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Boxing Day Is The Day Most Babies Are Conceived

Boxing Day Is The Day Most Babies Are Conceived

More people than usual will be going at it the day after Christmas. TMI, sorry.

Lauren Bell

Lauren Bell

Christmas time is not just about over-indulging in food and singing along to festive songs it seems, as it's been confirmed to be the most frisky time of year, too.

Whether it's down to booze, high spirits, or time off work, Boxing Day is when most babies are likely conceived.

The Office for National Statistics has data that says September 26th is the "most popular day" for babies to be born, meaning their parents were going at it nine months earlier on the Bank Holiday.

The most popular time of year to conceive is Christmas (
Unsplash)

More than 2000 babies were expected to be born on 26th September in 2019, which is 200 more than other dates in the calendar.

And it's not just Boxing Day, as December in general is the most likely month to fall pregnant.

The ONS says: "A peak in births in late September show that more babies are conceived in the weeks leading up to and days after Christmas than at any other time of the year."

But while many will no doubt put this down to the magic of the season and the extra prosecco, it turns out sex is actually planned far more over the festive period, too.

Speaking about condoms in a study, the The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine said there is a "sharp increase in sales in the week before Christmas". So while many more are planning to get frisky, it sounds as though they are doing it without plans to procreate... but we all know accidents happen.

Dr Deborah Lee, a sexual health specialist doctor from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy (www.doctorfox.co.uk/our-team/dr-deboarh-lee.html) said that she is partially surprised this is the most frisky time of year, because people tend to have a lower libido during winter.

She commented: "People are said to have less libido in the winter, perhaps because the days are shorter, melatonin levels are higher and they feel fatigued and sleepy."

Around 2000 UK babies are born on 26th September each year, 200 more than average and therefore were conceived around Christmas (
Pexels)

Adding: "This must mean the party season is the culprit" simply because "more people are having sex!".

High spirits are also not the only reason for more pregnancies, as sperm works best when it's kept cool - one reason experts believe the scrotum hangs outside of the body.

The Obstetrics and Gynaecology Journal says that during colder months the quality of men's sperm is best. To top it off, a woman's ovum is more likely to be receptive to sperm, due to the changes in daylight length.

Plus, Dr Lee adds that plenty of Christmas food is in fact an aphrodisiac, from chocolate to eggnog and of course, wine.

Sounds like the perfect combination for those looking to expand their family, right?

However it's all a bit confusing, because a study by the Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai, New York, suggests the opposite. It concluded that sperm quality is best in spring and autumn.

Whilst sperm needs to be kept cool, some studies suggest Christmas can mean lower quality sperm, perhaps due to men drinking more and exercising less (
Pexels)

The researchers thought sperm quality could be lower at Christmas as men are more likely to drink more and exercise less.

So while opinions are mixed, let's be honest, with a few extra aphrodisiacal wines and more time to relax, people are bound to be going at it more - and voila... babies.

And there have been some notable babies conceived on or around Boxing Day, with famous 26th September birthdays including Serena Williams, TS Eliot and Olivia Newton-John.

So if you were a Boxing Day-conceived baby, you're in good company.

Featured Image Credit: Pexels

Topics: Kids, Life, Babies, Sex & Relationships, Parenting