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Conception

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Original poster

Would you try for a January baby?

62 replies

movingonup2022 · 12/03/2023 09:08

DH and I want to start TTC now we’ve finally moved house. If I fell pregnant on my next cycle - lucky/unlikely I know - I’d be due on 1st January 😬 so baby would most likely have an early January birthday. Is this the worst time for a person to have a birthday, right after Christmas when everyone is depressed and it’s cold & dark outside? gifts and parties all crammed into two weeks of the year then nothing?
am I overthinking this? I’m mid 30s as well so wary of skipping cycles

OP posts:
chocolatepenny89 · 12/03/2023 09:11

You’re definitely overthinking this! And if it takes you a while to get pregnant you’ll really regret skipping cycles.

For what it’s worth, I think it’s an ok time to have a baby. I’d choose it over July/August, personally.

PlateSpinner23 · 12/03/2023 09:11

Approximately 1/6 of the population have birthdays in December or January, and manage fine with it. I would skip a cycle, tbh. Xx

PlateSpinner23 · 12/03/2023 09:12

*wouldn't!

Snowfallsucks · 12/03/2023 09:12

It took months of trying for our first baby so by the time I conceived him I couldn’t have cared less what month he was born in, only that he was there and all was well.

Seriously, just relax and allow it to happen whenever. My babies, all born in very different months through the year are grown and none of them suffered any effect based upon the month they were born. They all get there in the end.

Enn1234 · 12/03/2023 09:47

If this baby is born in January then youve got a reason to celebrate something in January!
It wont be depressing anymore :)

NewmummyJ · 12/03/2023 10:15

My first is a January baby... just! It was so lovely to have something to look forward to after Christmas in the dark dreary days... he's a little snowdrop, a pretty signal of the hope of the Spring to come!

Loveyoutomatoes · 12/03/2023 10:21

It baffles me that people avoid certain due dates but each to their own.

lilroo87 · 12/03/2023 10:24

I fell pregnant with my second and was due end of a January. However, he had different ideas and decided to arrive on Christmas Day (5 weeks early).
I'd never really try and plan when you want baby to be born as they will have other ideas 🤣

Mitsahne · 12/03/2023 11:35

I'm a January baby and it hasn't done me any harm.

WimbyAce · 12/03/2023 11:40

Overthinking. My first is a Jan baby. It's a busy time but lovely to have something to look forward to after Christmas. Someone in my group was meant to have a Jan baby but actually had her before Christmas. My second was meant to be a May baby but is actually April. Whenever they come they are a blessing in my eyes.

lordloveadog · 12/03/2023 14:44

You can overplan.

Mummyboy1 · 12/03/2023 15:10

Mine was going to be a January but ended up being end of December. No regrets!

Rosegold3112 · 12/03/2023 15:11

My birthday is the 31st of December and I've done just fine. If you were to have a baby then, just make sure you don't do joint Christmas/birthday presents as that is a big kick in the teeth! But I really wouldn't put too much thought into it. Getting pregnant can't take a little while and skipping out certain months to try and manipulate the due date can just make it take longer. Not to mention most baby's won't even arrive on their due date

Mushroo · 12/03/2023 15:12

It is the worst time of year for a birthday, but I would love a January baby over no baby, and for that reason I’m planning to crack on!

If you were 22 I’d say wait, but in your thirties (I’m the same) the risk isn’t worth it

MeMyCatsAndMyBooks · 12/03/2023 15:13

No I wouldn't skip cycles at your age. Good luck!

ThomasinaLivesHere · 12/03/2023 15:16

I know how you feel. I did consider pausing ttc. I’m a December baby and just a few days before Christmas. As a child I always wishes my birthday was another time of year. I was considering skipping two months ttc to miss out Dec and Jan but I’ve decided against it. Like you I’m mid-thirties and I just think what if it doesn’t happen or takes ages I’d regret not trying for two months as you never know. We’ve also been trying for a few months and I think it’s harder to pause once you start so it might be easier to delay starting in your case. It’s up to you of course. Also how many children do you want? Obviously the more you want the quicker you should start.

lottieb92 · 12/03/2023 15:43

I get you OP last year I skipped potential due dates for selfish reasons but now I’ve been TTC for 18 months since I was 28 now I’m just 30…. Baby #2
I was tempted to miss a cycle this month as I’d be due 22nd December

But I don’t see why I would now, I’d love 3 children always have and always wanted to be done by 34 so my time is running out, so I’m going for it and if it happens I will laugh and deal with it (oh and cry with happiness)

Meadowflower2023 · 12/03/2023 15:45

I used to worry about what month baby would be born whilst TTC too (Christmas baby like me, or August baby youngest in school year etc) a little over 2 years later and 2 MC I couldn't give a crap. Any month would be amazing. I'm older than you (still trying) but I still would just get on with it. Good luck!

Cameliasway · 12/03/2023 15:46

Going against the grain here, I'd skip a month to avoid 1st Jan due date Blush but conceived without problems so maybe I'd feel differently if I struggled.

Bensmum1988 · 12/03/2023 15:48

Just go for it. I used to think about this kind of thing until I realised TTC isn’t as easy as sex ed classes made it sound and then I was desperate to have a baby any time of the year. Good luck!

Dyslexicwonder · 12/03/2023 15:51

I am a January baby, disliked it in my younger days and did try to avoid conceiving to give my DCs one. However as I have got older I quite like it 2 main reasons:

  1. You are as old as you can be within your birth year, which make me feel younger
  2. Arguably more important, the advantage of being in the middle of the school year.
Jackieintheboxy · 12/03/2023 15:53

I got pregnant on the first cycle both times
One was a January baby and the other a October baby (although should have been November so you could have a December baby)

quietnightmare · 12/03/2023 15:54

January babies get loads of presents due to the sales and brightens up January. Keeps the Xmas spirit up too

VixFromThe6ix · 12/03/2023 15:57

Don't overthink.... If time is of the essence, don't worry about birthdays. If you're lucky to get pregnant that fast, then oh well... December or January baby it is. But it may take longer then you'd feel you wasted a cycle.
My baby was born early as January baby and was supposed to be February. He is the best present to start the year.
I'm late 30s and now trying for baby #2.... Definitely won't be skipping cycles. :))

roarfeckingroarr · 12/03/2023 19:06

My 5 week old baby was due in Jan but weighed early Feb. It was wonderful being able to use the Christmas quiet period at work to effectively start maternity leave early and then know I have the whole year ahead off. It certainly brightened up January!

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