I’d like to know, but I’m just the grandmother, so I’ll just smile and nod. As I do with many of their choices these days. He’s 33, she’s 30, so I’ve learned to not say too much.
My daughter’s best friend also is waiting until delivery to find out the sex. While I love knowing my son and DIL are having a girl, I am sure it is exciting to learn at the time of delivery. In my day, other than wanting to have food ready for a Bris, it really wouldn’t have mattered if I had a boy or girl. Actually, the nursery was done in pastels, even knowing I was having a boy!!
I found out both times, and it was very helpful that I did. Both times, I was certain I was having a girl, and both times I was wrong. Having time to absorb reality was useful.
I found out out at delivery all three times, but S and DIL found out as soon as they could. Not sure how I feel about it, but so not my call.
I learned gender at birth for both babies. No ultrasound until babies were born either. Everything turned out fine. I suspected S was a boy and D was a girl. I was happy I was right but would have been thrilled in any case.
During the ultrasound, the baby turned over. Everyone in the room laughed, as the gender was obvious. I had a girls name ready, so had time to,prepare for a boys name and decorations
Even in my day, the GYN could predict based on the heart rate. I have a hard time believing science isn’t more advanced in this area.
There is a blood test that can be done very early - DD’s insurance paid for some of this early testing, and we were happy to learn we were having a baby grand-dau. She will be 3 months old soon…how time flies. Blood test also was confirmed by an ultrasound where she was in sitting position.
With both kids, the nurses predicted during my labor what gender the baby would be based on heart rate. Both times they were wrong! Glad I didn’t have to wait long after their predictions to learn the real scoop.
We didn’t find out, and I had 16 ultrasounds with S1! Both times, I had a sense about a week before birth that it was a boy. Fine by me!
My nephew and his wife found out for their first, decided to be surprised with #2. They have two boys less than two years apart. BTDT!
@SOSConcern, our kids found out via the blood test, as well. During the very detailed 20 week sonogram, we could see him clearly sucking his thumb, but I don’t know whether other confirming details were visible! i do know they had to have my DIL eat a sugary snack and dance around the ultrasound room so they could visualize all four chambers of his heart! He was planning to nap his way through the test and was not very cooperative 
My S called last week to tell us that DIL had felt him kicking and if they watched carefully they could see the kicks. Of course, the next day he called to share that when it was 4-5 hours since she had felt him she began to panic…it’s going to be a long 4 months. Oh, make that a long lifetime of worry, starting now!
For very young, activity mat and the swing are definitely useful!
I"m new to this thread (DIL is now three months pregnant!) so maybe it’s been addressed before, in which case please just tell me around which post number or around what date.
529 plans – who has set one up for their grandchild(ren)? In what state?
For those who haven’t seen a sonogram recently, the level of resolution today is far, far above what it used to be. Think today’s HD tv vs 30+ years ago. It can clearly reveal the sex with no doubts, and the level of detail of the face is stunning. I couldn’t believe it.
We set up a 529 for our granddaughter in our state because we get a tax deduction on our state taxes.
I found out at delivery–no ultrasounds back then. My D and SIL say they probably wont’ find out till then, but if they change their minds, won’t tell others. They don’t want anyone picking things out by gender. So decorations and clothes won’t be an issue. (they might find out in order to only pick one name.)
But I had no idea ultrasounds were so detailed! I was out of the country for the last one, and they sent me a picture that was adorable! I thought US’s were basically smooshes, but apparently no more. So I can see that depending on position, sex might be obvious.
We didn’t find out with S1, but did with S2. I’d had a miscarriage before S2, so I had more testing than I did with S1. S1 and DIL definitely wanted to find out the gender when they were expecting and told everyone when they found out. No gender reveal party fortunately.
We didn’t find out with our first. For the second, my mom wanted to know whether to send boy’s or girl’s clothing (she was a foster mother and had lots of baby clothes!). So we asked the ultrasound technician to write down the gender and put the paper in a sealed envelope, which I mailed to Mom. One of the bags she sent was a little see-through, so I could see some paisley pajamas that I knew were for a boy! Oh, well. I didn’t tell DH.
@shellfel,
We set up a 529 at our accountant’s recommendation and then she forgot to put it on the tax return!! Well, it was in early 2018 with the intent for it to go on the 2017 return, but she will put it on the 2018 return. Annoying, but not the end of the world.
I am here with 41+ week daughter/grandson and SIL. Tomorrow she meets her own 10 day late arrival. They let things go naturally until 42 weeks - BP is good, non-stress test scheduled for tomorrow. SIL cannot start parental leave until the birth, so he’s off to work, reluctantly, each morning, hoping it’s the last.
S, DIL & granddaughter just left after a 5 day visit. The baby will be 10 months old next week and she is into everything. I saw them in mid-June for a few days at their house, but the wait to see her again at Christmas is going to stink. I had so much fun playing with her, but no real snuggles. She wants to get down and go whenever she is awake, although she sat in my lap for about 3 minutes this morning. It has been so long since I have been around a baby for so much time that I had forgotten how flexible they are. I have been in awe of how she can get toes from both feet in her mouth at the same time. No wonder they need so many naps - they are really working those muscles!