As soon as you find out that you’re pregnant, the first thing most expectant mums would want to know is the due date, and the next thing some would want to find out is the gender.
But there are also a few who prefer to keep it as a surprise and do not want the sex of their baby to be revealed.
If you’re still on the fence about whether or not you should know what is the gender of your unborn baby, here are some reasons why it can actually be a good idea:
Finding out the gender of your baby can help you form a stronger bond.
1. Forms a deeper bond
According to a study by the University of Birmingham, when the gender of the baby is revealed, it helps fathers-to-be feel more emotionally connected and they start to think of the baby as a person.
Tiara W, a former model and mother of one, shares, “My husband really wanted a girl and everytime we went for an ultrasound scan, he would always ask what was the sex. When we finally found out it was a girl, he was totally over the moon!”.
2. Prepares an older sibling
Finding out the gender of your baby will be great for the older sibling as he can prepare himself and get excited by knowing if he’s getting a younger brother or sister in a few month’s time.
You can also get your older child involved in preparing for the arrival of the bundle of joy by giving you suggestions for baby names, picking out baby clothes at the store, or even helping you paint the baby’s nursery.
3. Narrows down names
You probably already have a few names picked out for the baby and are still trying to find one that both you and your husband can agree on.
So knowing the gender of your baby can help you narrow down that list and not to mention, cut down any potential bickers over what to name the new bub.
Go to the next page to see what other benefits there are to finding out the gender of your baby.
“When are you due? Is it a boy or a girl? Have you decided on a name yet?”
These are all common questions you’ll be hearing a lot from family, friends and sometimes even total strangers!
So if you’re not sure if the gender of your baby should remain a surprise until you’re in the delivery room, here are a few more reasons to help you make up your mind:
Are you curious to find out the gender of your baby?
4. Decorate nursery accordingly
Once you know whether you’re having a boy or a girl, you don’t have to hold yourself back when painting and decorating the baby’s nursery.
Even though pink doesn’t have to be reserved for girls and neither is blue strictly for boys, it would be nice to know that you don’t have to stick to “gender-neutral” colours such as yellow or green.
5. Satisfies curiosity
A part of you must be so curious to find out whether you’re having a boy or a girl! Plus, everyone else around you will also be excited to know the gender of your baby.
6. Buy appropriate baby clothes
Once you know the sex of your bub, you can stop stocking up on boring white or beige onesies and finally grab that fluffy ruffle-butt skirt, or that cute t-shirt that says, “New Man Of The House”.
It’ll also help you plan whether or not the hand-me-downs from your older child can be reused for the little one, so you may not have to buy so many new clothes.
7. Receive relevant gifts
Your family and friends are probably excitedly shopping around for the arrival of your new bub now, so knowing the gender can help them have an easier time choosing between a headband with flowers, or a Pee-pee Tee Pee.
8. Avoid element of disappointment
If you or your husband were hoping for a particular gender, then finding out earlier on will give you enough time to accept the fact that it’s a boy or a girl, rather than feel a tinge of disappointment once the baby arrives.
Whether it’s a boy or a girl, you’ll still love your baby anyway.
To know, or not to know?
Some parents still insist on not finding out the sex of their unborn baby because it diminishes the fun of being surprised when the doctor announces, “It’s a boy!”, or, ” It’s a girl!”.
Cassie B, a school teacher and mother of two, says, “What’s the point, right? Boy or girl, it’s still my flesh my blood, and it’s not going to make a difference to me. My mother in law was a bit annoyed though because my first one is a girl so she was hoping for the next one to be a boy, but I guess she just had to be patient and wait for the whole nine months to find out!”
But no matter what the gender of your baby is, once you hold that precious bundle of joy in your arms for the very first time, it probably won’t even matter anymore and you’ll instantly fall in love with your sweet little girl or boy.
Did you want to find out the gender of your baby? Or you preferred it to remain a secret? Tell us in the comments section below!