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Pregnancy

Is pregnancy really better through winter?

65 replies

Jolleigh · 25/12/2013 23:00

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?

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Cariad007 · 25/12/2013 23:03

Not if I go by what some friends tell me - swollen ankles in the hot weather and feeling hot and bothered in general! I was about 7 weeks pregnant during the July heat wave and that left me feeling knackered. I would've felt even worse had I been 8 or 9 months gone!

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SarahJayne321 · 25/12/2013 23:05

Considering how hot and irritable I am now at just over 38 weeks I can safely say I'm glad it's winter!

Then again I don't enjoy summer as it is.

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Foxeym · 25/12/2013 23:06

I've had one winter DC and 2 summer DCs. I def prefer the summer ones, yes this year was hot but I spent most of it sitting in the garden chilling and I hated being pregnant with DC1 over Christmas and new year!

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starlight1234 · 25/12/2013 23:07

My pregnancy was a winter one..I had one hot week at the end and yes I would chose winter again...Weddings are more common in summer but it is the comfort thing for me..Pregnant I couldn't tolerate any dairy..I had tow Cadbury roses at Christmas and was sick but still over all think it was better winter

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Mrswellyboot · 25/12/2013 23:08

I was heavily pregnant during the summer heat this year. Luckily I finished work at 31 weeks or I would have keeled overl it was hard, my feet were huge !!!!

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BikeRunSki · 25/12/2013 23:08

My DC's birthdays are early Sept and mod Oct. It was n't nice being huge at the hottest time of year, although I have cannily avoided being pg at Christmas and on my birthday (November).

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Sleepthief · 25/12/2013 23:08

Being heavily pregnant (September baby) in the heat of summer is no fun. Mind you, neither is morning sickness in june/July, which I had with my February baby. And I have discovered today that being 37+ weeks on Christmas Day leaves a lot to be desired... Basically there are shitty bits to being pregnant, regardless of the season. So glad this is the last Smile

Mind you, I've just realised I haven't complained about my May baby pregnancy - was 18+ weeks over Christmas, so not too heavy/tired/heartburny and avoided the worst of summer... So maybe that's the answer?

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seafoodudon · 25/12/2013 23:12

2nd baby was an early September dd and first and 3rd were mid January so I've done both. Personally didn't find summer too awful as being v pregnant is a good excuse to take it easy and hide on hot days. However I really like being heavily pregnant at Christmas. Since having dc1 I'm not a big drinker-childcare with hangover being my least favourite activity in the world. Being pregnant feels to me quite festive. I also find people insist you go and put your feet up rather than wash up!

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Jolleigh · 25/12/2013 23:28

I'm already roasting and swollen at 27 weeks weeks while it's not particularly warm! I hadn't noticed quite how unlikely it is that my DP put on a jumper rather than turning the heating on before. I feel like he's trying to broil me Angry

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ilovesmurfs · 25/12/2013 23:30

My first two have July amd Aug bdays, the next three are march and Dec, there is a reason for that!

Of I ever have another I will aim for baby to be due oct-march.

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Jolleigh · 25/12/2013 23:46

I'm due at the end of March. It just seems I've not managed to miss out a single special occasion. Then again, I do normally love Christmas so have felt particularly miffed today.

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CrispyFB · 26/12/2013 00:22

I've had September/November/May babies and this one is due end of March like you. It IS horrible being pregnant over the hot months, no disputing that. But for me the worst part is delivering just as the nights draw in. I ended up quite depressed at the lack of light and my body clock got all out of sync. But with my May baby the daylight meant once I was over my ELCS I was back on my feet and out walking in the sunshine - a total mood booster. The benefits come when the baby is born.

I don't mind too much being pregnant over Christmas as I have a fairly lax attitude to restrictions e.g. I'll have a small glass of wine, will happily eat salmon, parma ham and Stilton (but not brie etc), runny eggs are fine - the only thing I miss is getting properly tipsy. I can definitely understand feeling frustrated if there were lots of events I'd missed out on in that way though! But the trade off for the warmer, easier to just get baby out the house days (rather than searching about for coats, hats, gloves, foot muffs etc) is worth a few missed drinks.

There's also the added benefit of it being easier to hide a pregnancy longer in the winter months too!

