To sort of wish I wasn’t having a baby this time of year?

[Overtheocean]

I joked back in November that I bet we’d be successful this month because it’s the worst time of the year for us and lo and behold I got a positive pregnancy test. Due a week Friday, basically when schools break up for the summer, and I’m a teacher. Hot and uncomfortable and sweaty!

Don’t get me wrong I AM glad I’m having a baby, I know it’s a luxury to pick and choose the month you have your baby in but for me personally july was the worst month and here we are!

My son was born 21st July last year. I think it's actually a really lovely date. You'll be in hospital or at home not venturing out much for the first little bit anyway.

Ah that’s really nice to know. I hope he has a lovely first birthday, it comes round fast!

I understand it’s hot and uncomfortable, which is horrible.

But I’m not quite sure why it’s a problem to be going on mat leave just as the school year ends - sounds like it’s quite good timing if anything?

It’s because my maternity pay kicks in. So I’m on reduced pay at a time when I wouldn’t be in work anyway, which is annoying.

My DD was born end of June and I've often joked its perfect as it spreads out birthday and Christmas evenly!

But the heat was uncomfortable (it was a heatwave that year)

To go to the other extreme... her younger sister was born during heavy snowfall which was a lit more tricky (driving a three day old along country lanes in the dark in snow was quite terrifying)

I get what you are saying from a teacher's maternity pay viewpoint but I think spring/ summer is a lovely time to have a baby.

I’m sorry you’re feeling so uncomfortable! Anecdotally, I have spring/summer babies and I’d say it’s a lovely time to have a newborn! Plenty of walks outside without panicking about layers, sitting in the park and having coffee and cake, no frostbite for any delicate areas whilst breastfeeding, people are very happy to come and see you… Mat leave bliss! Also makes for fun and cheap birthday parties in the park/garden. Hope all goes well for the last stretch of your pregnancy. x

But surely at the end of your maternity leave you'll be off for another 6 weeks on full pay over next summer? So it's all swings and roundabouts if you look at it on a whole year view? Any one year period would give you the same amount of mat pay and the same amount of unpaid mat leave and the same amount of holiday leave? Or am I looking at it too simplistically?

As an adult a July birthday is great though and means likely you’ll be off work for their birthday in the future so maybe it’s not great now but in future will be

They get to have all the most fun outdoor birthday parties 🥳

It is a pain re the holidays but so many positives to outweigh that that pp's have said. My dc have December and feb birthdays and it's a bit rubbish. I'm skint and the weather is generally crap. They have a long time to wait if they need something new that is of main present value

I loved having a july baby. Long light evenings which really helped night feedings, warm weather which made it easy to get out and about:

Ugggh I feel you OP I’m heavily pregnant and it’s so uncomfortable in the heat! Also due over the summer holidays which means older DD will be home and will need to try and entertain her on top of a newborn

38 weeks here little bit worried as 4yo and 2yo have really gone backwards I know it’s inevitable but omg!!! they are nursery term time only and the behaviour is justttt arghhhhh I’m literally going to wing it all summer!

Surely it will only be 90% this summer end you can end your leave before the summer holidays next summer?
10% hardly makes it the worst time of the year.

I know one couple who skipped a month on trying for a baby because they didn't want a January baby. He was born prematurely...

Aww it’s so nice to hear the nice stories of July borns.

There is no perfect time to have a baby but financially as a teacher this time is probably the worst. I went on ML beginning of July so will go back this time next year and get full pay for summer but most teachers try for September babies as then you get longer than a year off, effectively. It doesn’t really matter of course but I’m sure I wasn’t this uncomfortable last time! Could be just a different pregnancy of course

@Overtheocean surely you know it’s incredibly unlikely to try and get a September baby though so no point dwelling on it.

Oh, I’m not - I know babies come when they come and I genuinely am grateful to be having a baby at all. Just the same, of all the months of the year this one is the worst, so of course that’s when I’m having him or her!

Had my first this time of year. Brilliant time for birthday just before schools break up so all friends are around and weather pretty much always lovely and sunny.

We've got an end of January and an end of July birthday.

Both have their own unique flaws, but on balance I think the child who will have outdoor parties with BBQs is winning

Try and look at positives if you can. I found it mentally so much easier with my summer baby than my winter. Even nappy changes and dressing them is more effort in winter. Birthdays are so much better in summer when you can be outside. Far away from
Christmas. Just generally found it easier having sunshine and enjoying more time outside after giving birth rather than in the cold.

I had winter/Christmas babies and so did my DD, except for her youngest, who is a July baby. It's great to be celebrating in the better weather. Days out or a holiday for her birthday is so much better than in December. You won't have to do a party etc, you can just go away until it suits you not to.

I'm a teacher too so know exactly what you mean! But I loved having a summer baby and much prefer her summer birthday to my other child's winter one.

I would say you’re more optimistic about British summer time than me, but actually if the baby does arrive on or before due date then almost guaranteed good weather, it’s the holidays when it all goes downhill!