If the newspaper editor was feeling generous, he let you keep the hat. But couples who become parents this Jan. 1 stand to receive much more than a brief item in the hometown paper. Other New Year's giveaways range from a car to a college education. Thousands of couples, captivated by the notion of giving birth on the first day of the new millennium, tried to conceive on April 9, the date determined to offer the best odds for a Jan. 1 delivery. Most of those efforts won't be rewarded.
Doctors say the odds of delivering on a specific date are pretty small.
Babies are blissfully oblivious to calendars and contests and tend to arrive when they're good and ready. If you're planning to have a C-section and have a little leeway as to dates, it's tempting to try to schedule your delivery for Jan. 1. You'll never forget your baby's birthday, and you might get a free Y2K layette. Any prizes you win will be taxable. By contrast, giving birth before the end of the year will mean a big break on your 1999 tax bill.