CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Is There Really Such Thing as a ‘Good’ Month to Have A Baby?

save article
profile picture of Kylie McConville
Updated January 30, 2017
Hero Image

Apparently, timing is everything.

According to the findings from a study conducted by Princeton University, there’s a 10 percent higher rate of prematurity among babies conceived in May than any other month. Study authors Janie Currie and Hannes Schwandt, researchers at the Center for Heath and Wellbeing at Princeton University, found that the rate may be due to the fact that moms-to-be began their third trimester around flu season — which is a known factor in kick-starting early delivery. A preterm delivery can result in asthma, developmental delays and learning disabilities for babies later in life.

But that’s not all Currie and Schwandt found. They found that babies conceived in summer months (June-August) were almost a third of an ounce (8 grams) heavier than babies born in other months.

Together, the duo compared more than 1.4 siblings born to 647,050 mothers in New York City, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They found that a high[-socioeconomic-status] mother getting pregnant in an unfavorable month will, on average, experience similarly poor birth outcomes as the typical (lower socioecomonic status) mother conceiving in [an] unfavorable month. But just what about the flu makes moms deliver sooner than their due dates? “It’s possible,” study authors write, “inflammation, which increases in response to the flu and has been linked to other studies with early delivery, may be behind the premature birth.” As for women delivering heavier babies in the summer, researchers say, “Women gain almost 1 lb. more when they conceive in June, July, or August than when they conceive in January, suggesting that gains in birth weight are driven, in part, by higher maternal weight gain during pregnancy.”

With all the bad buzz surrounding May babies, we took a deeper look into whether or not there really is a good month to conceive — or even a good month to deliver. Here’s what we found:

Related Video

Earlier this year, a study published in the journal JAMA Neurology found that newborn babies’ immune systems and vitamin D levels differ depending on which month of the year they’re born in. The study found that babies born in the month of May appear to be at the greatest risk for MS and babies born in November appear to have the lowest MS risk. The JAMA study also took a look into blood samples from over 50 babies born in November and 50 babies born in May. They found that May babies had significantly lower levels of vitamin D and babies born in November showed lower signs of autoreative T-cells.

Shortly after the vitamin D study, the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology concluded that sperm is affected by the seasons — their findings even showed that sperm is healthiest (and most likely to get you pregnant) in the winter and spring.

But that’s not all, folks! The CDC released the most popular months to have a baby — and this is sure to shock you. Last year, the most popular birth month was August, with over 362,000 babies born. The least popular month was February, with only 305,000 babies welcomed.

So, here’s what we’ve learned to date. Your baby will be born heavier if he’s delivered in the summer, yet be born in the most popular month of the year. May babes will have significantly less vitamin D and be at higher risk of MS but they’ll have way more autoreactive T-cells than any other month and they’ll come from the healthiest sperm. February babies are the least popular in the food chain, since they had the lowest number of births in 2012. November is a bad month for babies looking for high levels of autoreactive T-cells, but they’ll have an abundance of vitamin D. Confused yet?

When did you have your baby? Did you experience any complications?

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

pregnant woman looking at calendar next to baby's crib
This Is the Most Popular Weekday to Give Birth, Study Says
By Wyndi Kappes
parent holds newborn's hand at hospital
This Mom’s Three Girls, Born Three Years Apart, Share the Same Birthday
By Nehal Aggarwal
Illustration of calendar with baby accessories surrounding it.
‘How Far Along Am I?’ Here’s How to Tell
By Stacey Feintuch
ADVERTISEMENT
mom taking photos of her baby during the fall season
Billionaires Are Most Likely to Be Born in October, Study Finds
By Nehal Aggarwal
very pregnant woman looking at her laptop
What Happens if You Go Past Your Due Date?
By Korin Miller
pizza hut offers deal to first twins born during the super bowl
Pizza Hut Is Giving Free Pizza to One Set of Parents This Super Bowl
By Nehal Aggarwal
skipolini preggo pizza pie, which claims to help women into labor.
Moms Swear This Restaurant's Specialty Pizza Helps Induce Labor
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
woman writing in notebook with her cell phone nearby
Why Due Dates Can Change and What It Means for Your Pregnancy
By Korin Miller
couple embracing outdoors
Feeling Romantic? Statistics Show Valentine's Day Leads to a Baby Boom
By Sarah Hooper
Why Every Week Matters in Late Pregnancy
Why Every Week Matters in Late Pregnancy
By Kylie McConville
ADVERTISEMENT
hip pregnant woman standing against blue wall
Odds of Baby Coming Early, Late or Right on Time
By The Bump Editors
This Routine Screening Test May Better Predict Your Due Date
This Routine Screening Test May Better Predict Your Due Date
By Anisa Arsenault
Q&A: When's My Due Date?
Q&A: When's My Due Date?
By Denise Gershwin, CNM
ADVERTISEMENT
Shorter Women Have Shorter Pregnancies, Study Finds
Shorter Women Have Shorter Pregnancies, Study Finds
By Anisa Arsenault
pregnant woman holding glass of water and two white pills
A List of Over-the-Counter Medications You Can Take While Pregnant
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman holding a tub of lotion
Can You Use Vicks While Pregnant? (What About Other Vapor Rubs?)
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
doctor checking pregnant woman's blood pressure
1 in 3 Counties Don't Have a Single Obstetrician, Report Shows
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
pregnant woman taking supplement
Probiotics During Pregnancy Could Help Mom and Baby, Study Suggests
By Wyndi Kappes
pregnant woman talking to doctor
Viral Video: What to Say if a Doctor Dismisses Your Pregnancy Concerns
By Wyndi Kappes
mother giving newborn baby a bottle while sitting on hospital bed after labor and delivery
Fetal Viability: When Can Baby Survive Outside the Womb?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List