What month did you give birth?

[Molli526]

Hi!

DH and I are at the point of being serious about having kids. I am wondering what month you gave birth as we are trying to decide if I am being unreasonable. My job requires me to be on my feet a good part of the day. I am in sales, so I am also in and out of my car and exposed to the elements i.e. the hot, hot, sun, the muggy, summer weather (We are in Michigan), rain etc.

My mom gave birth to one of my sisters in September and said that summer was the worst ever b/c she was so swollen and hot. My partner at work gave birth August 31 and she had to go on leave a month early due to swelling etc. b/c of being on her feet etc. I also had a friend give birth in September who had to go on leave a few weeks early due to swelling.

So, I am not really keen on the idea of being in my third trimester over the summer, but DH thinks I am being too picky. I know, you don't always get pregnant when you want, but am still curious regardless.

So, what month did you give birth, and how was your comfort level during the third trimester? Where were you located i.e state when you gave birth?

Thanks!!

PS. I know you can't always get pregnant when you want.

[MKSquared]

Well, here's a poll I can't respond to ... but I've got to hand it to you, Molli, you found a poll that doesn't need an Obligatory Other. I hope you get the results you're looking for!

[Molli526]

Thanks MK!

[hrk]

I gave birth to my first child in May. And while you can't plan when you get pregnant I was just like you did not want to be pregnant over the summer. I live in Maryland and summers are hot and humid and I did not want to be pregnant then. So DH and I started trying in June and were pregnant in August. Ultimately I was very happy with the way this worked out since I was very huge and always hot at the end even though it was only in the mid 80's and low humidity

[SueK]

Molli- I had DD#1 in April, and that worked out well. I didn't mind being in maternity clothes over the winter and since I did swell up quite a bit, I was glad she came in the spring.

I am due next month with #2, but being pregnant in the summer hasn't been that bad. I didn't get big this time, nor have I had swelling, so I guess I got lucky with the timing.

I guess you just don't know if you will have swelling, etc., so I can definitely see why you'd prefer to not be the "most" pregnant during the summer months, especially if you're going to be on your feet alot.

[beacooker]

Very creative way to draw attention to your poll, Molli. )

I had my son in January. I had done the same kind of thinking as you, and thought it would be best to deliver in March or April, May at the latest. We started trying a little bit before that, thinking, well NO WAY would we get pregnant on the first shot. Oops.

Other than the fact that I was humongously pregnant at Christmas time, and that my son's birthday will forever be lost in the hubub of the holidays, my last trimester was great, weather wise.

[gertdog]

I can't respond to the poll part because I haven't been pregnant myself, but I can say that I was born in late September and my mom said exactly what yours did about being pregnant in the summer. She was utterly miserable and says there's a good reason my younger sister was born in April. Sorry Mom!!!!

[jphilg]

I am very interested in the outcome of this poll...I was jsut doing some calculations this morning about when, in a perfect world, I would want to get pregnant (DH and I have been having The Talk, and we are sure that it is not this year.) I was actually thinking that September would be a great time to have a baby because then maternity leave would extend into the holidays, and we could have one sort of idyllic Christmas before the realities of two working parents set in. Yeah. I am nuts and clueless about the first few months of parenthood.

But I didn't think about the very-pregnant-all-summer thing...hmm. Fun to think about.

[Molli526]

Stephanie, the rest of us were born in February, April and May.

Thanks Anne! I really want people to vote

[Robyncz]

DD#1 was born in November. That wasn't bad at all. It had already started to cool down before I got really uncomfortable.

DD#2 was born in May. Also not bad. That time it had started to cool down before I realized I was pregnant.

Good luck with your planning!

[MusicMom]

I voted October since you were interested in the summer months, although I also had a baby in May.

I live in Virginia where it can get very hot and humid in July and August. However, on really miserable days I stayed inside where it is air conditioned. I just passed on some of the outdoor festivals and stayed home to relax. I have a sit-down job, so I was able to put a stool under my desk and prop my feet up.

Granted, the last time I was pregnant was ten years ago, but I think your feet can swell even if it's winter. It's just the nature of the changes to your body.

