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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

The best time of year to have a baby is...

72 replies

Robbie · 29/10/2001 11:57

What do you think the best time of year to have a baby is? Early summer seems to me to be the perfect time. You get your maternity leave in the good weather, plus it's nice in the early days when often all you can do to appease them is to push them around in the pram, all their parties will be in the nice weather too. I know you can't always plan it but if you could, don't you agree that May/June is optimum? I'm thinking about this particularly at the moment as my twins are about to have their birthday party and it would all be so much easier if I could bung them all outside in the garden - but chances are it'll be cold and miserable.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Rosy · 30/10/2001 15:53

I had my first child in January and we had the heating on all night for months (this may have had more to do with the fact that it was our first child though, and in Scotland). Also, I have memories of being a prisoner in the house when it rained non-stop for days on end with a crying baby, when a walk round the block would have settled her without any trouble. I said I wanted a spring baby next time, but when it came to it, I decided that it didn't matter that much really, and I shouldn't be so arrogant to think I could choose! But I've been lucky, and am expecting my next in May (not that it matters so much this time as I'll not be going back to work). As my mother said though, you're staying in quite a bit with a small baby anyway, especially if you're breastfeeding. When the summer came it was easier to take my dd out and about and could bridge the gap between feeds with a jar of something.

Kjlkate · 30/10/2001 16:53

Mine were February and September - opposite ends of the year exactly. Two lots of maternity clothes for different seasons and two lots of clothes for babies as not much fitted for the right season at the right age! So perhaps a similar time of year for siblings ...? Having said that, while I enjoyed the baggy sweater winter pregnancy, I also loved being pregnant in summer - a chance to float about in maternity dresses (as someone else said) and no need to bend down lacing up shoes in final weeks, just slip into sandals while remaining vertical. Also a good chance to show off that pregnancy chest (if, like me, it's a rare treat to have one!). DH liked autumn too because he finds a sling too hot to wear in summer. However, Sept a bad time of year to buy presents - all the shops have cleared out for Christmas but not yet stocked up. At least for Feb baby we can buy in Christmas sales!
If I did it again, my main thought is whether to go for term time or not? Have the older ones occupied while you go through the sitting on the sofa breastfeeding all day stage? Or go for hols and avoid school runs till you've got Smallest into a routine?
I agree you're lucky if you can plan it, but isn't that half the fun? Dates take on an almost magic significance in the end!

Tinker · 30/10/2001 22:13

Well, I certainly didn't plan my pregnancy, but if I had, I would have chosen the autumn term - the oldest kids in the year "seem" to do better academically.

However, she was born in April and has generally been blessed with a glorious sunny day for all of her 4 birthdays. Also, I constantly leaked like a sieve when I was breatfeeding and ended up sleeping topless with the duvet under my breasts. If she had been born in winter, I would have given up the breastfeeding a lot earlier!

Emmam · 31/10/2001 08:58

Enid - virgo and sagittarius, difficult! Beware of having an aquarius or an aries child next time, they can have a turbulent relationship with a virgo. The most harmonious with virgos are other virgos, libra, scorpio, capricorn, taurus, cancer or leo.

Hedgehog - your cancer and virgo children will get on great with each other, as will your aries and sagittarius children, but cancer and sagittarius together can be turbulent as can virgo and aries!

Re. your picky virgo: A virgo child typically is supposed to be quick, alert and can learn many things in a short time; gets upset if he forgets something that has been learned by heart; rarely questions authority, but frequently questions facts; is honest and reliable; is usually shy amongst strangers; loves to do jobs around the home; is sometimes a fussy eater; is usually tidy, with occasional bouts of disorganisation; gets very upset if teased and is often an early talker and reader - how much of that rings true for you?

Janh · 31/10/2001 09:40

emmam - thanks a bunch! dh is virgo - 3 of 4 kids and me are aries. 4th is cancer so he's ok.

4 aries in the house can be a nightmare...esp when 3 are female and the hormones kick in!

Janh · 31/10/2001 09:43

but i do wonder if having elective caesarians means it doesn't count the same way! if they had all gone to due date, or due date plus a week or two, i would have had 1 pisces/aries, 1 aries/taurus, 1 taurus-verging on gemini, and 1 leo....

Marina · 31/10/2001 10:02

Gipsy Rose Emmam, what do you think of Aries and Leo parents and a Cancer offspring?
As someone who is having no luck whatsoever with starting number two off, I'd settle for ANY time of year, to be honest.

Hedgehog · 31/10/2001 12:18

Hi Emmam,

yes, the aries and sagittarius get on well as do the cancer and the virgo.

My virgo's pickiness runs to such extremes that if he has one drop of water on his clothes, he goes upstairs and changes the whole outfit! You can imagine how much washing I have..... and I used to think the cancer was fussy!!!!

Chairmum · 31/10/2001 12:41

Emman, can you look in your book and 'do' my family? I'm Libra, DH is Taurus, DK's are Aries, Leo, Gemini and Pisces. Who should be arguing with whom, and who should be getting on like a house on fire??

Chairmum · 31/10/2001 12:43

Oops, I forgot to say "please", Emmam, so please could you look in your book!

Emmam · 31/10/2001 13:33

Cross my palm with silver....

Marina - Aries & Leo - harmonious. So Mum and Dad get on OK. Cancer child will have a harmonious relationship with the Leo parent, but a difficult relationship with the Aries parent. An Aries, Gemini, Leo or Sagittarius child next time will get on well with mum and dad, but a sagittarius as a sibling will war with your cancer child!

