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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Is pregnancy really better through winter?

65 replies

Jolleigh · 25/12/2013 23:00

People have commented quite frequently that I'm lucky I fell pregnant after the hot weather. But like many, I like to enjoy a few drinks on special occasions and the subsequent easy but stimulating conversation a group can get into.

I have so far been through my birthday, DP's birthday, my mum's wedding, the work Christmas party, Christmas eve and today, all drink free barring a glass of red wine. I have New Years and several family birthdays in the beginning of next year too.

So, those of you who have done this through all weathers...Would you choose to be pregnant through the summer simply to reclaim Christmas?

OP posts:

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throckenholt · 28/12/2013 08:11

I had one birth in the middle of July, and one in the middle of January.

The summer one was horribly hot and uncomfortable (in the days when we used to have hot summers). The winter one I don't remember any particular issues. Drinking is not an issue with me - so no effects over Christmas (apart from being as big as a house).

However, post birth it was much easier being up in the the night with the summer baby - it wasn't dark and was much warmer. If I had a choice I would say an April/May baby would be ideal in terms of pregnancy timing and newborn phase. Also toddler hood likely to be through the summer. My winter babies were toddlers in the middle of winter - not so easy to let them toddle outside then.

stopgap · 27/12/2013 20:37

I much preferred being pregnant in summer. Floaty maxi dresses were infinitely preferable to wearing leggings and shirts that never quite cover my bum.

HumptyDumptyBumpty · 27/12/2013 12:41

Am now 39 weeks, therefore was 20 odd weeks during this summer, and it turned me into a monster even back then, when I could walk rather than lumber!
I've loved being pregnant over Christmas, have been urged to 'take it easy' all the time, and not had to travel, as parents offered to come to us!
Drinking wise, even if you have two glasses at once, it's v unlikely to cause a problem, unless you do it every day, so I haven't noticed much. One glass is enough now anyway!

Lifeisaboxofchocs · 27/12/2013 12:16

i presume you live in the uk?

Hardly the tropics.

I had mine in winter and summer. Both mild and drizzly, hardly knew the difference in weather.

seafoodudon · 27/12/2013 11:36

I guess you're attitude to a Christmas pregnancy depends a lot on how careful you are re food and drink. The only thing I cut out when pregnant is liver pate and would make sure I don't have more than a few units of alcohol at a time.

Dd2 was a September baby. At the time I was looking forward to a hibernation over winter. When it came to it I found the chronic tiredness and low mood exacerbated by nights drawing in and weather worsening. Bit miserable to be honest. Whereas late winter and early spring babies accompanied by improving weather and light I found easier.

seafoodudon · 27/12/2013 11:36

Your!

seafoodudon · 27/12/2013 11:36

I guess you're attitude to a Christmas pregnancy depends a lot on how careful you are re food and drink. The only thing I cut out when pregnant is liver pate and would make sure I don't have more than a few units of alcohol at a time.

Dd2 was a September baby. At the time I was looking forward to a hibernation over winter. When it came to it I found the chronic tiredness and low mood exacerbated by nights drawing in and weather worsening. Bit miserable to be honest. Whereas late winter and early spring babies accompanied by improving weather and light I found easier.

OrangeMochaFrappucino · 27/12/2013 10:19

The thing is it's not 'just a few months'; pregnancy and breastfeeding took over two years last time around and I am happily embarking on it all over again. It's not that I don't appreciate the privilege and miracle of pregnancy, nor that I am lamenting not being able to swig back a row of tequila slammers. We are allowed to miss things we enjoy such as two consecutive glasses of wine without it meaning that we are raging alcoholics or ungrateful whiners who don't realise how lucky they are to be pregnant. I am very glad to be pregnant but there are still things about not being pregnant that I miss. Going whole weeks without puking, for example. The reliability of my pelvic floor, for another. And, yes, 2+ units of alcohol every now and again in the space of two years! Obviously, I have chosen pregnancy and breastfeeding in place of those things but it doesn't mean I don't get the occasional wistful pang for them on occasion!

Jolleigh · 26/12/2013 15:10

Gosh - don't get me started on the cheese and pate that I need to br disciplined with at this time of year!

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TheNumberfaker · 26/12/2013 15:04

My 2 DDs are exactly 2 years 6 months apart so I've been pregnant through all seasons.

I was so glad that I was heavily pregnant through a heatwave with DD1 rather than when she was a newborn. At least I could direct fans at me and cool down. She was just nice and snuggly whatever the weather inside. If she'd been a newborn, I couldn't have plonked her in front of a fan. I'd much rather suffer than my teeny baby!

