If the only thing on your Santa list this year is a special delivery from the stork, Christmas might be the best time of the year to get to working on it.
A major piece of research has revealed that December conceptions result in healthier babies.
Scientists at Indiana University in the US analysed 270,000 pregnancies between 2004 and 2009. They discovered that mums who were able to soak up more sunshine in the later stages of their pregnancy produced more Vitamin D, resulting in healthier babies.
Conceiving in December or January would mean a pregnancy would be in the third trimester by the summer months.
The research suggests June is the worst month to conceive, with lead researcher Dr Paul Winchester, of Indiana University, labeling it a "toxic month" for conception.
"It has been my suspicion that this not accidental but may have some biological basis. Vitamin D levels and pesticides might be relevant factors." he said.
"If you want to avoid a birth defect or a premature birth then it might be worth avoiding June. Other studies have shown that spina bifida incidence and sudden infant death peaks in June." added Dr Winchester.
The research was presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine meeting in Baltimore.
The study supports recent
University of Cambridge findings that summer babies grow into healthier adults than those born during the colder months.
