less swelling up. Baby becoming more alert and active as the year warms up, Jan and Feb are perfect months to snuggle at home with a newborn and do little. Spring lovely to start taking them out more.

And DD says she loves her Jan bday, it’s often been snowy. Also she prefers the cold to the heat and kind of identifies herself as a Jan girl. Downside in Scotland tho it’s our youngest in the year thing. But that’s not a biggie.

Could grow up to be me (which would be great of course)

I love January. Everything is behind you, its great time for lying low and avoiding people. You will have plenty of peace and quiet as a new mum. Weather will be perfectly suited to staying at home so not too much pressure to get out and about too quickly.

I have a January baby. Advantages:
Birthday presents in January sales. Especially good for big items like bikes or electronics
Nice start to the year
Winter month so nice for the extra warmth of pregnancy fat 😄
Perfect nesting time for you and newborn
Baby will then be 6 months old in the summer and old enough to react to first beach trip and the like.

My son was born in January. His birthdays are always a little beacon of joy in the misery of that month!

DS was born in January.

big pluses:

*we try and buy all his birthday presents in the January sales

*when he was younger and we did parties, everyone came, as they didn’t have anything else to do in January or were broke (contrast with a summer born baby when everyone is away on holiday when it’s their party)

*when he was a newborn and I was barely keeping my head above water, it didn’t matter, as I wasn’t missing anything. By the time I got my act together, say in the April, the weather had improved and it stayed that way

It's better than being ina too hot hospital over a heatwave in August?

I have two January children. When other people are hating January, we are munching cake and having celebrations.

I also have a January birthday however and I liked it as a child but I don't anymore. I feel everyone is fed up celebrating and they see your birthday as a bit of a hassle. Everyone is skint, they're all on diets, nobody wants to go out, they're all partied out.

But yeah, having a baby is the most In your arms is the most important thing. Their birthday month is irrelevant

As a January baby I actively avoided having one myself. It’s a depressing time of year, and no one wants to celebrate again after Christmas. I was so envious of friends who could have summer parties.

You effectively go nearly a whole year without presents, that’s assuming that people even remember or can afford to buy you anything, or will buy you a joint Christmas and birthday present. Not an issue as an adult, but not fun at all as a child.

My sister has a Jan birthday and loves it cos she says it brightens the month

I always hated January but now I love it because it's when my son has his birthday. It's something fun to look forward to in a gloomy month.

If you end up due towards the beginning of the month and plan to take a years maternity leave, you could swing two Christmases without having to work!

My DH has a January birthday, what I find tricky is that I think of a great present idea say in the summer and I have to wait ages to give it to him, by which time I’ve forgotten what the idea was and have to think of two presents! So I keep a list on my phone any time I think of one.

I'd have thought it was actually quite nice. Xmas/NY is over and everyone is a bit anti social because it's dry January, the weather is a bit shit and you get to hunker down with a newborn.

My daughter is end of Jan.

I like that she is in the middle of school year. She learned to drive etc sooner than her friends (in same cohort) were able to helping her secure work.

As a small baby you are starting to move into spring and summer just as they are getting more active and aware. The first few weeks are cuddle weeks so you don’t miss the nice weather.

The biggest problem has been her birthday comes so quickly after Xmas that you’re not always prepared and the weather isn’t great so no outdoor options for parties etc.

I had 3 summer babies, an April baby and a January baby. January babies are great. He wore all the beautiful hand knitted cardigans that my summer babies never wore. It was nice and warm, not unbearably hot, in the hospital. Finally got to use all the blankets and booties. So much nicer than having a baby in a heatwave. I know it's shallow but I was really looking forward to dressing my first in all my gorgeous baby clothes and then it was so hot he just wore a nappy for ages.