Some will leave the details up to fate when conceiving a child, but if this latest piece of research is anything to go by, more and more women have their birth dates well planned ahead.
A new study is claiming that mums target the ‘good’ birthing seasons of spring and summer when getting pregnant, with statistics showing that more babies are born between June and September as opposed to the ‘wintry’ period between November and March.
The discovery was made by researchers in the UK and Chile, with the team studying data from millions of first-births. The results were then published in the report, Findings in Choosing Season Of Birth: The Role of Biological and Economic Constraints, which was presented this week.
The statistics show that women tend to be turned off by the prospect of giving birth in a season of typically bad weather. One example, from the States, showed that a significant 8% of younger women are more likely to give birth in the summer rather than the winter for this very reason.
While no specific reason underpinned the statistics, researchers believe the spring/summer preference could come down to higher exposure to Vitamin D and lower exposure to indoor allergens.
Commenting on the findings, one report author, Dr Climent Quintana-Domeque said: “For the first time, our research documents that season of birth is actually a planned decision: mothers have a clear desire to target the ‘good’ seasons of birth of spring and summer – and often manage to do so.”
What are your thoughts? Have you planned your baby’s conception and birth around a season?
