Holding a gender reveal party can be an exciting way for you and your loved ones to discover your baby’s gender.
It’s completely up to parents to choose whether they want to know their child’s sex before birth, as well as how to unveil it. Some may opt to be told by their doctor during an ultrasound, while others might prefer the surprise be kept in an envelope, setting the stage for a grand reveal at a party surrounded by friends and family.
While we can’t pick if we’ll have a boy or girl, it’s not unusual for parents to harbour hopes for one gender over the other. Such preferences can sometimes lead to disappointment – finding out you’re having a different gender than expected could bring an emotional jolt, particularly amid the hormonal surges of pregnancy.
One woman, however, has branded her sister “sick” because of her reaction upon learning the sex of her unborn child. The incident was so shocking that she felt compelled to leave the gender reveal party in protest.
Sharing her story on Reddit, the 37 year old recounted attending her sister’s gender reveal only to find the place decked out in “so much pink” – suggesting her sister was anticipating a girl.
The mum-to-be was left “hysterical” when it was revealed she was expecting a boy, not a girl. She was “furious”, claiming she was being “punished” for not having a daughter, leaving her sister fuming.
The woman, who has tragically suffered three miscarriages and one stillbirth, was appalled by her sister’s reaction to the news of a healthy baby boy. She was so disgusted that she decided to leave the party early.
She wrote: “She got so hysterical and furious and she cursed and screamed that she wanted a girl, she was supposed to be having a girl and who the f**k was punishing her this way. Her husband looked equally upset by the reveal. I heard him say it was all bulls**t and what a waste. My sister’s temper tantrum saddened me and honestly sickened me as someone who would do anything for a child to raise. So we quietly left. But it was noticed.”
Her departure didn’t go unnoticed by her sister, who later confronted her about why she’d left without “comforting” her. When she explained how hard it had been to hear her sister’s outburst, she was labelled a “terrible sister”, with even their parents suggesting she should have supported her sibling.
Commenters rallied behind the woman, with several voices criticising her sister’s “entitled” behaviour. They acknowledged that while disappointment is natural, the expectant mum’s over-the-top reaction was unwarranted.
One person commented: “You lost every child you got pregnant with, and here your sister should be glad she’s going to be having a healthy baby. I would have left after that, too, regardless, because who reacts like that to their baby’s gender reveal? She shouldn’t have put all her eggs in a basket, thinking it was a girl.”
Another user weighed in, remarking: “Being upset because you expected a different outcome is one thing. For you and your husband to throw a tantrum and ruin the vibe of the party is another thing. I don’t care what anyone says. I think it’s sick and selfish. The way people try and normalise people ruining their own gender reveals over not having the gender they wanted.”
If you have experienced the death of a baby and need support, Sands is here to help. You can find your local support group on their website, or get in touch with their helpline via email at [email protected], or via phone on 0808 164 3332.