Only the next nine months will be filled with new feelings, emotions and many new challenges that both of you will face as a couple. From the first wave of morning sickness to realizing you can no longer see your feet or your perfectly shaped belly, everything will feel so new and exciting and sometimes scary too.
Can you believe that between 350 million and 360 million babies are born every day around the world, that’s roughly 250 to 260 babies are born every minute? In the UK alone, more than 600,000 babies are born each year, a rate of 1.3 per minute. It’s hard to believe that while you sit at work for 8 hours a day, 624 babies have been introduced into the world.
The average age of mothers in the UK has risen in the last 10 years as many women choose to have children later. In 2014 the average age was 30 years; this is expected to grow to an average age of 34+ in the next five years.
The increasing tendency of women to delay childbearing until their late thirties is due in part to the increasing equality in the social, professional, financial and business environment in which we live. Interestingly, the median age of parenthood has also been increasing.
Whatever the age of the new parents, the excitement of shopping for baby clothes, gear, and decorating a new nursery in preparation for their new bundle is part of the new baby excitement. From baby changing tables, diaper changing bags, bibs and feeding bottles, the list is quite long and extensive.
When it comes to buying the right color for the baby’s gender, clothing or accessories like changing bags can be difficult to shop for if parents don’t choose to find out the gender of their baby. With technology making everything feel so responsive and everyone seemingly knowing each other’s business, finding out the gender of your baby is one of the few surprises left.
Should you find out the sex of your baby? Surprisingly, the real reason for an ultrasound is not to find out the gender of your baby. The first scan at 20 weeks will be to check your baby’s measurements, as well as a full check of the baby’s organs and general health and growth rate. It is not always easy to know the sex of the baby from the first ultrasound.
Gender disappointment seems to be a recognized condition for parents who have found out the gender of their baby, only to be disappointed that it was not what they expected. Parents may have bought blue clothes, changing bags, bibs, and painted the nursery blue, only to find out near the due date that they are actually expecting a girl. If you do not find out the surprise and joy of your little bump, it will mean that you do not care about the sex of your baby. When it comes to buying your baby all the equipment she needs, the obvious list of things we need is easy to buy in our everyday lives and the choice we now have is vast. The decision to buy a new changing bag or stroller can take time.
For example, you can shop over 200 different colors, designs, and sizes of changing bags alone, from designer to high street. Now you can match your changing bags to the stroller, babies clothes and even your outfit if you want, and this is just one of your many options when shopping for new things for your new special package. No matter what your age, becoming a new parent is an exciting and surprisingly scary time; but ultimately, it’s a time for you to embrace the new experience, look forward to finding out the gender of your baby, and shopping for all the lovely new things you and your baby will need.