Is pregnancy really better through winter?

[Jolleigh]

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?

[amandine07]

Not really given this one much thought...currently 38 weeks with my first.

Thinking back to the July heat wave, it would've been awful having to struggle through that in London commuting while several months pregnant.

Much nicer now as the weather has been mild so far, just starting to really get cold...also I imagine that in the summer swelling & water retention will be much worse, much earlier one?

Christmas has always had a lovely cosy feeling for me & it feels extra special to be (very) pregnant at this time.
During the summer there tends to be a lot more weddings, outdoor birthday parties & BBQs.

Re drinking- I'd be the first one to crack open the wine or beer. However, since becoming pregnant it's hardly bothered me- have had a small drink every now and then.

Yesterday had some bubbly which was lovely.
Didn't find out I was pregnant until 2nd trimester...my diet has not really changed much. I know there is a "banned" list of food but I seem to have had most of them before I found out I was pregnant! All in moderation I think.

Overall, I think a winter baby is pretty great

[thehouseoflego]

Having morning sickness during a heat wave and 2yr who wanted to potty training was utterly horrid...! Saying that I'm guessing being 9 months pregnant during a heat wave is horrid too.

Other way, at some point...it's grim!

March and Jan babies here!

[thehouseoflego]

I'm much more of a winter person, I love wrapping up and wearing cosy clothes. Hence my babies are Winter / Spring.

Find the summer tough to dress for without a 8/9 pregnant tummy

[VoodooChimp]

I've had a summer baby and currently pregnant with a winter one.

The summer one was hellish, I used to lie for hours in a bath of cool water.

This one is easier and at least Christmas etc takes your mind off things whilst waiting for baby to arrive.

[CranberrySaucyJack]

Always been heavily pg in winter here- but I'm still too hot to sleep most nights, and that's with the window open.

I would not want to be this fat in a heat wave.

Besides which- one of the joys of summer is drinking pear cider on the beach, shirley?

[CountBapula]

DC1 was born in late September, so I was pg through the summer. The swollen ankles was the worst bit. Then, just as I was needing to get out and about with the baby, it got all cold and dark. I'm pretty sure it contributed to my PND (or made it worse, anyway).

DC2 due in March so I'm 29 weeks now. I've found it much harder getting out of bed in the morning when I'm so tired, and maternity clothes are a PITA in the colder weather (I've mostly gone for layers). But on balance it's probably physically easier. Plus I'm hoping that the weather will be on the turn around the time the baby's born and the lighter days will make the sleep deprivation more bearable.

[lljkk]

I'm not much of a drinker so the OP's dilemma doesn't arrise for me.
I think autumn-winter is good time to birth a baby because you're so tired you can't get out much, anyway. About when it gets easier with baby is when weather improves.

[lastnightopenedmyeyes]

I'm 36 weeks pregnant. Last baby was born august 2010, after a long hot summer. For me the winter pregnancy has been far better because:
-no swollen ankles, feet etc so far
-no unbearable heat keeping me housebound because I can't bear to wear clothes!!

It's just been much more comfortable and I've found it easier to dress for colder weather.

No drinking doesn't bother me at all.

[Jolleigh]

Doris - if you don't mind, I'm going to completely disregard your judgemental post. A huge proportion of the population enjoy a few drinks on social occasions. If in your head this translates to them all having alcohol dependancy issues then frankly you have a very black and white view of the world.

[Jolleigh]

mrscog - luckily I've never been a heavy drinker anyway so having fewer opportunities after the baby is here won't be an issue.

I suppose I was very aware of it all yesterday because DP and I chose to stay home rather than go to see my parents because my mother is a very heavy drinker. However much I tried it just didn't feel very festive. But if baby was here, we could have travelled to my brother and had a few festive drinks and games after baby was asleep.

[addictedtosugar]

But if your not pregnant over the summer, you have a tiny baby who, in my case, wouldn't be put down.
Personally, I preferred the heat wave whilst pregnant, to mini velcro hotwater bottle in the heatwave a month later.

[Shellywelly1973]

I think it's swings & roundabouts...

I've had 2 dc in September.

I've had 2 dc in February.

I've had 1 dc in June.

New baby due in January.

Personally I've always prefered to be pregnant during the winter. Drinking or not- as the case may be isn't an issue for me even when I'm not pregnant.

I'm finding it physically very difficult to keep up with everything this time, Christmas has been exhausting this year.... I'm absolutely exhausted. Only dinner for 8 today so not so bad!

There are pros & cons to being pregnant during all the seasons!

[mrscog]

Good grief I hope I didn't sound judgmental - it's just I've been suprised by how little capacity i have for boozing since I had DS (who is nearly 2 now), even yesterday 2 glasses of champagne and a glass of wine and I was floored, and the two real hangover days I've had since having a baby have been absolutely awful - I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy!

You're right, next year you'll be able to enjoy it a lot more :)

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

The only thing which made me feel better about having a MC in February was seeing women who were heavily pg in august! My work involves a lot of lifting and standing. I'd probably have keeled over!
Now I'm 7 months at Christmas and it's been quite nice. I've managed work, and haven't lifted a festive finger yet!
The only worry I have is falling over in the rain or snow, but that's just a matter of being careful.
Personally, I don't need alcohol to help the conversation flow, and Im allowing myself a couple anyway. The recommendations are to drink as little as possible. I dont think there is any evidence that one or units a week make any difference.
Oh, and I sell cheese. Each Stilton needs to be taken on its own merits. not all are hard, some are very soft and creamy and better avoided. In general, its the mould in some cheeses and the water content which makes cheese softer which needs avoiding.

[smaths]

I have 2 late August babies, it was hellish being 8 months pregnant in the heatwave this summer. And it means I go back from maternity leave before this summer so if there is any good weather I'll miss it. I think on balance being pregnant over winter is better, it's much more acceptable to curl up on the sofa/in bed at 7pm on a cold dark winters evening than on a summer's night where it's light til 11pm and easier to sleep too. I think a March or April baby would be a great time, if you could choose these things!

[Bunbaker]

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

[ReticulatingSplines]

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.

[ReticulatingSplines]

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

[NoComet]

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.

[Jolleigh]

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

[Jolleigh]

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.

[Bunbaker]

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.

[ouryve]

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.

[ouryve]

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!

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

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.