December 16, 2015
A holiday gift may come nine months later for many couples, as a longitudinal research study found December conceptions result in the highest birth rates.
According to The Huffington Post, scientists at Indiana University looked at 270,000 pregnancies between 2004 and 2009, and the research suggests there's an evolutionary reason for higher birth rates in September than at any other time in the year.
"Mothers who conceive in December or January receive high levels of sunshine at a late stage of their pregnancy," said lead researcher Dr. Paul Winchester.
That, in turn, means higher levels of vitamin D, which promotes a healthy birth.
On the other hand, women who conceive in June are at the earliest, most vulnerable stage of pregnancy when increased amounts of pesticides are likely in the air from summer crop dusting, Winchester said.
The study concluded by saying that there were three extra babies surviving per every 200 pregnancies conceived in December and January compared with those conceived in the summer months.
Read the full report at The Huffington Post.
