Why so many people are getting pregnant this month
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Has anyone else noticed that, since the autumn season rolled back around, there seems to have been a sudden boom in pregnancy announcements.
I mean, you can hardly open Instagram nowadays without someone baring their blossoming baby bump, or holding up a stick they'd recently peed on.
And it's not even just in the celebrity realm - sure, we've had Sofia Richie announcing the incoming birth of her second child, Charlie Puth preparing to become a first-time dad with wife Brooke Sansone, and Paloma Faith growing offspring number three.
But it seems everyone in the world seems to know someone expecting a tiny version in the coming nine months.
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In fact, this observation can be backed up by statistics, with more women reportedly conceiving in November than any other month, as per the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which recorded the most births taking place in August.
Apparently, however, there are several very real reasons why so many mums and dads are announcing pregnancies this month.
According to Glamour, a spike in autumn baby bumps comes from women's natural instinct to hibernate during the darkest, coldest months of the year.
In many cases, getting pregnant in November can form part of couple's wider plan for parenting, given the homeliness of the season.
After all, what could be better than riding out morning sickness in the comfort of your own residence, sporting a baggy jumper and sweatpants.
Recalling her experience, one BabyCentre Community member told the discussion forum's experts: "I got pregnant over Thanksgiving. I loved that the bulky winter clothes allowed me to hide my pregnancy a lot longer than I would have been able to if it were summertime."
The same user added: "I didn't even tell my coworkers until I was six to seven months (around May or June), and they were very surprised."
There could also be an environmental influence to this phenomenon, however, with couples reportedly being more likely to enjoy some time between the sheets when there's a reason to spend more time indoors together.
Dr Katharine O'Connell White, M.D - who works as chief of the division of general obstetrics and gynecology at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts - also pointed out that, with the heavy Christmas drinking and frequent travelling that defines this time of year, it's more likely that women forget to take their birth control.
So, basically, if you're not ready to spawn a child, ignore your hibernation instincts, dig your summer clothes back out and make loads of plans away from home and your partner.
Oh, and set an reminder for your contraceptive pills.
You're welcome.