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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?

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  • My contractions for both my son and daughter started around 4am, both born of an afternoon

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  • 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.

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  • 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

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  • 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..

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  • What an interesting study to read

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  • That’s a fascinating study, They come when they want to come though.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • Two of mine were around midnight weekday and the third 7.30 am weekday

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  • Mine were all born early morning :)

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  • Births were at different times and outside of these times.

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  • 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.

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  • My son was born at 3:21pm

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  • Well babies keep you up overnight so start as you mean to go on..lol

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  • 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.

    Reply

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