Mating Season Over - or on going

[V]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

We are basically ready for this kid to arrive today and he's still a month out.

Haha, sure you are.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by 2ArmBands

It depends if you want the tech to tell you that information or find out yourself. The moment the doctor handed me my child and I got to announce the sex to my wife was one of the greatest moments of the entire process. But again... It's personal preference.

I did it both ways - for my first we knew and for my second we didn't. Overall I preferred the knowing - it allowed us to have everything ready for the baby at home, and also to try out the name for a while to make sure we were happy with it. But I agree it is personal preference, and if the surprise at the moment of birth is a big thing for you there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

[Galakanokis]

Congrats to everyone that has recently had a child and to those expecting. It is a wild ride and is to be enjoyed. It is challenging but oh so worth it.

Three kids myself, one pushing 20 and then 6 and almost 4. The oldest is a step son but we never knew the sex of the other two until birth. The 6 year was a boatload of complications with my wife being in the hospital for months before birth and still being born almost two months early. My guy is a mid November baby and his is definitely the smallest on all of his teams and school. No biggie, just have to compete harder! With the girl we were still asking for boy names during the delivery because we couldn't settle on anything. Good thing we had the girl as we had that picked out years ago.

As someone mentioned kids will be the best and worst thing you ever do. It's great fun watching them grow and learn, so many stages they go through it is fantastic. They'll test your patience no doubt and there will be tough times but they quickly disappear the first time they smile, laugh, walk, jump. Even when they learn to let out a well timed fart or burp. Just put my girl in dance and she nailed her first day. I was a proud poppa watching my baby girl dance and twirl to the Frozen soundtrack. Still brings a smile to my face.

And to those thinking about having or not having a second I say go for it. You have a built in best friend and as a parent you don't really pay too much attention to the second one and rely on the first to pick up the slack. It's all good.

Again, congrats to all.

[RedMileDJ]

nm

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by V

Haha, sure you are.

Ha, well in a "We have all the stuff to clothe/clean/feed/generally care for this child" way, yes.

In a "Omg what have we done with do I do with this screaming ball of flesh?" way... not quite there yet.

[ah123]

I figure this just belongs here (from xkcd.com)

[#-3]

I've got a summer baby & a winter baby in my house. I like to use it a proof I get bedded year round. But the truth is with a 1 year old and a 3 years I'm just lucky to go to bed without getting kicked in the face.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by RedMileDJ

I've never really understood why some people make it a big deal to find out the sex, or not. As in, the other people. Ie: friends and family.

So what? It's a choice by the parents.

For my wife and I, we like surprises. We had/have plenty of boys and girls clothes and toys stored away. Stuff given to us, etc. Now we're in a position where we can pass some stuff on.

I understand why some people want to find out. Hell, I almost found out by accident for our daughter, and then almost went back to actually find out. lol. I was conflicted. Haha.

I think people need to just respect that some parents want to know, and others don't. Don't make a big deal of it.

But yeah, we got plenty of "omg, how are you going to plan?" Uh, simple. We have stuff stored away. Painting a room takes a couple hours. Etc.

I found out the gender in advance for both my kids. My first was a girl, and going into the ultrasound I didn't think I'd care at all if it was a boy or a girl. Well, I guess I did, because when they told us it was a girl my exact quote - and I remember this because my wife will never let me forget - was "this changes everything." I felt deflated. Ouch, eh?

I'm so grateful we found out in advance so I could come to terms with a disappointment I didn't even know I would have. It would have been awful to have that reaction in the delivery room. I can't even imagine.

Within a few days I was over the 'shock' and looking really forward to having a daughter. And 9 years later I have the sweetest little pea in the whole world and wouldn't change her for anything. Daughters rule.

Anyway, I think that's a good reason to find out early.

[RedMileDJ]

nm

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I found out the gender in advance for both my kids. My first was a girl, and going into the ultrasound I didn't think I'd care at all if it was a boy or a girl. Well, I guess I did, because when they told us it was a girl my exact quote - and I remember this because my wife will never let me forget - was "this changes everything." I felt deflated. Ouch, eh?

