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?!

I had a February baby. It's a nice time of year to have maternity leave - just as you're getting out and about, spring is coming, the nights are getting shorter, and you have the summer to do parks and day trips when they're at the cheerful potato stage.

You avoid being heavily pregnant in summer heat.

It's easier to keep a newborn warm than cool it down in a heatwave.

According to governments own reports it is. I can share them if you like?

Can buy more gifts for them in the sales? Something for them to look forward to after Christmas?

I wanted to avoid Dec and Jan when TTC. But we thought it would take a few months, so we started at the wrong time, and I was very lucky to fall first time. He is end of January but I have a brother who was born beginning of Jan. He's never been too bothered as far as I know! Your birthday is your birthday, whenever it happens.

I have 2 kids, born in Jan & Dec. Surely there’s no advantage to physically giving birth in one month over another but I suppose at least I wasn’t doing it when it was insanely hot.

Both kids hate having their birthdays so close to Christmas and you will get people trying to pull ‘one joint present’ crap for Christmas and birthdays - dont let them! At the risk of sounding like an absolute cow I have told people off for doing it and if they have said that they are planning to have told them not to. A kid born in March or September wouldn’t get one joint present (which is never the equivalent of two) so don’t pull it on my kids. And no one is ever available for birthday parties, my December birthday invited her class of 28 to her party and 8 showed up.

if you’re in Scotland your baby will be one of the youngest in the class but as far as I know you can still defer December & January birthdays, although I never did and both are doing well academically.

Surely doesn't matter when it is, the main thing is you have a baby. Moving forward, it'll give you something to look forward to and plan for January. Also, there's less likely to be children away on holiday, doing large family things in the warm weather, so most of their friends can celebrate with them.

You can get all the deals in the Boxing Day sales and you won’t have everyone coming to visit because they will be back at work having had annual leave.

I have an early January baby

My child was born on New Years Day. I had her after having a stillborn, so honestly couldn’t care less about what month she was born but the fact she was born on NYD, makes her pretty special in my eyes. My Januarys are now busy with birthday parties/days outs. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

This! I felt like the first six weeks or so after having a c section I didn't feel like going out much/ was finding my feet. So if this happened with a Jan baby then by the time you feel like getting out and about, spring will be here.

My eldest was born in January. It was great. We hunkered down for the first few weeks and watched a lot of box sets while breastfeeding. Then by the summer I was into my stride and we could spend all day in the park or the garden without too much hassle. It also means you won't be dealing with a newborn in a heatwave!

It's the best time!
Seriously, not hot in the last few weeks of pregnancy and then after you've had the baby and hibernate for the first few weeks of the newborn phase you emerge into longer days and the spring!
Also when they're a bit older you get brilliant deals on toys for birthday presents in the sales!
Good luck with your ttc journey!

😂😂😂 love this

Feel free to take this with a pinch of salt! Why having a January birthday is a bad thing, according to my DS (now 10):

• he has to go to school on his birthday (it's always just after the Christmas break)
• his birthday is SHORTER than his brothers' birthdays because he doesn't get as much daylight!
• he has to wait almost a year for more presents! alternatively
• he doesn't get ANY presents for his birthday! (somewhat true as he's often gifted money to spend throughout the year as it's so close to Christmas)

Of course all of this is my fault as I should have considered his feelings before choosing his birthday 🤷‍♀️ just so you know! He would have liked a July birthday, but naturally end of July so it's in the school holidays

My DD hates her end of July birthday 😂.

• all of her friends are older than her
• she can never have a decent party on her birthday as everyone is always on holiday
• she’s not at school for her birthday so doesn’t get to hand out sweets to her school friends
• her sister who was born in December gets 2 sets of presents really close together and she has to wait forever, apparently

And of course all of this is entirely my fault and I should have had her in the autumn!

You can literally never win.

My child's birthday is Jan. I like it. There's no time for January blues as it it straight over Christmas and New Year and into birthday planning. You do have to be smart about spreading your money but you get used to it and have a frugal February!

Not having to see anyone?

I have one born December, one April and one September. April was definitely my favourite time of year to have a baby. September my least favourite as there were months of winter ahead. All babies were gorgeous though and that's the key thing.

I have a January birthday, it's true what they say about the school year thing. Couldn't comment on the newborn hibernation issue, but there are some pictures of my DM and I having fun in the sun when I was 6 months old. Now I like it because I am as old as I can be for my birth year.

