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Pros and Cons of Learning Baby's Sex
Some parents can't wait to learn the sex of their baby. Others are content to wait until their baby makes its grand entrance. Here are the pros and cons of finding out your baby's sex:
Reasons to find out:- You only have to agree on one name.
- You can buy sex-specific clothes.
- You can decorate the nursery.
- You can better prepare for events after baby's birth, such as scheduling a bris (a Jewish circumcision ritual).
- You may feel more connected to your baby.
- It may make the baby seem more real.
- It helps assure you that everything is okay.
- The surprise can be exciting.
- The last few weeks of pregnancy may be more bearable not knowing.
- You could have fantasies about a baby of either sex.
- It's the way people have been doing it for centuries.
- It might annoy your relatives!
But what if you and your partner can't agree? One solution is for one partner to learn the sex and not tell the other. Or find out together and keep it a secret from the rest of the world. Either way, you'll find out the sex of your child sooner or later, so stop worrying and enjoy your pregnancy.
Sources: Childbirth.org; Lawrence Platt, MD, President of the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine
All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.
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My husband and I are waiting to find out and it feels sooo good not knowing. I am not one for surprises, but for some reason this surprise feels so good and so right!
12/19/2011 12:14:13 PM Report AbuseFirst time around they told me I was expecting a girl only to find out at 8 months that it was a boy, I was so happy because in my heart I knew it was a boy. Second time around I had a feeling it was a girl yet I had to wait until two wks ago to get my ultrasound and I was right although I was so impatient...I could not go through my whole pregnancy not knowing it would drive me nuts! =D
10/1/2011 01:31:23 AM Report AbuseI find out in 15 days and im so overly overly super excited! Whooohoooo im soon to be half way through this journey.
6/2/2011 12:35:05 PM Report AbuseI want to see HOw to period time
5/18/2011 04:09:13 AM Report AbuseFirst time around we didn't find out, but in my heart I knew I was carrying a boy- and I was right. 4 the 2nd pregnancy, hoped for a girl, got US, got a boy. We had to scramble w/ a boy name! Gave Harry, our older son, a chance to bond more with his little brother though and also made me feel a little close to him being able to say his name when he was a kicking me at 4 a.m.! ( every single morning until the day he was delivered) :) Mamaphynn
2/19/2011 04:37:44 PM Report AbuseI REALLY DONT WANT TO WAIT I DON'T DO WELL WITH SURPISES I WANT TO KNOW LIKE NOW.
11/24/2010 10:58:53 AM Report AbuseAt 20 weeks when I had my ultrasound baby had its legs closed and we really wanted to know what we were having. Im now 28 weeks and am to the point either way as long as my baby is healthy im happy. My sisters and friends are gonna wear Team Isabella or Team Bentley shirts when I deliver its kinda funny that they takes sides on whether its a girl or boy
11/22/2010 08:15:52 PM Report AbuseMe and my boyfriend are expecting iam 4 and half months i cant wait to see the ultrasound and the sex we have a bet on it i hope its a girl and of course he wants a boy but we find out october 29 cant wait
10/14/2010 05:28:06 PM Report Abusemy fiance and i are expecting a baby any day now and the gender of our baby has been a mind puzzling experience we both are having our parents first grandchildren and the entire nine months have had me doing all types of things to figure out the sex of our baby after the baby legs were crossed during both tests the entire family was waiting that's why i feel my baby did it cuz he know our family was expecting him but its killing me for the big day which is now i'm 38 weeks
9/24/2010 05:34:09 PM Report AbuseI have two girls AND MY WIFE IS PREGNANT, SHE HAS GONE FOR SCAN TWICE AND REFUSE TO KNOW THE SEX OF THE BABY AND SHE WILL SOON DELIVER. SO, WE ARE WAITING FOR THE BABY. FOR ME I STRONGLY WANT A BABY BOY.
9/7/2010 10:23:45 AM Report AbuseI took the gender prediction test and it said I was having a girl...We was really hoping it was a boy though. We have a daughter and wanted one of each. We got an ultrasound done and its a gurl. Im due January 28th 2011 I want to try for a boy after this one but it would probably be another gurl so idk and dont feel like taking any more shots. I already have enough due to blood clots. Ive had 2 miscarriages in the past. We are gonna name our daughter Makayla Dawn
9/3/2010 08:51:19 AM Report Abusei found out the sex of the baby at 18 weeks. Im glad we found out because i do in fact feel closer and more excited and prepared. I didnt like calling my daughter a "it" cause for a while the father and i were thinking its a boy so we kept calling her a he. Everything is just a lot less confusing and difficult. Also, one bad thing about finding out the sex.. is there is a possibility that the doc's could be wrong about the sex of the baby
8/11/2010 04:43:00 AM Report AbuseWith my first pregnancy I found out I was having a girl at 19 weeks. It was nice to be able to say "my little girl" inside my belly instead of "it" or "the baby". I am now 6 weeks pregnant and definitely want to know if it is a girl or a boy.
7/2/2010 11:57:56 AM Report AbuseWith my first child i thought it would be a boy and we ended up having a girl. Now we're expecting again in may and our ultrasound says another girl but for some reason i have this gut feeling we're gonna be surprised. Wondering if it is just me wanting a boy or if it has any meaning behind it. We haven't bought any clothing for the new baby yet because i saved all my little girls clothes and half of them were never worn. Really nervous about this delivery.
