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Maybe it’s the Mistletoe or All the Twinkling Lights: Statistics Prove December is For Baby-Making

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By Jenny Rapson

I’m a September baby, and though I was born on the 5th, I was due on the 25th. It took me until I was a young adult to realize why my brothers and I spent the night at Grandma’s house for a couple of nights after Christmas or on New Year’s Eve every year and equate that with the timing of my conception. Eeeeewwww, right?? Let’s just say my brother was born the first week of October and he was a few days late. SO. OK, I can’t think about that any more . . .

Ahem.

The year I turned 40, I did a little investigation into the gloriousness of being a September baby, and I discovered that more babies are born in September than any other month! Dangit, so much for being a unique little flower! One of my BFFs, Tess, was born on September 9th, which is the date the most babies are born on, ever, in the U-S-of-A. (I don’t like sharing my birthday so I’m glad I dodged that bullet.)

Data journalist Matt Stiles dug deeper into this and discovered that nine out of the 10 most popular birth dates for babies in the United States fall in September! Say WHAT? Does that seem crazy to you? Well. There’s only one explanation for this phenomenon: American couples like to get busy during the holidays.

I mean, I know we’re all busy during the holidays but we also like to get busy during the holidays, if you know what I’m saying and I think you do! After the kids go to bed, mom and dad are switching the tunes from Christmas music to Marvin Gaye and one thing is definitely leading to another!

Maybe it’s the eggnog, or the open bar at the company Christmas party. Maybe it’s that you or your spouse has extra time off work and more time for connecting. Maybe it’s just the good feelings that flow with the holly and jolly of the season. All I have to say is, I’m giving America a virtual high-five for finding the time and energy to make babies during what is also the most exhausting time of the year. Prioritizing those marriages, FOR THE WIN! Nice work!

I am feeling a little left out, actually, that I never got with the program and produced a September baby of my own (though I do have an awfully sweet December baby!) So, how about you? Are you a September baby mama? If so, you really did make the Christmas season the most magical season of all!

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Jenny Rapson

Jenny Rapson is a follower of Christ, a wife and mom of three from Ohio and a freelance writer and editor. You can find her at her blog, Mommin' It Up, or follow her on Twitter.

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