Find out sex or surprise! What did you do?

[babyboybluex]

We are expecting baby two in May and found out the sex for our first baby (boy). We are in two minds about whether to find out again or keep it a surprise (we are happy with either a boy or girl).

What did you do? Did you find out or wait until the big day?

I only have one dc. I found out and really enjoyed the rest of my pregnancy. Only thing that made me nervous was if anyone got the sex wrong though as I'd gone a little over board in preparation for a girl.
I would find out again because I loved knowing and really enjoyed preparing but I do understand people waiting. I could not wait if I was offered the chance to check again though !

It was a surprise both times, it was just that we got the surprise at 11w with the NIPT results. For the first one it was interesting to know as pregnancy is long and boring whereas once the baby arrives life is interesting and surprising anyway. For the second one we thought we would need a long time to pick a name.

GuidingSpirit

We had our first baby in June. We had a surprise and the midwives held up the baby for DH to tell me what the sex was at the moment DD was born. It was such a lovely moment. If you do have a surprise, be prepared for everyone to tell you their theories on what you are having“

Aww, congratulations! Us to, with our first.

Until that moment, we had no idea. We’d obviously discussed names, boy or girl, but as my husband held her up he said, she’s “name”, and she was! It was a name we hadn’t even considered but it just felt right at that moment and 26 years on she couldn’t have been anyone else!

First baby we found out at 20 week scan (girl).
Second baby I was older and had NIPT so I found out at 12 weeks (girl). This time around there were more practical issues (whether to hang on to DD's old clothes/toys, we were moving house for the longer term so wanted to know if we had to worry about being in catchment for good boys/mixed schools, whether sharing bedrooms would be practical).

I've never experienced any judgment with either way, but personally I can't imagine not wanting to find out. To be it was just about forward planning. I got the NIPT as I've had to have a TFMR in the past but with the increased accuracy/earlier results for gender predication compared to scans, I'd probably opt for having it even if I was younger and wasn't so concerned about the genetic testing.

I found our really early as had to have the genetic testing blood panel done . DH and I kept it a secret between ourselves though, and didn't tell anyone else.

I wanted to know, but I absolutely HATE nub theory and people guessing at early sonograms. No idea why but it winds me right up. Just get the blood test if you want to know that much!

@JackJack84

It's a surprise for us! Being induced tomorrow so will find out soon 😊

Oooh!! How exciting! Wishing you all well.

Surprise both time for us through choice. I didn't feel the need to know sooner. And I loved finding out after they were born.

Had an elective a couple of weeks ago, they lifted the baby up for me to find out the sex myself...was fairly sure it was probably going to be a boy but to my surprise she is a girl. Best moment ever!

We found out with this one, our first. I'm having a boy. Glad we found out as there were many reasons that convinced us it was a girl, so it has been nice to prepare his nursery and clothes etc. Of course other people may choose to do nursery etc gender neutral, but that's not what we wantec. It never mattered to us which we'd have - we didn't have a preference.
It's so exciting finding out, whether it's at the birth or during the pregnancy!

I found out with my first, although they had got it wrong and my baby boy spent his first few days in flowery patterned babygros!

With second we left it as a surprise and DH saw her first to see what we had! That was a really lovely moment.

Surprise is so much nicer

I found out with my first 3 at the anomaly scans. I’m glad I did as it reaffirmed that my instincts were correct for each one!

With number 4, knowing it would be my last, I decided to wait until birth. I didn’t enjoy not knowing, I felt it spoilt it a bit, referring to baby as ‘they’. I made it all the way to 36 weeks when I caved and asked at a growth scan. I’d guessed the sex right that time too!

All in all, it makes no difference in the long run what you do, does it.

I found out every time - I like referring to the baby by their name and it feels a bit more exciting when you know imo! Although with my 2yo we were told girl at the 20w scan and he was actually a boy so that was a surprise

@Skyla2005

Surprise is so much nicer

Surprise was so much nicer for you but not so for millions of other women.

I wanted to know and found out but with hindsight, I had the added benefit of finding out at the same time as DH. I was unconscious and haemorrhaging when DD was born and carried a lot of unhappiness about the hands which touched DD and the people who comforted her before I was able to. I'm pleased that finding out she was indeed a she, was a moment DH and I shared.

There is no right or wrong or nicer way.

Thank you @LadyGAgain 😊