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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Is it the worst thing in the world to have a Christmas baby?

92 replies

decafgirl · 14/09/2005 19:08

Hi everyone,

I'm coming off the pill soon and being the forward planner that I am I've been looking at dates etc and have figured out that if by some miracle I get pregnant quite quickly (after all my folic acid of course) I could end up being due on or very close to Christmas.

I know it's not the end of the world but has anyone avoided ttc during those early months for exactly that reason or am I just plain bonkers to be even thinking like this?!

I realise loads of people have xmas babies but it would seem to be extra stressful for my first.

Any advice?
xx

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

starlover · 14/09/2005 19:10

i don't think it necessarily has to be more stressful, but you may regret it later having birthday and christmas so close...
I know a little boy called GEorge who was born on christmas day but he celebrates his birthday on St Georges day! it's quite sweet

I don;'t think it's as big a deal as people seem to make out. but your lo may get bored of joint xmas/birthday pressies!!!

swiperfox · 14/09/2005 19:17

Hiya - I came off the pill and was pg in about 2 weeks - didn't plan the dates at all and dd ended up being born on xmas day. She's going to be 4 this year so this is the first year she's really going to notice it but it's horrid horrid horrid!!!!!!

sammac · 14/09/2005 19:22

My dd is 2 days before Christmas, and we spent her first Christmas in hospital. I am also a Christmas baby and the only downside that we've had is that she's never had a bouncy castle type party outside! We've compromised and just had friend round in the summer for one. Her godmother's birthday is exactly 6 months later in June and she shares it with dd as a half birthday- but in name only- no cards or stuff.And it's difficult to get a decent birthday card unless you plan ahead, cos they remove most of them to stock Xmas cards instead. Dd is now 11( and I'm a wee bit older!) and it's magical with all the lights around.

Slight space problem with all the cards, so we put birthday cards in one room and xmas cards in another. And now she's cottoned on that all the new toys etc come out in time for her birthday.

Neither of us have ever had a joint present, think my mum must have made that clear for me, and its just continued for dd.

Ds was due to be another December baby but sneaked in on Nov 30th instead. Dh was just kissing goodbye to his Nov salary

Good luck whatever happens!

MaloryTowers · 14/09/2005 19:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

swiperfox · 14/09/2005 19:28

more bad xmas day things for dd..... she can never have a birthday party for her friends on her birthday, she's never had a newspaper for the day she was born, she can never get flowers delivered on her birthday.........dont do it!!!! lol

Nemo1977 · 14/09/2005 19:34

I am due my second baby the week before xmas however ds was 15days over. Having a baby due at xmas isnt stressful in itself to me its more trying to arrange childcare for ds just in case I go on xmas day. It does take a little extra planning in terms of presents etc but on the whole I am quite looking forward to my extra special xmas present.

WigWamBam · 14/09/2005 19:35

My nephew was born shortly after Christmas and my sister was fed up of him always getting joint presents and never being able to invite friends round - so when he was young enough for it to bother him, he used to have an "unofficial" birthday in the Summer when he had his party and his cake. It was a child's dream - two birthdays a year!

Thomcat · 14/09/2005 19:39

It's not the end of the world, it's just one day, but it's a bit rubbish isn't it.
My DD's b.day is 17 December, she was due on the 7th and with Xmas fast approaching I was desperate for her to have a biggish gap between her b.day & Xmas so I got on the castor oil, (oh and I didn't want to be induced either).
I'm pregnant again and am due 22 Dec! OH no, what have we done??!!
We weren't looking at the calender and ttc, we just didn't do anything to prevent it, but if I have a 3rd baby then March is ruled out of my calender from now on!

Thomcat · 14/09/2005 19:40

Funny you should say that wigwambam, that's what I want to do for my 2 (well it'll be my 2 soon!)

Original poster

decafgirl · 14/09/2005 19:46

Thanks everyone! I'm really keen to avoid it but I've got the baby urge so bad! I think I'll hang on as long as I can though before ttc 'proper.'

I work in a school so it may even be better to try (she says knowing fine well that these thing never go to plan!) to use the school hols as extra mat leave when the time comes.

Dh can't wait either but I think he's more interested in all the bding and seems to forget there'll be a baby at the end of it all!

Thanks again everyone!

