by Claire Kernaghan

Created on: September 12, 2008

The element for surprise... what more can I say, you cannot beat it!

Sure, finding out the sex of your baby before birth may make planning for the baby easier, you can paint the room the right colour instead of yellow, and you can pick out all the right clothes and have absolutely everything ready for your baby's arrival. But the bottom line is you are going to get all that done anyway so why do it all before the baby comes and work your pregnant butt off, sit down, relax and enjoy being pregnant. Even though a new baby is stressful and a busy time, trust me, you will still find time to paint the nursery, and go shopping for even more pink/blue clothes. Plus babies grow so quickly that by the time they have worn all the clothes you bought for them before their birth it wouldnt have made all that much of a difference in time anyway. Plus, its more fun to go shopping and get out of the house once the baby is born.

Without knowing the sex of the baby you can still get the necessary things... crib, pram/stroller, nappies, singlets, socks, bedroom furniture which you can always paint at a later date the baby is not going to remember the first few months of not having a pink or blue toy box. Plus, once the baby is born and it's a surprise to everyone you pretty much get given all the pink/blue clothes and toys that you need. So what's the point in buying it all (and having people say behind you back "gosh I don't know what to get the baby because it is a day old and already has everything!") Preparing for the birth of you baby is important, but there is no reason to over-prepare and overdo it.

Certainly you can pick the name for your baby and start talking to your baby using the name. I think naming a baby is special and you could pick out a hundred different names for your child, but as soon as you lay eyes on your baby, you know their name. You may have Jessica picked out for your baby girl, but when she is born, suddenly she doesn't look like a Jessica and you don't think the name suits her.

Having kids is one of the best things a person can do, and in the long run it really is not going to matter all that much weather you find out if you're having a boy or a girl before the baby is born, and thanks to modern advances in technology we can do wonderful things like with no risk of harm, which is great. But in the end, it is your own decision, whether it is right or wrong it is still your decision.

Realistically, there is no sound reason to have a peek and know the sex of your baby before it is born. Plus, haven't you always wanted to hear those words from the doctor "It's a ...." and you can say "Awwww it's a ...." and being surprised and relieved that it is finally all over and you can wisper to your partner and say: I was secretly hoping for a boy/girl anyway!

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