What Your Birth Says About You

Source: www.aolhealth.com Dated: 04-20-09

If You Were Born in Late Summer or Autumn...

You're probably taller and stronger than winter- and spring-born babies, according to research from the University of Bristol as part of the Children of the 90s Project. Of the nearly 7000 10-year-olds studied, those born to mothers with the highest sun exposures during the last three months of their pregnancy were a half centimeter taller on average and had nearly 13 squared centimeters of extra bone area due to increases in bone width compared with children born during darker months. Researchers believe that these differences are attributable to higher Vitamin D levels as sunlight is the average person's main source of this nutrient that is key to growth.

If You Were a Chubby Baby...

Your odds of anxiety and/or depression may be lower than smaller babies, according to a study conducted by the University of Alberta, the University College London Medical School and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge.

If You Were Born During Spring or Summer...

You may be more likely to commit suicide than those born in other seasons, according to a 2006 study published in the "British Journal of Psychiatry." The researchers from Liverpool University found the risk of suicide increased 17 percent for people born in spring to early summer, compared with those born in autumn to early winter. Women had a higher risk -- raised 29.6 percent versus men's 13.7 percent. The study's authors note that their findings are consistent with the prevalence of people born during spring and summer suffering from seasonal affective disorders and alcoholism, both of which represent about 10 percent of total expected annual suicides in England and Wales. Summer-born babies also have a higher risk of nearsightedness with the highest rates occurring in babies born in June/July, according to findings in the April 2008 issue of "Ophthalmology." Spring-born babies may be more likely to develop type 1 diabetes, according to a new report from the American Diabetes Association.

If You Were Born During October Through December...

You may live longer than those born in April through June, according to the study "Lifespan Depends on Month of Birth" conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Germany. And, autumn-born babies may be more active than spring-born babies, according to a study published in a 2007 issue of the "British Medical Journal." The researchers found that fall babies activity surpassed spring-born ones by 9 percent.

If You Were Born During Winter or Spring...

You may be at a higher risk for schizophrenia and mania/bipolar disorder, according to several epidemiological studies, says the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In fact, there are about five to eight percent more cases of schizophrenia with winter or spring birthdays than other seasons. Spring-born babies may also be at a higher risk for autism and depression. This may be due to maternal infections, such as the flu, during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Contracting just one infection during the second trimester may increase the baby's risk of schizophrenia by three to seven times. Familial history of the disorder, as well as urban birth, and perinatal and postnatal illnesses are also risk factors.

If You Were Premature...

You have a greater risk of cerebral palsy, autism-spectrum disorders, mental retardation, blindness, low vision, hearing loss, and epilepsy as well as disorders of psychological development behavior and emotion, according to a July 2008 study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine." Norwegian researchers found that babies born prematurely had almost 9 times greater risk for cerebral palsy, compared with full-term babies. The risk of mental retardation was 0.4 percent for full-term babies, versus 4.4 percent for babies born between 23 and 27 weeks. They also reported that premature babies are more likely to need to receive disability payments later on in life. Another study published in "Pediatrics" found those born early were less likely to leave home, live with a romantic partner or be sexually active as adults.

If You Were a Short Baby Boy...

You may be at a greater risk for suicide. A study published in 2008 issue of the "British Medical Journal", found that male newborns of less than 47 cm were more likely to attempt suicide as adults, no matter their adult height, compared with average length babies. Smaller length more than doubled the risk of a violent suicide attempt as opposed to a non-violent one.

If You Were Small and/or Poor...

By the time you reach your 30s and 40s you may have the health of someone 12 years older than you, according to a 2007 study conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. The study found that a birth weight of 5.5 pounds or less increases the probability of being in fair or poor health as an adult by over 70 percent. Low income during pregnancy increases the likelihood of negative birth outcomes, such as low birth weight, but it can also increase the harmful effects of the poor birth conditions, and have an impact on future health, according to the study.

If You Were Born to a Teen Parent...

You may have a raised suicide risk if your mom was a teenager. And, if your dad was a teenager you may have the health problems associated with low birth, according to two different studies. A study from "Human Reproduction" found that children fathered by teenagers were more likely to be born prematurely, have a low-birth weight and be less healthy at birth. The second study, from 2004, found that having a mother who was 19 or younger at birth was a significant predictor for suicide attempt and suicide risk.

If You Were Born Caesarean...

That may explain why you have allergies and/or asthma. Babies born by C-section have a 50 percent increased risk of developing asthma compared to natural birth, according to a 2008 study published in the "Journal of Pediatrics." Not being exposed to the mother's bacteria during birth may impede the development of the immune system. This kind of birth can also affect lung function in the long term. Another 2008 study presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference found a similar link between immune system development and allergies in babies born by c-section.

If You're the Oldest...

You may have a higher IQ than your younger siblings, but you're also more likely to have allergies and asthma. A Norwegian study of over 240,000 males found that eldest children had average IQ scores about 3 percent higher than second-born and 4 percent higher than third-born children. Firstborns have higher odds of developing asthma and allergies because of different conditions they experience in the uterus, according to research from the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom, presented at the American Thoracic Society's 2008 International Conference.

If You're the Youngest...

You may have a lower IQ than your eldest sibling, but you may get off easier on punishments. New findings suggest that parents are more likely to withdraw financial support from older children who drop out of high school or get pregnant than younger children who end up making similar life decisions, according to a new study from researchers at Duke University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland.

If You Were Born Using In Vitro Fertilization...

You may have better odds of being healthier if you were born from a thawed frozen embryo, as opposed to a fresh embryo, according to a recent report at the 24th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Children born from frozen eggs had a higher birth weight -- or healthier birth weight. Low birth weight, along with premature birth, are associated with many adult health conditions.

If Your Mother Smoked,Used Drugs or Drank...

You may have or may later develop a wide range of health problems. Drug and/or alcohol use during pregnancy has been linked to low birth weight, small head size, hyperactivity and attention problems, learning and memory disabilities, deformity and issues with social and emotional development. Children born to women who smoke during pregnancy have about 30 percent higher odds of being born prematurely and are more likely to be born with low birth weight, increasing their risk for illness or death, according to the CDC. Plus, secondhand smoke exposure as a child may mean a variety of health problems including bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms and slowed lung growth.