A potentially strange birth request...

[aprilshowers2015]

I am 31 weeks with DC1. DH and I chose not to find out the sex at the anomaly scan, well, I chose and DH agreed.
DH would really like to find out the sex when baby is born and tell me, but (we're watching a lot of OBEM) it seems that the midwife usually makes the announcement.
Now the whole way along, we've made it clear that the baby is the priority, ie at the anomaly scan we said we would prefer not to know but for the sonographer to do what they needed to do and if anything popped up then so be it. The same with the labour, the baby being born healthy is all we really care about.
My question is, has anyone requested the midwife not announce the sex at the birth and how was it received? I don't want to come across as someone with unreasonable requests but my DH really wants it to happen this way. Any thoughts on how I can approach this without sounding like a princess or should I just leave it? Thanks!

[DesLynamsMoustache]

Stick it in your birth plan and just mention it again when you arrive. It's not a weird request at all so no need to feel embarrassed!

[midnightcamiforever]

Just say to your midwife when you're in labour, and if you're having a written down birth plan then pop a line in there too saying "I would like my husband to tell me the sex of the baby".

[Justajot]

I think it must be a really common request as our MW seemed not to want to tell us when DD1 arrived and for DH to find out and tell me. It wasn't in our birth requests list, but everything had gone so horribly that I think the MW was trying to salvage any nice bits from anyone's birth plan at that point.

[mytypeonpaper]

Aw I think this is lovely actually and do the same!

[Josephine90]

Yes. Each time my husband has been the one to find out and tell me. Except the last, number 5, when I wanted to find out myself first.

[rockingaroundthemulberrybush]

Why would this be strange? This has been in all my birth plans and ime the midwives try very hard not to tell you if they spot what sex baby is before you or your partner!

[ineedanotherholiday]

My friend did this and nw accommodated, as others say just ask in your birth plan. X

[iklboo]

My midwife didn't announce it - I asked DH (as he was holding my leg in the air - gave birth on my side, epidural).

[Josephine90]

We just made sure the MWs knew when it became closer to the actual delivery

[aprilshowers2015]

Thank you all so much! I think I've just been over thinking things so it's a real relief to know I'm know out of line with this!

[SunshineCake]

Definitely mention it. Several times. I didn't want a stranger telling me the sex of my child and dh only just managed to tell me before the midwife did. With number two I saw her before anyone so told dh and with our youngest we knew from an earlier scan

[ddraigygoch]

We did this twice. But I delivered in the water and delivered them myself. So nobody could see until I lifted them to DH.

They were very happy to follow the request.

[Whatnametoday5]

I didn’t say anything and had a planned c-section - the only request I had is (if no other issues apparent) if they could show the baby to me first - it’s parts where flashed at me and off the baby disappeared for new born checks - I didn’t have a bloody clue what it was!! And oddly didn’t care - baby placed on me as i also requested skin to skin contact & eventually turned to my DH and said what is it - he couldn’t believe for at least 10 minutes I had no idea - shows that it doesn’t matter what it is you just want them to be ok.

[MaMisled]

I insisted on this and there was no problem three times! Its not unusual!

[happymrsc]

MW here... I would never dream of announcing the sex without having been asked to (which some people do). I've sometimes reminded people as they've got caught up in the moment, or helped them have a look because they are scared they are fragile but certainly never announced without request! Can't say I've ever seen a fellow midwife do any different either. Definitely not an unusual request, just mention to the MW that you'd like your partner to tell you the sex

[GrumpyHoonMain]

Request the baby be placed on you immediately after the birth and for them not to look at the sex - the midwives will do it. Then your DP can have a peak and tell you.

[anjahaa]

I hadn't even thought of requesting this, thank you so much for posting!

[Voxx]

My DH told me the sex of both our DDs when they were born. I imagine it’s a fairly common request.

[Alsohuman]

It’s very sweet, I just hope he doesn’t say what my ex did - “I’ve got a boy!” Needless to say, I wasn’t remotely amused and he’s never been allowed to forget it!

[Onesailwait]

I don't think its strange at all, just make sure you tell them. Just make sure he tells you correctly, you'd think it would be obvious but babies genitals are often really swollen after birth my Dh nearly got it wrong on our 2nd. Good luck & Congratulations

[VivaLeBeaver]

I’m a midwife and it’s quite a common request, midwife won’t bat an eyelid.

[NotYourHun]

As a midwife I usually ask parents if they know and if they want me to tell them or if they want to look themselves. A very normal request!

[InAPrettyCabinet]

My husband looked first and told me the sex of all three of children.

[OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea]

It's a very common request. I never tell people, catch baby, stick on mum's chest and dry and do all the initial checks etc then once baby is dry and warm and I know they are fine and mum is fine then I ask ther parents what they've got and they have a look.

[mrsed1987]

I think my husband said anyway not the midwife