To ask if you had a gender preference?

Yes, and I got 5 of them.
All children are blessings, but preferences are real!

light Hearted comment hence the 🤣

I wanted/want girls. I have two boys. I’m always torn between whether to try for a third time but I just couldn’t cope with 3 boys. My husband didn’t care. All my friends and family have girls and have had natural births. I’m the only one with just boys, the only one needing ivf and the only one forced into two unwanted c sections, it feels quite unfair.

I never wanted to be a girl mum never, I got pregnant. Was adamant it was a boy. Got to 15 weeks gender scan im the private place bed I said because we are here it’s a girl. She is a girl and is a wonderful girl. I now don’t want boys but if it was to happen it would be amazing but it is what it is.

I lost multiple pregnancies and like others just wanted a healthy baby. However, I had a strong preference for a boy. I just couldn't imagine myself as a girl mum. We didn't find out until the birth that I got my wish! We won't be having any more children but I'd want my 2nd to be a boy too.

Someone once said that "a boy would suit you". I was so offended as i wanted a girl and believed my DD would be a tomboy like me. I have a lovely boy and while i get to miss out on giving him advice for girls, about periods, whatever, i can still advise on how to treat them properly. We also share a lot of interests

Sorry can I just add I have had endometriosis my entire life gaslit until my 40s etc so for me would be awful thinking I'd given her this disease.

I got a boy and a girl so I feel very lucky with that. Personally I would have been disappointed if I didn't have a daughter.

I absolutely didn't want a girl so happy I had my 2 DS.

I had many reasons coming from a place of safety, career, privileges and mostly from the lack of abuse she would suffer.

My mum passed away when I was young, but even if she hadn't....I love my MIL! She came to the wedding dress fittings, helped me organise my hen night, the whole lot! She's amazing and I'm so close to her! She lives in Norway and I speak to her every day. Cannot tell you how excited I am to move there and have her close by...I love our "lady days" out!

Even if my parents were alive, she'd always have played a huge role. I just adore the woman!

I wanted a girl first, and had a girl.
Wasn't really fussed with second and girl arrived.
10 years later,if we could have picked off a shelf, we'd have picked boy. Sure enough daughter no 3 arrived.
Many years later, on reflection it would have been nice to have had a lad, and I'm a little sorry we never had that. I think dh thinks that too. Granddaughters so far as well!

I always pictured myself having a daughter. DH really hoped for a girl. We got lucky.

It totally does not matter because they are all different. Eg boys are not all the same and some are closer than others. Same with girls.

I didn’t say boys were horrible and annoying. I said my friend’s two boys were horrible and annoying.

I'm less likely to ever be the default grandparent, but on the other hand I get to raise some really, really awesome boys so swings and roundabouts!

My dc are v.close to both gms and stay over at my MILs more frequently. Your future DIL will be grateful for any help! 😆😆

Wanted girls, had boys.

I wanted girls for spectacularly stupid reasons though, eg I think there are more nice names to choose from and more choice of fun clothes 🙃 So I wasn't exactly heartbroken when I didn't have a girl.

I guess I'm a bit gutted that I'll probably never be asked to go wedding dress shopping and I'm less likely to ever be the default grandparent, but on the other hand I get to raise some really, really awesome boys so swings and roundabouts!

I wasn't bothered but I was convinced I was having a boy and wouldn't be told different. I d have confidentially put my lottery winnings on it. I could even visualise the blue flowers and cards around my hospital bed. When DD was born I remember groggily saying when I was told i d had a girl. "Erm a girl, are you sure😂. They must have thought I was loon, well to be fair to them they'd be right.

I think this is a very loaded and often (especially on MN) quite a taboo subject... but it's a very human thing to have preferences even when we ideally shouldn't. There are often very deep and complex reasons for having a preference and it's hard to shake those feelings away even though we know, in theory, we should be thankful for simply being able to have a baby at all.

Interestingly, on MN, preference for a certain sex seems to be a real taboo. However, in real life, when talking with both complete strangers or with trusted friends/family/acquaintances, it seems a really normal thing... I've lost count of the number of times someone has said "how lovely that your last baby was a different sex" or "if I'd had two the same I'd definitely want to try again" etc.

I always point out (completely truthfully) that I had a third baby because I wanted a third baby (you can't choose what you get, after all) and I only went ahead with trying for a third after a lot of soul searching because I knew it would be my last either way... Despite that, if I'm honest, I felt more anxious than I'd like to admit about what the sex would be and I still feel troubled about the relief I felt when I found out my baby was the sex that I'd hoped for (definitely more subconsciously than I thought). However I wouldn't change my children for the world and I genuinely love all my children just as deeply; I know if I'd have had the same sex I would have loved them just the same regardless.

Just to add... I'm fully aware that children (regardless of sex) are their own people and often don't conform to expectations... my oldest child could easily pass for the opposite sex in terms of personality and interests. My middle child is very much stereotypically their sex. It's too early to tell with my youngest but I'm prepared for anything! They are all individuals and are cherished for the wonderful and unique little people that they are.

100% wanted girls. Had 2. Very happy.

I’ve always wanted both. Though when I was pregnant with my first I secretly had a slight preference for a boy because he’d be the oldest and for some reason I’d always liked the idea of having an older brother myself (my only sibling is a younger sister). I did have a boy so I got my wish. I would have been very happy with a girl too though. I’m not sure what I want my next baby to be. I would love my little boy to have a brother but at the same time it would be nice to have one of each, so I really don’t mind.

First time, no preference at all. Second time, 9 years later, hoped for a boy only because our 9 year old girl was unhappy at the prospect of a sibling, We thought she may accept a brother more readily.

I wanted at least one daughter and I got one. Wasn't fussed with DC2 but happy he's a boy so I get the experience of one of each.

I didn’t have a preference with DC1 or DC2, as having one of each is lovely but also massive benefits to having two of the same. Ended up with one of each.

Ive just had a mc that would have been DC3 and for the first time I have a strong preference for a girl, as DC2 is a girl whereas DC1 is already 6 so would be a big gap between them. Would be delighted with a boy too obviously though.

I always wanted two kids and I wanted a girl first because I didn’t want two boys. I know it’s not always the case but boys are more boisterous and I just couldn’t handlep rough play at home.

Luckily for me (as it’s what I wanted), I had a girl first. Then I wanted another girl as I’m not close to my brother but my second was a boy and he is absolutely glorious. Starting to get rougher with his play at nearly 6 though. Tries it on with his sister but she won’t engage so I’m really pleased how it turned out.

And I think this is bit taboo & very shallow but I wanted my dc to get our "best bits" looks wise and so far that appears to be the case 😆😆