OP posts:

RTKangaMummy · 14/09/2005 19:54

My bro birthday is christmas eve and he has a half birthday in june with party for friends etc.

steffee · 14/09/2005 19:56

DS2 is 22nd December. I also prayed he'd be born earlier (due on 16th) and tried everything to get things going (strong filter coffee in the end). I felt guilty when he was born because I worried I might still be in hospital on Christmas Day and would ruin Christmas for the other two, but I wasn't. He'll be 2 this year but now we arrange it so all 3 children get presents on dd's b'day in October, and he and his brother (in Nov) get one big present for their birthdays. Other people generally give him a mixed Christmas/birthday present, or buy all presents on the first birthday in Oct.

stitch · 14/09/2005 19:56

no, the worst thing in the world is to have christmas twins.
as my friend does. both born on boxing day.

furiojoe · 14/09/2005 20:33

My ds was due 20th dec last year, I wasn't looking forward to it as I had a feeling I would be overdue and be in hospital over xmas or even new year. Fortunately he was born the 11th so I had time to kind of pull myself together and enjoy xmas, well to a certain degree! I don't think it's that bad, the only downside is your house will get over run with all the children at party time, no outdoor parties!

jamboure · 14/09/2005 20:39

ds1 birthday is november, 6 wks later its christmas and 3 weeks later twins birthday

Tommy · 14/09/2005 20:44

My DS1 was due on between Christmas and New Year and everyone kept telling me how awful it would be for him..... It was pretty rubbish being quite so pregnant at that time of year though (he wasn't palnned!). He eventually turned up on Jan 10th so at least Christmas is over by the time his bisrthday comes along although I do tend to use up Christmas sweets, napkins, wrapping paper etc for his party.
Of course it's not the end of the world - doesn't matter at all

ninah · 14/09/2005 20:57

To get pregnant at/around Christmas you'd need to conceive March/April. what you want is a healthy baby. You can think TOO much.

Eeek · 14/09/2005 21:00

Hi - we have a family of Xmas birthdays including ds, me, dm, df, and now bump. Its fine as long as the child doesn't get joint presents when they're little. When you're an expensive teenager joint presents are fantastic (bigger presents). My friends and I were always taken to the panto as a birthday treat which was brilliant. A midsummer half-birthday is a great idea and one we've been talking about but really it isn't necessary. And i thought Xmas lunch in hospital was actually quite good - and the one's brought in by family even better.

sweetheart · 14/09/2005 21:04

When I was trying to get pregnant last year dh and I decided not to ttc in March for this reason. I fell pregnant in September and was thrilled. Unfortunatly 4 months later I suffered a miscarriage which devestated our family.

We lost our little boy on 21st January.

By March I had fallen pregnant again and I am now counting my blessings to be 28 weeks pregnant and expecting a baby just a couple of weeks before xmas.

My point is that there are far worse things in life than having a christmas baby.

Magscat · 14/09/2005 21:05

My dd will be 1 on New Year's Eve. Don't know yet how parties will be but it was pretty rubbish trying to plan a c-section over the Xmas/New Year period. She was due Xmas Eve & I had a failed induction & emergency c-section with my first baby so the Consultant advised that if I went overdue I should have a section this time around.

Trying to book it to avoid holidays & weekends was a nightmare but at least dp was around all the time - i.e. had Xmas holidays as well as paternity leave so was at home longer.

In the end though just having new cuddly healthy baby was great and I really didn't care what time of year it was.

lucykate · 14/09/2005 21:11

i agree with ninah, you can't over plan things
like this, you're dealing with nature. with our second child, i tried to steer things towards a summer maternity leave, got pregnant but then miscarried, twice. Am pleased to say, a year later, had a succesful pregnancy, now have ds, 16wks.

if you wait til the time is right, will it ever be completly right?, something always comes up. if you really want to have a baby, just go for it!.

Lonelymum · 14/09/2005 21:11

Wow I am amazed you are thinking of this! My ds2's birthday is 21st December and it was horrendous for several years - between about 3 and 6. He always got so excited, he nearly snapped and he was often ill (twice sick and almost every birthday of his life he has had a runny nose in the photos!) Also, of course, we have to think of double presents for him and he never receives summer toys like water pistols etc. I have often complained about it and my mother has said I ought to have known better as my birthday is New Years Eve so of course I have spent my life sharing my birthday with the Christmas festivities and other celebrations. But to be honest, when dh and I nipped into bed that cold day in March to "warm ourselves up" the last thing I was thinking about was "if I get pg here, the baby will be born around Christmas". So I am amazed at your perspicacity and admire you for it. To answer the question, is it the worst thing in the world? No of course it isn't! A baby at any time is a joy and at Christmas, especially if, like me, you have a boy, it is wonderful to hear people singing about a special baby boy being born!

Eeek · 14/09/2005 21:21

Another good thing about a Xmas birthday - I've never had to go to school or work on my birthday. I think that's pretty fab!

QueenEagle · 14/09/2005 21:28

No of course it isn't!! My last two babies were both due on Xmas day and the only concern we had was disrupting everyone's Xmas should they be called on to babysit my older kids on the big day.

As it turned out, one was late (3rd Jan) and the last one was induced 2 weeks early on 16th Dec. One 9 days before/one 9 days after!!!

My brother's bday is 28th Dec and he always had joint pressies. dh and me have decided that both of them will have an unofficial birthday during summer so they can have friends over and celebrate during the better weather.

btw lonelymum - what does perspicacity mean?? Are you very clever?

Pruni · 14/09/2005 21:31

Message withdrawn

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