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Eminybob · 26/12/2013 02:53

I'm going to get the best of both worlds it would seem. I'm 8 weeks so have had my first dry Christmas in a long long time (I come from French descent so even as a child I was allowed a tipple at Xmas time!). I've missed out on a couple of parties from being either too ill/exhausted or because it would have been obvious why I wasn't drinking and yet too early to want people to know.
And I'm due in August so will spend most of the summer heavily up duffed, hot and uncomfortable (I have a friend who had hers in June last year and she suffered enough even then)
To be honest though I couldn't care less about any of it because it means I'll have my long awaited pfb at the end Smile

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DorisButtons · 26/12/2013 06:15

DC1 - 39 degrees. Didn't go below 30 in our house for nearly a month. Got blisters on my skin when I held him.

DC2 - looked out of operating theatre at snowstorm.

No brainer. But then I don't have any alcohol dependency issues which probably make it easier.

Btw - it's not "naughty" to eat Stilton etcetera. It's not banned and it poses no risk.

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ClaudiusMaximus · 26/12/2013 06:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lazybones80 · 26/12/2013 06:29

I'm in Australia, so right now I'm pregnant during Christmas and summer at the same time! Hmm

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fortheloveofmike · 26/12/2013 06:38

Have been pregnant during winter and was heavily pregnant during the heatwave this year. It was just torture being so hot and sweaty and giving birth in suchheat was no fun at all Grin
Wont be having anymore but if I did I would definitely not be trying during October!!

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LotsaTuddles · 26/12/2013 06:46

I was pregnant all the way through this summer and working in Central London (commuting from Kent) and was definitely not fun.

The drinking wouldn't bother me, so definitely would prefer to be pregnant in the winter

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OrangeMochaFrappucino · 26/12/2013 06:48

I'm not alcohol dependent but it doesn't mean I don't feel a bit wistful not being able to really enjoy a couple of drinks - I had half a glass of champagne yesterday but would have liked a glass of red and some port/Bailey's as well. I wouldn't have been drunk, I wasn't depending on it but I just would have enjoyed it!

I'm due late April and not looking forward to having my baby weight hanging around through the warmer weather. I enjoyed a December newborn last time and hid all the excess tummy under big jumpers! I also liked being halfway through in July/August and dressing a nice manageable bump in the summer where I felt like I was such a nice shape - obviously pregnant but not lumbering.

Isn't Stilton banned because of Listeria? Am hopeful of hearing this isn't the case!

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Elastigrrrl · 26/12/2013 07:01

'Alcohol dependency issues'...Grin

I'm due in May with my first so speaking from inexperience, but I'm glad to have good weather to look forward to after the sprout is born, for mood reasons another poster alluded to. Other than that it probably depends how far along you are and how temperature affects you; I won't mind a little blubber come February!

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Elastigrrrl · 26/12/2013 07:04

Ps Nhs choices says Stilton is a hard cheese so is ok: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/foods-to-avoid-pregnant.aspx

Still feel a bit weird about it, which makes me feel rather silly to be honest.

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Notfastmainlyfurious · 26/12/2013 07:07

This is my second through Christmas pregnancy but earlier on this time - 14 weeks and I have missed the Bailey's but much worse than that was the bloody awful cold I had last time and only being able to take paracetamol for it. Stilton is still on the banned list in the book the mw gave me but salmon and Parma ham are not.

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youmakemydreams · 26/12/2013 07:11

First baby was born in October after a massive heat wave. It was no accident the next 2 were born in April and June.
Although I missed a few glasses of wine over the festive period and my birthday I couldn't be hugely pregnant in the really hot weather.
Every yuck feeling was magnified. Had swollen feet and ankles, felt constantly sick and spent a large part of my day lying in my bedroom in my underwear with fans blowing in me.
Definitely opt for winter every time.

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kiwiscantfly · 26/12/2013 07:14

My first baby was born in the UK in early Jan after a snow storm in late 2011, I loved wearing big jumpers and leggings before and after DD was born. This time I'm back in NZ and it's summer, I'm 19 weeks, and I'm not looking forward to the heat later this month and next year. I'm hoping that I'll get through without overheating too much!

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mrscog · 26/12/2013 07:18

DS was early March and I loved being heavily pg at Christmas! People made me relax and I still had a glass of champagne. To be honest op your drinking days are probably quelled for a few years as hangover and baby/toddler is torturous, and generally life is so tiring that you feel half cut after 1 drink anyway!

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