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June 1, 2020

70 Comments

It’s the question that’s impossible to answer, but a new study sheds some light on what time of day you can expect your new arrival.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know the exact time and day that your baby will be born? If you opt for a c-section, chances are you’ll have a pretty good idea, but for those mums that give birth naturally, the whole situation can be a little more unpredictable.

Until now. A recent study has shed some light on the time of day that your baby is most likely to be born, essentialbaby reports, and it has something to do with evolution…

Just Like Our Ancestors

The study found that mums who delivered without intervention were most likely to do so between 1am and 7am, with 4am being the most common time to give birth.

“Long term experience and research from other areas has shown that human births without obstetric intervention are most likely to occur at night or in the early hours of the morning,” Dr Peter Martin, lead author of the study, said.

“This may be part of our evolutionary heritage. Our ancestors lived in groups that were active and dispersed during the day and came together to rest at night. So a night time labour and birth probably afforded the mother and newborn baby some protection.”

Won’t Interrupt Your Christmas

If you’re currently pregnant, and worried you might have a Christmas Day bub, then the results of the study might put your mind at ease. It was found that babies prefer not to make their entrance on important dates, with spontaneous births seven percent lower on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and two percent lower on Sundays and public holidays. It’s important to note that the study was based on UK data, but we still think it’s super interesting – if only it was a little more accurate!

Would you want to know the exact date and time of your baby’s birth in advance? Tell us in the comments.

 

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  • All of my kids came during daylight hours and only my middle daughter was induced after my waters broke the day before but labour didnt start.
    My eldest was 2 weeks overdue, 2nd was 2 weeks early and the youngest was 1 week early.

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  • I think i like a surprise :)

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  • Could be interesting to know. Out of seven children none came for their due dates. Number one live birth was induced on his due date. Second came a week early and only lived about an hour. Next came late and i think being told my brother was to die brought him on that day. Next one was induced as the hospital had had enough of me coming in each week for a stay, good thing as he was due 24th Dec. Number five was two months early, she surprised them by only staying 2 weeks. Number 6 & 7 were early too, coming on number 4’s birthday. They were due 1st Jan, that one was put down to my age, being twins. So my natural born ones were afternoon babies about the 2pm mark.

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  • Our first was well overdue and we were induced at 41 weeks, 2nd was 4 days early, then number 3 was 41 + a few days, babies really do come whenever they feel like it!

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  • Interesting study – I love reading articles about research into births.

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  • Out of 5 babies only 2 were born at approx. 6am, I wouldn’t have wanted to know when they’d be born as it would have made me more anxious especially knowing what I’m in for!

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  • I think it would be handy to know the exact date of bubs arrival. I kinda like surprises

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  • I wonder if this prediction would have been true.
    I had my first at 3am at 37+3 weeks, my second at 10am at 40+2 weeks and my third at 5om at 41+2 weeks.

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  • I had one at lunch time and one at 3am. This was an interesting read!

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  • My first bub came a day early which I was happy about. I do like to know the exact date so that I’m prepared and try and be somewhere comfortable and close to the hospital.

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  • I had emergency c section then planned c section so didn’t get to try this theory out.

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  • I don’t fit these statistics. I went into labour with my first on her due date at 6am but she wasn’t born until nearly 9pm three days later, my second was 12 days over due and was born via emergency caesarean at 4pm after 49 hours of labour and my youngest came 4 weeks early at 3:30 pm.

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  • I’m due Christmas so this is a good read! Even if it doesn’t turn out that way… Happy either way :)

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  • I had all 3 of mine babies at 38 weeks ????

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  • I love to Ben organised, so if I were to know the day and time it would be amazing! However, I ended up having. To be induced for medical reasons so we did get to pick the day in the end.

    Reply

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