This is the Time You are Most Likely to Give Birth

A new survey has revealed the most common time women give birth.

And it is at the rather unsociable time of 4am.

In fact, seven out of 10 births take place outside normal working hours, according to Yahoo 7.

An analysis of more than five million births in England found that overall 71.5% of births take place outside the hours of 9am and 4.59pm on a weekday.

The study, led by City University of London, and published in the journal PLOS One, found the time and day that women give birth can vary depending on how labour starts and the method of giving birth.

Just over half of mothers give birth after labours which begin spontaneously, with researchers finding these were most likely to happen between 1am and 6.59am, peaking at 4am with a trough in the afternoon.

They were also slightly more likely to happen on weekdays than other days.

The researchers found just over a quarter (28.5%) of births occurred between 9am and 4.59pm on weekdays, while almost three quarters (71.5%) took place outside these hours at weekends, on public holidays or between 5pm and 8.59am on non-holiday weekdays.

Elective or pre-planned caesarean births accounted for 9.2% of births and were found occur mostly on weekdays between 9am and 11.59am, and peaking between 9am and 10.59am.

Very few occurred between 5pm and 6.59am on weekday evenings and nights, and even fewer at any time at weekends and on holidays, reflecting staff working patterns.

One of my children was born just after 3pm and the other just after 6pm. Both during the week.

What time were your babies born?

Share your comments below

19 Comments

- - mom297125 said
  - 10 Aug 2018
    8:39 pm
My contractions for both my son and daughter started around 4am, both born of an afternoon

- - mom140193 said
  - 10 Aug 2018
    2:26 pm
I’ve wondered why most babies are born overnight/early morning. Would love a study as to why. Hormones maybe? I understand planned c-sections or inductions would lead to weekday, morning deliveries as that’s what drs prefer, but if labour is spontaneous most end up in the early hours.

- - kjgarner said
  - 10 Aug 2018
    1:02 pm
My babies:
1st Pregnancy – Wednesday 11.45am
5th Pregnancy – Thursday 2.48pm
6th Pregnancy (Twins) – Monday 5.54am and 6.17am
9th Pregnancy – Sunday 8.54
11th Pregnancy – Sunday 10.22am

- - mom305258 said
  - 10 Aug 2018
    10:35 am
My baby was born at 7:25am
I was in labour from so long…. had epidural and then due to some health issues had to undergo c- section..

- - mom111059 said
  - 30 Jun 2018
    11:38 pm
What an interesting study to read

- - Staceylee101 said
  - 22 Jun 2018
    9:10 pm
That’s a fascinating study, They come when they want to come though.

- - rachel1970 said
  - 20 Jun 2018
    6:51 pm
My eldest daughter was a planned Caesar for April fools day due to her being breech. She had other ideas and decided to make her entrance into this world on my birthday! The BEST birthday present ever.

- - rovermum said
  - 20 Jun 2018
    12:37 pm
I was lucky to have been induced and therefore planned, initially. However, when that didn’t work as it should I had my waters broken and went into labour in the morning ,giving birth at 7pm that night. Babies come when they’re ready.

- - Amanda Holland said
  - 19 Jun 2018
    9:05 am
Two of mine were around midnight weekday and the third 7.30 am weekday

- - Ellen said
  - 19 Jun 2018
    7:41 am
Mine were all born early morning 🙂

- - mom93821 said
  - 19 Jun 2018
    5:41 am
Births were at different times and outside of these times.

- - youngoldlady said
  - 18 Jun 2018
    10:00 pm
Seven children , four were induced , so a week day. The three who came on their own were midday babies on week days. One induced baby my first was induced at 8.30am and was delivered 9.40pm.

- - Mum2archer said
  - 18 Jun 2018
    9:47 pm
My son was born at 3:21pm

- - ashna9 said
  - 18 Jun 2018
    8:49 pm
Well babies keep you up overnight so start as you mean to go on..lol

- - mom206279 said
  - 18 Jun 2018
    4:38 pm
My labour started in the middle of the night and I delivered at 7:53pm. All natural but ten days late and the day before a full moon.

- - mom90758 said
  - 18 Jun 2018
    3:21 pm
My daughter was born at 4:36 pm. I was born at 1:30 pm.

- - mom160421 said
  - 18 Jun 2018
    2:02 pm
My birth took place at night.

- - becstalou said
  - 18 Jun 2018
    1:27 pm
My waters broke at 9:45pm but I didn’t go into proper labor until 5:45am and he was born at a very respectable 1:30pm that day.

- - mom81879 said
  - 18 Jun 2018
    1:12 pm
My first was induced so he was born before lunch. My second was born at 6.15am, so definitely out of normal work hours