The Big Gender Reveal: Before or After the Birth?
Aside from actually giving birth, being an expectant mother is one of the happiest times in a woman’s life. It is also one of the most stressful. There are many decisions to be made during this time, and the vast number of options, along with the consequences of each choice, can be overwhelming. For many expectant mothers, deciding whether or not to find out the gender of their child before it is born is incredibly difficult. There is, of course, no right or wrong answer to this question. There are, however, pros and cons to each side of the decision.
Onlooker Curiosity
The most noticeable difference between finding out your child’s gender before the birth versus after the birth is how your loved ones will act. When you tell someone you are pregnant, one of the first questions they will ask is “Do you know what you are having?” For many expectant mothers, the answer to that question will be “No.” The follow up question is always “Are you going to find out?” Many expectant mothers choose to find out the gender not only to satisfy their own curiosity, but also the curiosity of the people who ask them. Keep in mind that the decision should be made based on your own curiosity, and not that of anyone else’s.
Practicalities
Knowing your child’s gender before they are born comes with some definite practical advantages. It allows you to decorate their nursery and pick out names and clothing accordingly. That does not mean that you have to find out your child’s gender in order to be prepared. It is possible to pick out a set of names, one for a boy and one for a girl. You can also decorate the nursery and choose clothing in gender neutral styles.
Surprises
Many expectant mothers choose not to find out the gender of their child until the birth simply because they want to be surprised during the birth. While this is certainly reasonable, it is important to keep in mind that you are in for at least eighteen years of surprises, many of them front loaded into the early years. Being surprised by the gender is not exactly the last chance for excitement. Aside from that, knowing the gender of your child before it is born can help you to fantasize about how they will behave in the future, which can help expectant mothers deal with the anguish that pregnancy can put them through.
There is no clear cut answer as to whether or not you should find out the gender of your child before its birth. It all comes down to personal preference. You will have many more choices to make down the road. For help with all of these choices be sure to visit our Course Topics Page at Newborn Course.