[Chefzhat]

October for one, November for the other. I don't remember being uncomfortable for either last trimester, but I do remember that the summer/fall clothes were so much more flattering and cute than the winter stuff - if that helps any!!??!!

I was a pampered, spoiled lady during both pregnancies - it was all good!!

Debie

[Laura]

Well I gave birth in August and December, both kids were late and should have been born in different months, and I was not intending for either month. With both kids we were not "trying" but also were not using any form of birth control other timing my cycle. Actually with my daughter I knew the timing was close, but with my son, I didn't think there was any way I could get pregnant.

The pregnancy with my son was more uncomfortable as I lived in Calif. at the time, and we had a very hot, dry, windy fall.

[MusicMom]

Here's another thought. As long as you're planning an ideal schedule , check the enrollment cut-off at your local school system. Here, the cut-off is September 30, so children born in October like my DD have to wait almost a whole year after turning 5 years old before they can go to Kindergarten. My DS, born in May, is about the average age in his grade.

[funnybone]

I had my first in August and second in Dec. I vote for summer being easier because you wear lighter clothes. Luckily the year I had my second was a mild winter and I didn't have to worry about a heavy coat I couldn't do up or boots.

Good Luck!

[lhall]

December and January.

It does mean they get tons of gifts very close together. DD2's b-day is about 2 weeks before Christmas, and DD1's is 2 weeks after.

Leigh

[Grace]

I can't answer on this thread either, having no kids, except to add that I was born on July 31st, and my mother told me it was pretty horrible considering there was no air conditioning in the hospital, and it was brutally hot that week.

But, not that I believe in horoscopes or anything , but I think Leos are pretty cool!

I remember when we were trying to have kids, I was more concerned with what the weather was going to be AFTER the kid was going to be born - I didn't want to be shut up in the house all winter, not able to exercise or get out and do anything, so I was hoping to have a child in the spring so I could have all summer to get back in shape. But that never worked out for us

Best wishes to you no matter WHEN you have a baby!!

[clairea]

DS was born in August. When we got ready to start trying for #2, I told DH that if I didn't get pregnant in time for the baby to be born in the spring/early summer, we were just going to wait a whole year! I guess you know how I felt about being pregnant in August in Atlanta

DD was born in early March (should have been mid-April, though). I thought that would be great timing, but I was really sick during my first trimester and I think the heat and humidity made that worse.

So, I guess my vote would be to get pregnant in September or October. I am guessing it would have cooled down in Michigan by then so the first trimester wouldn't be bad, and you would have the baby before it got too hot.

Claire

[LaraW]

Originally posted by gertdog
I can't respond to the poll part because I haven't been pregnant myself, but I can say that I was born in late September and my mom said exactly what yours did about being pregnant in the summer.

Change the part about not having been pregnant to not having given birth yet, and ditto this. My baby is due in December, so I'm only a week into the 3rd trimester, but I can tell you that even during the 2nd trimester in July and August when it was over 90 every day, I was pretty warm.

[HeatherTx]

I had DS in April and DD in May. I live in Tx and REALLY liked not being pg in the summer! I was born in August (In Tx too) and my mom said she was miserable!

[JoanneOR]

The poll will only let me vote once, but I had four births. One July, two Septembers, and one November.

I didn't enjoy being pregnant in the summer, but it happened that my last trimester was in the summer for three of them. I really stayed in air conditioning most of the time, as the heat really bothered me. But, I must say, it is fun for the kids to have a summer birthday. It doesn't really get lost in any major holidays, like a November or December birthday, and they can have outside parties.

I found it easier to dress in the summer, too. I liked the summer maternity clothes more than the winter. And, I didn't have to worry about buttoning my winter coat.

Actually, I think an April or May baby would be ideal. It's not really warm yet, and by the time summer comes around the baby is a couple months old and you'll feel more comfortable taking him out. I spent some long winters cooped up with babies going crazy. It was too cold to take them out so young so we stayed inside.

[sneezles]

Originally posted by MKSquared
but I've got to hand it to you, Molli, you found a poll that doesn't need an Obligatory Other.

