1/1/11 is passé. 12/12/12 is the new baby’s day out

What’s in a date? Well, for superstitious couples planning and expecting a child, it means everything.

The craze for booking ‘auspicious’ or ‘fancy’ dates for the delivery of one’s child is reaching new heights with city couples keen on getting the hospital bookings done even before conceiving the baby.

Those expecting in January have started booking hospital beds and operation theatres for January 1, 2011. Bookings have also started pouring in for January 11, another fancy date. But that’s not all.

There are couples who have shown interest in booking hospital beds for 12-12-12. This date, again, is considered auspicious according to astrology.

“A couple recently approached us to book a suit for delivery on 12-12-2012. But we refused their request. It is ridiculous to book suits even before conceiving the baby,” said Dr Kishore Kumar, chairman and managing director, The Cradle.

Kishore also said that many couples had approached him for a C-section on January 1 even before completing 37 weeks of pregnancy.

“This trend started around a year ago. This is an unhealthy practice. Prematurely born babies are prone to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,” he said.

According to Dr Kishore, four dates in the coming year—01-01-2011, 11-01-2011, 01-11-2011 and 11-11-2011—have got many couples excited.

“We are already getting booking enquiries from couples who have not even conceived, for November 11, 2011,” said Dr Kishore.

According to gynaecologists, couples mostly want their baby to be born in the month of April, May and June so that the child completes three years and 10 months.

This will make sure the child gets admitted to the school at the right time and does not lose an year. “Couples, thus, do not mind even opting for in-vitro fertilization or artificial insemination just to ensure that they conceive by the month of July or August. And though there is no 100 per cent guarantee, couples are ready to take chances,” said Dr Prasad.