I'm so grateful we found out in advance so I could come to terms with a disappointment I didn't even know I would have. It would have been awful to have that reaction in the delivery room. I can't even imagine.

Within a few days I was over the 'shock' and looking really forward to having a daughter. And 9 years later I have the sweetest little pea in the whole world and wouldn't change her for anything. Daughters rule.

Anyway, I think that's a good reason for me to find out early.

fixed your post.


Not everyone has the same response to a girl (and to be clear I am not passing judgement on you, I gave that up long ago).

Find out or not finding out is down to an individual's choice. There is no right or wrong.


We did not find out for my daughter, for my second (the boy) we found out.

To each his/her own. At the end of the day healthy and happy is all that matters.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by RedMileDJ

When people asked me "do you want a boy or girl?" my answer was always "as long as he or she is healthy, that's all I can ask for."

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

To each his/her own. At the end of the day healthy and happy is all that matters.

As long as you guys know that when you say that people want to throat punch you. Obviously you want a healthy baby. Asking if it's a boy or a girl isn't insinuating that is more important than good health.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Sliver

As long as you guys know that when you say that people want to throat punch you. Obviously you want a healthy baby. Asking if it's a boy or a girl isn't insinuating that is more important than good health.

Life is tuff for you isn't it............

[kermitology]

Didn't find out my first daughter was a girl, which was kind of special for me.. She was born and mom was bleeding a bunch so she was wrapped up pretty quickly and handed to me. So for about 20 minutes I was in complete shock and when things with my wife finally quieted down, I asked our midwives: "Does anyone know what I have?"

We found out what our second was so my wife could decide whether or not to sell our girl stuff since my wife was convinced we were having a boy.



Posey Evelyn

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Didn't find out my first daughter was a girl, which was kind of special for me.. She was born and mom was bleeding a bunch so she was wrapped up pretty quickly and handed to me. So for about 20 minutes I was in complete shock and when things with my wife finally quieted down, I asked our midwives: "Does anyone know what I have?"

This is scary as ####.

When my son was born the cord has a knot and was wrapped around his neck. He was purple and not breathing. It took maybe 30 secs for a trauma team to kick in the door and work on him. My wife, like yours, was bleeding and bleeding a lot.

I just stood mentionless between by bleeding wife and purple son while two teams of doctors and nurses worked away on each. After a could of minutes he started to make noise (BTW 9 years later he hasn't shut up) and about 15-20 mins later my wife stopped bleeding.

I don't like feeling helpless, and that is the most helpess I have ever felt in my life.

[V]

I find expecting parents always enjoy the traumatic delivery stories parents like to share.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by V

I find expecting parents always enjoy the traumatic delivery stories parents like to share.

Yeah sorry, I actually threatened to cancel our cable if my wife didn't stop watching all those ####ty TLC birth shows that focus on what can go wrong.


The take away from these stories is that the hospital is awesome, as are the staff. With my son we went from me, wife, nurse doctor, baby in the room to another 10 or so people to address the issues.

It is top notch care.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Yeah sorry, I actually threatened to cancel our cable if my wife didn't stop watching all those ####ty TLC birth shows that focus on what can go wrong.

The take away from these stories is that the hospital is awesome, as are the staff. With my son we went from me, wife, nurse doctor, baby in the room to another 10 or so people to address the issues.

It is top notch care.

True dat. We had a surprise C-section with my first so I'm really glad we didn't go the midwife route.

[Slava]

I can see why people would find out and why they would decide not to. I just would worry that they were wrong when they told you...it happens. When we were at the ultrasound for my eldest we didn't find out, but I knew. With the 4D enhanced ultrasound you can see fingers and toes, nevermind a penis. When they scrolled down I knew exactly what I was looking at (and what a boy!!). Imagine my complete shock and surprise when my daughter was born roughly six months later!

[Knut]

Originally Posted by V

I find expecting parents always enjoy the traumatic delivery stories parents like to share.

Vast Majority go off without a Hitch.

This is also why it is a good idea to have your child in a hospital. There is always a team of people standing by just in case.

[FlamesAddiction]

Do (or did) any of the males here ever feel pressure (societal or biological) to have a male "heir" to carry on the family line?