A useless MN Poll - gestation of babies depending on season

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

So. In the interests of keeping me from boredom, and at the suggestion of tillyscoutsmum {ha, i shall blame you} I am asking this question.

My DD was a summer baby, born in 2006 when we had a heatwave. She was born 10 days early, relatively small (for no known reason).

This time, i am having a boy, and so far he is 8 days late, and not indicating if he intends to make an appearance soon. Thinking perhaps he is wanting to put a bit more fat on him to help him through the winter months!

Is there any correlation between winter/summer babies and how long they take to make an appearance?

Come and share and completely blow my very useless theory out of the water while I sit eating Doritos, soured cream and guacamole.

DS (Sept 05) 3 weeks early
DD (sept 08) 2 weeks late!

DD - 11 days late. Suspect hospital was in no rush to induce me due staff shortages over Christmas/New Year period. DD arrived 2nd January (day before I was due to be induced). Labour was so long (28 hours!) - she's so laid back.

DS - 9 days overdue.(born 29th September) Trying hard not to be outdone by sister but came out really quickly in the end! Take it as an indication of his temperament too - in a rush, always active and eager to do things.

I meet your theory

DS 1 born a week early in March, DS2 born week late (after being induced)in September and he was a right lard lord!

homicidalmummy i am hoping that the absence of this one is due to 'temperament' too, DD was early and is rush rush rush never keeps still, perhaps the lateness means he will be more chilled?

Seeing as my theory has no pattern at all. Still

leningrad my amniotic fluid was fine though, plenty of it (had scans to check all was ok for last 6 wks as growth was slowing), but a good theory too

My children swapped due dates - DS1 was a week early, born end of August. DS2 was due on DS1's birthday but was a week late and arrived on DS1's due date in early September.

DD1 - September 1998 (11 days early)

DD2 - December 2003 (3 days early)

Coincidentally both my siblings and I were all a little early too, so I don't know if it's a family thing!

DS - 11 days early (born November)

DD - 4 days late (September)

DD1 - November (born on her due date)
DS1 - March (5 days early)
DS2 - April (10 days late!)

child 1 July- 10 days late
child 2 April- 11 days late
child 3 July- 13 days late
child 4 August- 10 days late

So, on my very scientific data straw poll, your theory is hogwash. Sorry.

Also blowing you theory out of the water here

DS - 6 weeks early - Born December.

I also have a theory about left handers and migraines but that's a whole other thread.

My three are all June/July and were all 2/3 days early.

In conclusion, no obvious pattern/theory then?

Apart from, - they are children, they do it to annoy us, even before they are born! That one seems to work whether they are late or early!

DS1 born end of August, 1 week late
DD1 born end of September, 3 days late
DD2 born beginning of January, born 10 days late
DS2 born end of August, 1 week late the day after his brother's birthday

Mine go along with your theory.

DS - December - 11 days late
DD - October - 13 days late

Winter babies want to stay cosy for as long as possible

I remember reading a book, an old one, may have been by Marie Stopes, possibly Married Love - or then again not.

This book was printed in the twenties and stated that babies have different gestations depending on seasons and also had a table showing the gestation of babies conceived at different times of the year - it was a long time ago that I read it though so cannot remember any more details - sorry!

Wonder if all this is more likely to show that the due date calculations are pretty useless at best...
DD June 07, two weeks early, awful summer though. Still remember the torrential rain outside while I was in labour - quite soothing sound actually.
According to my mum, all 4 of us were a week early (one summer, two autumn, one spring).

DD1 born in heatwave (thermometer in hospital showed 39C, right underneath poster advertising overheating as a risk factor in cot death ): two weeks late.

DD2 born in heatwave (April 2007 - lovely weather all of April then horrible summer): 10 days early.