Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The Big Reveal

Once you make the decision to learn your unborn baby's gender in advance, an immediate countdown to sonogram day begins.  Typically, the big reveal occurs in the doctor's office on the examination table.  The sonogram technician plops some clear goop on your pregnant belly, presses the phallic shaped sonogram wand to your skin, looks at the blurry black and white screen and says, "Do you want to know the gender?"  You've been waiting for this question and you know your answer, "YES!"


A sonogram wand (aka not what you thought).

Learning your baby's gender while wearing a hospital gown is a time honored tradition.  There's something charming about trying to find the penis or acknowledging the lack thereof in the grainy sonogram image.  I have no doubt that sonogram technician's vividly remember the best, worst and most frightening expressions on the faces of the anxious parents-to-be.

For non-traditionalist who want to take the big reveal out of the doctor's office, consider using a note.  Parents can ask the sonogram technician to write down the gender on a piece of paper and seal it in an envelope.  The envelope can be opened later at a chosen destination.  A couple can open it together in the comfort of their home, over some romantic Chinese food take out and a couple glasses of sparkling apple cider.  The envelope can be brought to a big family dinner.  Get some group participation going by asking everyone at the table to first guess the gender.  After the big reveal, the winners can relax while everyone else cleans up.  People love betting.  I'll address baby pools at some point.  I digress...

The note is certainly a less classic and more orchestrated option.  It also drags out that anticipation even further, which can be a pro or a con depending on the person.  On the other hand, it preserves that major moment for just the couple to consider and enjoy.  It's more intimate without the inclusion of a stranger (aka the sonogram technician) and the couple can craft it to their style and personalities.


How did you choose to learn the gender of your baby?  How do you want to find out?  


5 comments:

WW said...

I LOVE the idea of opening the note when it is the two of us. I have heard of people revealing the gender at the baby shower too.

One friend of mine did it by serving a blue tinted cake, but you didnt know until you cut into it.

Jessica said...

I also have a "cake reveal" story - my friend's sister took her note to a bakery and asked them to bake either a pink or blue cake, then frost it in white buttercream. The couple had the entire family over and cut into it for the ultimate surprise. The whole thing was filmed, and the mommy-to-be-looked absolutely stunned (and not necessarily happy) when she cut into her blue cake. For this reason, I could never do such a public reveal. When we have kids I like to think we'll ask for the note so that we can open it in private over a nice dinner, although in reality, I probably won't be able to wait a few more hours.

Mother of Pearl said...

OK, first, the wand in the photo is *not* what they use in the goop on your big belly... sorry, it kind of is what you think it is!!!

Second, sonograms are not foolproof. Sometimes they say pink, and on the delivery table... surprise!!!

Vanessa said...

we found out for our first...and im thinking the second one will be a surprise...mainly to save money on all the pink stuff I would want to buy before hand if its a girl.

Leah (it's me) said...

WW and Jessica - The "cake reveal" is awesome. So creative. I wonder if any mischievous baker has surprised the parents-to-be with a purple cake...

Mother of Pearl - Check out my second post of the day (The Big Wand) for an update on the sonogram wand photo.

Vanessa - So true! This is a great reason to keep the gender a surprise, one that I've never heard.