The Pros and Cons of Baby Gender Selection
Baby gender selection is a topic that's very interesting to many families. A lot of moms would really like to parent both genders – so if they've had a little girl they hope for a boy, or if they've had a boy they hope for a girl. Some moms may want to parent just one gender over another. Whatever the reason, picking the gender of a child is something that families have considered for ages and still consider today.
What are Some of the Benefits?
Baby gender selection can only be done done with 100% accuracy by preimplantation genetic diagnosis or PGD. This procedure selects only embryos of the desired gender for implantation, so you're guaranteed to get what you want. It's an assisted reproduction technology and carries with it the same risks as typical IVF/IUI, and other procedures – but it offers a 100% guarantee.
There are other methods to “sway” gender in your favor, however. Some moms really do desire one gender over another, and gentle swaying methods are typically harmless to mom and the baby-to-be.
Swaying for the gender a family wants can help to balance a family out. A family with three boys, for instance, may desire to have a girl. There are other times a mom may want one gender over another. Survivors of sexual abuse often want to have a baby girl – the thought of raising a boy to manhood is sometimes overwhelming for them. Women who had a bad or damaging relationship with their own mothers often desire a son because they're not sure how to create a healthy relationship with a daughter.
These issues can all be overcome, but baby gender selection can offer gentle (or guaranteed) ways to sway for the gender a mom prefers and feels more comfortable with.
In some cases genetic disorders and disease are carried only through one gender or another, and a family may prefer to use a procedure like PGD to stop the disorder from carrying on.
What are Some of the Downsides?
Sometimes moms may strongly desire a gender, and even use gender selection methods to conceive a baby of that gender only to have the opposite sex. “Opposites” can lead to strong gender disappointment – this can be a real battle for some moms and families. There are women who even battle with depression.
An unexpected downside is the lack of a chance to grow as a person and as a family by getting the gender you were not hoping for – and needing to change and mature to be the best parent for your baby – boy or girl.
Moms often fall in love with their baby at first sight, even if their baby is not the gender they were hoping to get. Other moms take more time to warm up to their children but eventually come to love the baby they've been given.
In general, baby gender selection is not a bad thing. Most families will choose gentle swaying methods. A few families will feel the need to use definite methods of selection – however, there are not many downsides to gender selection methods. Women may feel deep sadness if they don't get the gender they'd like, but most overcome this and love their child deeply – and many appreciate the growth they experience as they parent their unique little one.
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