Well, having given birth 3 times and all born in different months I looked for the Other as a choice ! DS#1 was born in September but we lived in Singapore so every day was hot and muggy. DS#2 was born in January and we were living in Scotland and that was marvelous! No need for a/c and no need for heat...DH wore longjohns until March! DS#3 was born in April in Houston and that was very doable. Even though Texas can be exceptionally warm during the "winter" months I don't recall whining about the heat like I did with DS#1!

[KristaMB]

Molli, after all these years of lurking on the PG and Mom's threads you may be ready to join? How exciting!

I gave birth in early August in San Diego. July was pretty warm inland where I lived, but I worked in an A/C building on the coast, so I wasn't miserable. Now that I live in Sacramento where we have long stretches of 100+ temps, I think it may be a different story.

This may be a little controversial, but one thing that you may consider is that it might actually be nice to have a reason to go out on maternity leave early. Of course I know that you should never hope for something like swelling, but if it happens then it happens. If you can manage financially being on a few weeks of disability then going out early may not be too bad, IMHO. DS came a month early and I was at work, exhausted the day before I delivered. I would loved to have been well rested for his delivery, on leave already, with a suitcase packed and more prepared than I was.

Best of luck to you,
Krista

[Chefzhat]

Krista - you've got a point there. I was at work both days that I delivered and I remember thinking that I wish I had been more rested rather than going into labor and delivery on no sleep, a full day's work, home chores, etc then off to the hospital at 11 or midnight to labor for a few hours. I was TIRED!!!

Debie

[RunnerKim]

My daughter was born in September (just a week for being 1 years old!). I didn't give a thought to the whole heat/swelling thing because I lived in Portland, OR for crying out loud. Hot is 80 degrees. When I lived in St. Louis, I said no way would I be in my 3rd tri-mester during the summer, but when we moved to Portland I figured it wouldn't matter. Well even living in Portland it was hot hot hot (we also don't have a/c). I kept remarking this summer how much more bearable it was. That said I wasn't so badthat I will try to schedule around summer next time (hmmm DH might feel differently). I did not have a big problem with swelling. I swam 2-3 times a week and I think that helped (and walked at least once a day for a couple of miles).

It really helped me that I was in my 3rd tri-mester during good weather (even if it was HOT) because I stayed active. I think I'd have a harder time doing that during the gloomy rainy season here (AKA winter).

the school cut-off thing is something to consider in this ideal planning scenario. Not just how ready (or "over-ready") they'll be to start but the school year starts after Labor day around here - that's going to make invitations to her birthday party kind of tough. With 25 plus class sizes, do people still invite the whole class?? Oh and it's working out nicely that I can get her 12 month development toys for her 1st birthday and anything that will be too old I can just hold off until Christmas.

And don't forget to consider birth stones!

All that said - my daughter had a real problem with respiratory viruses, including being hospitalized at 4.5 months with pnuemonia. It would be nice to have a baby in the spring so they're older/stronger before cold & flu season hits (particularly if day care is in the child's future).

Additionally, I think September tends to be a very popular birth month (statisically speaking, but I don't know for sure). My lacatation consultant said they were always very busy in Sept and I know they ran out of rooms while I was at the hospital. Just think back 9 months -- it's all the Christmas and New Years babies

Kim

[Molli526]

Interesting. Thanks for your responses.

School isn't an issue, unless something changes, as the cut-off is December 31.

I think I *would* like to be off before the delivery some, but I only get 8 weeks at full pay, so I want to be able to spend the bulk of the time off with the baby. I am the primary breadwinner so how long I am off with full pay does factor in.

[Jessica]

I don't have any children, but my mother is the oldest of four and she was born in September. My grandmother's next three were May, May, April

When Mom got married, my grandmother's one bit of advice was, "don't be pregnant in the summer." She had us in May, April and October, but the last one was an oops.

My SIL just had a baby and she was pretty warm that last month or two. Her feet didn't swell much but her hands did.

[Terrytx]

I didn't do the poll either cause I need to check too many-April, August, October and November. If I had to choose one of these to redo it would be April.

[sharris315]

January here--and I was really FREAKED that there was going to be a BIG snow storm when I went into labor...

I don't know that I would change it; I was just happy to be pregnant. It never occurred to me to plan that.

Shar

[Molli526]

I am a bit on the anal side and like to try and plan things Obviously, you can't plan for everything, but you can sure try