Oblomov · 26/12/2013 14:50

Done both. Summer was very hot. Bit tough. Christmas I found easier. I chose to have a very occasional glass of wine.

purplebaubles · 26/12/2013 14:41

Done both, and I think it's worse being pg in the Winter...think early mornings, dark, trying to clear the ice off the car with the bump in the way and a baby crying in the back of the car! First pg, no other baby to worry about, and no dark/icy/cold mornings! Plus, no other baby to carry about with huge bump!

Being pg in the summer just meant a nice maxi dress

GoshAnneGorilla · 26/12/2013 14:33

This is my 2nd winter baby, am definitely, definitely glad to be pregnant in the winter, I appreciate the extra insulation.

I don't drink alcohol, so don't have that problem, but have missed not having free reign of the cheeseboard.

working9while5 · 26/12/2013 14:28

This is my third and I am 27 weeks. Would never ever swop for being pg in a heatwave. Dc2 was end June after a period of hot weather and that was tough. Dc1 was born December and Christmas was snowy and twinkly and lovely but the six weeks of snow and not being able to drive after he arrived pretty tough through breastfeeding difficulties etc and the night can seem awfully long in Winter with a small baby, a Summer baby was much nicer and I worried less about overheating and bugs etc as a nervous first timer. Honestly you'll soon think being pregnant at Christmas not very inconvenient at all in comparison to the other day to day adjustments ahead!

Jolleigh · 26/12/2013 14:08

Sorry mrscog I missed your reply! You didn't come across as judgemental at all!

It'll be lovely this time next year as it's going to be a wider family Christmas with a 9 month old baby around Gives me a warm glowy feeling thinking about it.

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SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 26/12/2013 13:42

Jolleigh, Get some of those shoe thingies. I have 'yax trax' which I bought in Black's, and some rubber ones from Better ware. They are excellent for when it's icy. A walking pole or two are handy too. You can take the rubber stopper off of the bottom and just use the spiky bit.

ouryve · 26/12/2013 13:36

And like you, I live somewhere hilly - it's also exposed, so the frost and ice get pretty bad.

Regarding heatwaves, DS was due in November 2003 - that summer was a really intensive, prolonged heatwave which I largely vomited and slept through! We moved into this house when I was 6 months and it was about 30C outside and I ended up horribly swollen, even that early.

DS2 was due late April, and we had another big, extreme heatwave when he was about 6 weeks old. We ended up shut in the house with the south facing curtains shut because it was just too hot to take him out for walks. And breastfeeding in the heat was hellish. The hormones released during letdown always made me hot. I ate rather a lot of ice cream, that summer!

ouryve · 26/12/2013 13:18

It's 3/4 of a year, whenever you're due, so most of us manage to be pregnant through most seasons. Summer can be awful because it's horrible being hot when you have morning sickness and it's horrible being hot when you have a massive belly to lug around. That said, houses with central heating on too high are just as bad. I also struggled with the amount of perfumed stuff everywhere in the run up to Christmas (I struggle with that any time, but pregnancy really made my sense of smell extra sensitive and I couldn't take antihistamines) and I struggled walking on icy or snowy ground with a bump, when I was expecting DS2. I couldn't do it without an arm to hang off.

Bunbaker · 26/12/2013 13:15

Does not being able to have a drink at Christmas and New Year really matter in the grand scheme of things?

I was pregnant over the festive season and saw the new millennium in with a pot of tea. After nearly 20 years of infertility I was feeling very privileged to be pregnant at all.

Jolleigh · 26/12/2013 13:12

Saggy - I'm terrified of falling in the icy weather too Another negative about winter pregnancy. We live at the top of a hill so when it ices over properly I reckon I'll have to take a short drive to somewhere flat to walk the dog.

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Jolleigh · 26/12/2013 13:01

bunbaker - was that your attempt at trying to be helpful?

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NoComet · 26/12/2013 12:36

I'm not that bothered about drinking. I hate being too hot.
I've never been Heavily PG in summer it looks really uncomfortable.

Also winter maternity clothes are so easy, you can't wear leggings and a baggy jumper in July.

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ReticulatingSplines · 26/12/2013 12:34

Oh I forgot about how hard it was to sleep. I was cooked overnight.

ReticulatingSplines · 26/12/2013 12:32

I have an early April baby and a late August baby. The winter pregnancy was by far the easiest. I was so swollen this summer I pretty much lived on ice lollies.

If you're pregnant through summer you can't have a nice cool beer in the long evenings - it's not just winter time that you miss the alcohol. Plus with my August baby I got my BFP on Christmas day so didn't get to drink then either.

Bunbaker · 26/12/2013 12:28

It is for a few months only. Get a grip.

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