We’re also ttc and I’d love a Jan/Feb baby, those are honestly the months I’d choose if I could choose any for these reasons:

1. Enjoy a “last” Christmas before baby comes feeling no eating guilt as heavily pregnant
2. Baby is a lot more interactive by their first Christmas and will be a lovely extended family time
3. I hate January usually so will be lovely to have something to look forward to and we’re very into birthdays, so will make it a fun celebration every year. I have a relative with a January birthday and it’s a great excuse to go out for a meal, plus lots of places usually have deals on and nobody is busy
4. Baby will be 3 months + by the time summer comes so will get to fully enjoy and make the most of outside
5. In second trimester over summer so don’t have to hide and can enjoy
6. Not heavily pregnant over the height of summer

I REALLY hope this is the month for us and for you! ✨

Also, I just want to say I understand OP as you’re getting a lot of snide comments about how you should be grateful to just have a baby. Of course you’ll be bloody grateful!! But I completely get how crushing it is to get negative tests over and over again and each month feel like the life you wanted has been taken away.

I think we can’t help but envisage what a December baby etc. would be like and get our hopes up so of course it can feel scary and overwhelming when it’s not working and might be different to how we planned. People who haven’t had difficulty conceiving won’t understand and people who have should show a bit more compassion!

My DD now 14 is a mid January baby!

It was snowing the night she was born which was lovely.

It’s something to look forward to in January when there is little else!

Plus Christmas time is the perfect time to scoff for 2 😉😀

Some tips/ warnings/ words of advice - all a bit tongue in cheek 😉

*make sure you save money for their birthday as it’s so easy to overspend at Christmas and their birthday be a bit of an after thought

*get the Christmas decs down in time for birthday decs - DD has said to me she really appreciates this 🥰

*try not to let family and friends do ‘joint pressies’ as it’s close to Christmas because Christmas is huge for kids anyway and January can be quite bleak if you have ‘already had your birthday pressie’

*They are some of the oldest in their year which is good for them, learning to drive first etc

*people usually come to their party as not much else going on in January lol

My DD always said she preferred a January birthday to a November or December one as everyone is in Christmas spirit then and not so much birthday spirit

Good luck TTC

Apart from the fairly obvious one of "You'd have a baby" then?

Going through the hottest, heaviest part of pregnancy in the coolest time of year. Good for swollen feet and legs.
No expectation to twat around at the beach or go on holiday.
Starting Maternity leave in time for Christmas
Less need for heating to be up (see 1.)
You're most mobile as Spring comes around, so you don't miss too much daylight because you're indoors with a cluster feeder
Baby gets more mobile in summer for cute little suits and bare feet
Likely to appreciate toys at their first Christmas

Thanks for saying that @YaWeeFurryBastard exactly, yes of course I would be grateful for a baby at any time, hence why putting myself through this and fertility clinic etc, I have not been on the pill for 10 years, I really have no time for those comments... but the cycles of excitement and disappointment do mean it helps to visualise a positive outcome/birth and as someone who has terrible Januarys it is even more difficult this month... which is why I've been SO grateful to read every single lovely tip, experience and comment here. So much to think about, some of my favourites are the birthdays creating reasons to go to see shows in January, baking cakes, decorations etc. I can really see myself doing those things. And of course the positives about January after birth and being able to hibernate before enjoying spring, summer and the following Christmas when you've got your shit together and body bit more stable etc. I really hadn't thought of those things.

@Holidayyyytimeeee I'm so so sorry for what you went through. I literally cannot imagine... you must be very strong to get though that. All children really are blessings. That must have been such an incredible NYD. X

@Youdontevengohere that's hilarious 😂 the grass is always greener... ! I do wonder if my January baby just feels left out as the rest of us have birthdays that are always in school holidays (none of which was planned tbh!) and the rest of it just fits in with his "it's just not fair!" attitude 😜
Just goes to show that it absolutely does not matter when a baby is born - there's pros and cons to everything, and they might change over time too, depending on personality of the child.

Re getting the Christmas decs down before the birthday ones go up - complete opposite here, DD’s birthday is after 12th Night but she insists we keep the tree and fairy lights up till after her birthday as it makes it feel more special, none of the rest of us get a Christmas tree on our birthday.

I have a Jan baby and this is all true, but didn’t love all the limits on what I could eat/drink over Christmas mostly due to such bad heartburn!