4/20/2010 10:46:16 PM Report AbuseWere at 19 weeks, So today is the day!! Ultrasound day this is our 5th child. Score is 3 girls and 1 boy. For my son's sake I hope we are having a boy, but I have learned that God gives you what he knows you can handle. So either Girl or Boy just as long as this blessing that I am caring is healthy that is all that matters to us.. :0)
3/29/2010 02:40:10 PM Report AbuseMy brother and my sil didn't find out and it made my mom so annoyed. She wanted to know the gender so badly. Lol I love my niece . She is so special to me.
3/17/2010 04:40:55 PM Report Abusei have 2 girls already now this time its low and at the front like a ball its my 9 month now i like to eat sweets no bad moods no nozia nothing doc said this time im having a boy hopefully fingers crossded.zari pray for me plllllllllzzzzzzzz
3/9/2010 10:47:18 AM Report AbuseBaby Revealment Party 1) tell the ultrasound tech you DO NOT want to know but to print the results & put it in an envelope & seal the results 2) take the envelope to a cake lady 3) she views the results ALONE & makes a cake (yellow icing on the outside) BUT strawberry PINK inside if it's a GIRL or vanilla dyed BLUE cake inside if it's a BOY 4) have a Revealment Party & when you cut into your cake, everyone will find out FOR THE 1ST TIME if it's a BOY or a GIRL, including YOU!
2/17/2010 06:14:10 PM Report AbuseI am 15 weeks and I have 4 more weeks before I can find out what the sex of my baby is, the anticipation is killing me.........my hussband & I want to know so bad. I cant wait to find out the sex so I can call my baby by their name, go shopping specifically for them instead of having to buy the nuetral colors!!
2/1/2010 10:14:34 AM Report AbuseWere at 18 weeks and we find out next Monday the 25th were super excitied when we found out we were prego and now were even more excited to find out what were going to have either way we just hope its healthy. =)
1/21/2010 06:39:23 AM Report AbuseI went to my 12 week ultrasound and of course they couldnt tell me. Im having twins so if i get one of each i would be so happy and it would prolong kids for the rest of my life. Its my first pregnancy and i am really anxious to find out what im having. i will be 2 days from 17 weeks at my next ultrasound so hopefully i will find out then. Fingers crossed!! :)
1/12/2010 08:44:14 PM Report AbuseI had an ultrasound last week. We brought our daughters and niece with. They all wanted to find out except me I wanted to wait & have it be a surprise because we don't get many wonderful surprises in life. We talked about it and agreed we would wait. Told the woman 5 times we didn't want to know & she could write it down & put it in an envelope so if we decided we'll wait until Christmas. Well she told us & my husband and I were so upset & annoyed when we left.The girls are exstatic.
12/28/2009 10:25:47 PM Report AbuseMy ultrasound is in 2 days and we have decided not to find out. Everyone thinks that we're crazy. I think it's exciting.
12/21/2009 03:56:35 PM Report AbuseIam 30 weeks and we havent found out the sex. But i am super excited to meet him or her when they arrive. My husband really wanted to know when we first found out we were pregnant, but now he is just as excited about the surprise as he is for the baby to arrive :)
12/15/2009 05:46:48 PM Report Abuseim only 5 weeks and feeling so desperate for the time to go faster this will be my second child my first is 7 1/2 yrs old so it feels so new as if ive never done this im scared nervous and excited. My husband is hoping for a girl but i guess i just feel like as long as my baby is healthy it doesnt matter what the lord blesses us with.
10/23/2009 03:15:24 PM Report AbuseI couldnt wait to find out what the baby was. At our 20 week ultrasound we found out we are having a boy! I love being able to call him by his name. To buy clothes specifically for him. Also being able to make the nursery more suited to a him than to a whatever. LOL. I could not be happier knowing what my baby is ahead of time. I'm just so excited to meet him and to buy stuff for him. Plus I've never been a huge fan of the color yellow. lol.
10/19/2009 03:01:17 AM Report AbuseWe decided not to find out. We feel like it will add more excitment when the baby finally comes. I think not knowing is driving everyone else crazy, not us. Plus, I like the challenge of decorating the nursery with more neutral friendly decor.
10/18/2009 05:44:04 PM Report AbuseIm 26 weeks and have to wait until Im 30 weeks because my baby wouldn't show at 18 weeks. I wanna know so bad!
10/12/2009 07:57:41 PM Report AbuseWe're goning to let this one be a suprise too! We also have a little girl! I'm 36weeks pregnant and i can't wait to see what this one is going to be... all my sisters are mad about not knowing but there is no point in finding out now! Its fun hearing everyone guess :)
10/2/2009 12:04:55 AM Report AbuseI want to know what we are having so badly!!! At the 16 week ultrasound they couldn't tell, and today at the 20 week ultrasound the baby's leg were firmly crossed so we still don't know. I now have to wait 4 more weeks. It is really stressing me out not knowing...I've never been good with surprises:(
10/1/2009 03:59:54 PM Report Abusewe're gonna let this one be a surprise! we have one little girl already and we don't know if we're going to have any more kiddos.. so this one will be fun and exciting to wait until birth! :)
9/30/2009 02:59:09 PM Report Abuse