Chairmum - Mum, turbulent relationship with hubby Taurus; harmonious relationship with Leo and Gemini child; difficult relationship with Aries child and turbulent relationship with Pisces child!

Dad, turbulent relationship with Mum; harmonious relationships with all except the Leo child.

Aries child - Difficult with Mum, harmonious with Dad, Leo, Gemini and Pisces siblings.

Leo child - Harmonious with Mum, difficult with Dad, harmonious with Aries and Gemini siblings and turbulent with pisces sibling.

Gemini child - Harmonious with all the family apart from the pisces sibling where their relationship is difficult.

Pisces child - Turbulent with Mum, harmonious with Dad and Aries sibling. Turbulent with Leo sibling and difficult with the gemini!

Natt · 31/10/2001 14:04

So Robbie, you going for another or wiating until next year? I think we should be told....

Chairmum · 31/10/2001 15:04

Thanks Emmam. Here's a cyber silver sixpence coming your way. "O"

This is my take on the dynamics in our house. I've asterixed the differences. It was interesting to see that the Leo and I should get on well. We were very close when he was a baby, but now (he's 22) we sometimes have quite a difficult relationship. He is very like me in termperament, and I wonder if that is why we tend to spark off each other!!

Oh, and one last thing, if you have your book still to hand - the Leo is to marry a girl with a July 9th birthday. What do they have to look forward to??

Chairmum - Mum, harmonious (mostly!) relationship with hubby Taurus; harmonious relationship with Aries and Gemini child; difficult relationship with Leo child and turbulent relationship with Pisces child!

Dad, harmonious relationship with Mum; harmonious relationships with all.

Aries child - harmonious with Mum, harmonious with Dad, Gemini and Pisces siblings. Difficult with Leo sibling

Leo child - Turbulent with Mum, harmonious with Dad, difficult with Aries harmonious with Gemini and turbulent (sometimes - she's 17 yrs younger than him) with pisces sibling.

Gemini child - Harmonious with all the family apart from the pisces sibling where their relationship is difficult.

Pisces child - Turbulent with Mum, harmonious with Dad and Aries sibling. Turbulent with Leo sibling and difficult with the gemini! Spot on here!! She's a real PITA at times!!

Joe1 · 31/10/2001 15:15

What star sign is a baby born in July, as I am a Virgo so is DS, hubby is Scorpio. We are trying for number 2 and if goes well could be born in July. I dont really care when our children are born I think, living in England, weather etc is so unpredictable that we just have to take it as it comes, though saying that I do feel sorry for children born in December near Christmas as it must all seem to roll into one for them.

Original poster

Robbie · 31/10/2001 15:47

Too late for May/June this year - will have to wait until next, I think. Didn't you promise us a story about expressing blue milk, Natt?

OP posts:

Marina · 31/10/2001 16:04

Oh dear, potential mummy's boy scenario alert. Thanks Emmam, very interesting!

Sis · 31/10/2001 20:27

Yes Natt, let us have the blue milk story or I'll start a I'm not a rascist but... thread!!

Sis · 31/10/2001 21:10

sorry, rubbish at spelling, I meant "racist"

Emmam · 01/11/2001 08:36

Chairmum - Leo and Cancer a harmonious relationship! Apparently Leo man wants a partner who enhances his own image; someone that will place him at the head of the table and believe in his dreams. Cancer woman wants a partner that will take care of her and she will devote herself to him. Both star signs love kids and will want a family!

Aaah, isn't that lovely. Wishing them both a very happy future together.

Bells2 · 01/11/2001 14:35

For those who work outside the home, another potential consideration in trying to time the arrival of a baby can be financial. As far as your 6 weeks pay at 90% of your salary is concerned, this is based on your average salary of the 2 months something like 15 weeks before it starts (not sure of the exact details). So, if you earn more at a certain time of year it is worth trying to time the start of your maternity leave so your salary calculation will be based on that higher earning period.

By happy coincidence this happened to me with number one as the calaculation period took in our annual bonus - made a sizeable difference!.

Suedonim · 01/11/2001 16:34

Oh, no, Emmam, I'm marrying off the wrong son!!! It's the Arian, not the Leo who's marrying the Cancerian. Mind you, the forecast for Leo and Cancer is so good that maybe I should get my lads to swap girlfriends!

[From Chairmum, now posting as Sue Donim]

Emmam · 02/11/2001 08:29

Hello Sue Donim! Oo, Aries and Cancer - difficult! Aries man wants a partner he can be proud of. An Aries husband will regard his wife as the queen of his domain and she must behave accordingly. She must be loyal and full of surprises to keep him interested! It still sounds like a good relationship - Cancer woman wants to be looked after, so if Aries man makes her his queen she'll be devoted to him. But she's got to keep him interested!

Pamina · 02/11/2001 09:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Suedonim · 02/11/2001 11:50

LOL Pamina, hadn't thought about that one!!

Emmam, thank you. It sounds as though they'll be okay, then, as I think they'll manage the queen and surprises stuff. She's a super girl, so he'd better stay married to her!!!

Inkpen · 02/11/2001 17:31

Bells2 - Good point. I'm self-employed and remember timing Sprog No 2 v. carefully to get in enough weeks (26, from memory) of Class 2 NI contributions to qualify for maternity benefit (not SMP, but the one where they give you even less money) ...

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