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Pregnancy

Midwife said "he"

27 replies

user1476991850 · 01/11/2016 20:46

Does it mean anything? She knew we didn't want to know the sex so assuming she either slipped up or always says that for all to avoid saying "it". I've noticed a lot of online guidance also says he.

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QueenOfTheNaps · 01/11/2016 20:47

From my time of being pg (years ago) I read somewhere that health professionals will always use 'he'. It's not nice to refer to a baby as 'it' so they resort to 'he'.
I don't think it's a slip up, it's just MW's habit

NickNacks · 01/11/2016 20:48

How would she know? Unless she did your scan?

maybethedayafter · 01/11/2016 20:49

How likely is it that the midwife would even know the sex? It's the sonographer who does the scan and it doesn't get recorded anywhere as far as I know.

user1476991850 · 01/11/2016 20:51

I'm sorry I meant to say the sonographer

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ElsaAintAsColdAsMe · 01/11/2016 20:53

Ime they always pick either he or she and stick with that with everyone. Saves calling the baby it.

SpaceDinosaur · 01/11/2016 20:59

Did you tell the sonographer you didn't know and didn't want to know?

Objectively. It's probably just to stop the baby being called "it"
I had an extra scan this week (32weeks) and before I lifted my top I told them that we didn't know and didn't want to find out. Baby was referred to as "baby" and "little one" throughout. It's probably just that they don't like using "it" :-) don't worry!

user1476991850 · 01/11/2016 21:24

Yes, she asked just before whether we wanted to know.

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thecatsarecrazy · 01/11/2016 21:37

Don't read anything into it. We don't know what we having but midwife and family refer to my bump as he. Its baby to me.

Dixiechick17 · 01/11/2016 21:49

It's normal, I had a lot of scans in pregnancy and they always referred to my DD as a 'he' unless I corrected them.

user1476991850 · 01/11/2016 21:57

Thanks all :) it sounds like a standard thing.

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LHilton4981 · 01/11/2016 22:06

They say you can tell by the heart beat..
mine sounded like a steam train which signifies a boy & i am actually having a baby boy. They say if it sounds like galloping horses then it's a girl the speed of the heartbeat is due to how much testosterone you have in your body too x

user1476991850 · 01/11/2016 22:28

I've heard this too. I had a private scan at 9.5 weeks and the heart rate was 165. Not been told at my nhs scans what it was but I think my midwife is going to listen with a doppler at my next appt in a few weeks :)

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Inthenick · 01/11/2016 22:32

Forget about the heart rate thing. Yes there is a difference but its small and changes fast so even being a day or two out on your due date (all due dates are +- 2 days even if you know exactly what day you ovulated as implantation isn't an exact timeframe either) so you can never be sure by heart rate.

How many weeks are you OP?

user1476991850 · 01/11/2016 22:45

I do take all these things with a pinch of salt!

I'm 21 weeks now xx

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Inthenick · 02/11/2016 08:04

Ach, you'll never know if she accidentally said it or always says he. So it will be a surprise. But you're halfway there!

Kel1234 · 02/11/2016 08:08

We didn't want to know and our baby was referred to as baby as well.
Though once I was convinced I heard someone say she, but my husband was sure he saw a little bit on the screen (not on purpose). We just agreed that neither of us could be sure and forgot about it. And enjoyed our surprise at the birth

Lapinlapin · 02/11/2016 08:11

My sonographer did this and 'he' did indeed turn out to be a boy!

UnoriginalNN · 02/11/2016 08:12

Out our 20w scan the sonographer was referring to DD as 'he' and only went ahead and confirmed she was a girl after we'd said we wanted to know. I just think it's their way of not saying 'it'.

PotteringAlong · 02/11/2016 08:16

My hospital has a policy of saying "she" regardless! They were just avoiding "it"; don't give it another thought!

Oogle · 02/11/2016 08:23

Sonographer said "baby is being a little minx!" so I instantly thought "girl". You'd use monkey to be more generic, right?!

Wrong. He's a boy

user1476991850 · 02/11/2016 08:44

Sounds very varied but doesn't give anything away :)

Anyone care to guess? Xx

Midwife said "he"

Midwife said "he"

Midwife said "he"

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Nuggy2013 · 02/11/2016 08:54

I have a ten day old DD and we didn't know what sex baby was. Midwives constantly referred to he/she throughout my labour because they don't use words like 'it' etc, really wouldn't worry x

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sycamore54321 · 02/11/2016 08:56

Sometimes they use 'he' as a communication tool to avoid confusion between the baby and mother - "his spine" or "his heartbeat" clearly must mean the baby, whereas "hers" could be either the mother or the baby. I wouldn't read anything into it.

Sparrowlegs248 · 02/11/2016 09:00

Mine said she, I had a boy.

RushToKansas · 02/11/2016 09:07

Never heard the heart rate thing but my DS sounded exactly like galloping horses every time, definitely not a steam train.

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