Why team green?

Harveys11 · March 2014

We found out the sex of DS and DD. I'm pregnant with #3 and thinking about giving team green a try. Everyone knew the sex AND the names AND the birthdays (c-sections) of our other kids before they were born. I guess that does make for kind of anticlimactic announcements. We already have a room and clothes for either sex, so why not, right? I admit, I never understood people's reasoning for wanting to be team green before. Why do people do it? Does it just heighten the anticipation for the big day? What did you get out of not knowing your baby's sex until they were born? Thanks.

caranichole · March 2014

I knew but the element of surprise always fun! And since you have both boy and girl clothes and rooms...go for it! I bet it will make for a fun surprise for you and the whole family!

DaniW1984 · March 2014

Here's why we are 'team green':
There are very few surprises in life. This is a beautiful one.

I'm also not big into pink/blue so neutral nursery is just fine with me. I anticipate a lot of clothing given to us (& have witnessed some way overconsumption in baby clothes and do not want that) so am not worried about clothing prep.

I get why people want to plan, especially with multiples, but I don't agree that the anatomy screen is as big a surprise as the moment you discover the baby's sex in person...

I also won't be sharing names until baby is born. Both for the surprise but also to mitigate unwanted name advice.

Hope that helps and congratulations!

cactus5 · March 2014

We did it for my 3rd. It was important to my husband, and we had one of each so I went with it. I do not want to do it again though:)

Harveys11 · March 2014

Thanks everyone! I never understood why it's a bigger surprise at 40w as opposed to 20w either. I don't know, maybe it does feel different...

We'll either:

1. Be team green and let people know our top names.

2. Find out at 20w but say nothing about names.

Thanks again! I'm sure I'll need further support as time goes on if we try TG!

megaroo64 · March 2014

We are going team green this time. We found out for B.

Honestly, it is less about the surprise for us, then about avoiding anxiety. I already have a son, and this might be our last, so I think I will be a little sad if I find out we are having a boy (even though boys are awesome). But at the same time, I would be nervous as hell to be the mother of a girl! So for me, no news is good news and finding out early will just make me really anxious. However, with an actual baby on the scene, none of those anxieties will matter at all anyway!

Oh, we didn't share names last time either.... mostly because we didn't know.

AlphaSierra · March 2014

DaniW1984 said:
Here's why we are 'team green':
There are very few surprises in life. This is a beautiful one.

I'm also not big into pink/blue so neutral nursery is just fine with me. I anticipate a lot of clothing given to us (& have witnessed some way overconsumption in baby clothes and do not want that) so am not worried about clothing prep.

I get why people want to plan, especially with multiples, but I don't agree that the anatomy screen is as big a surprise as the moment you discover the baby's sex in person...

I also won't be sharing names until baby is born. Both for the surprise but also to mitigate unwanted name advice.

Hope that helps and congratulations!

Literally all of this for us too!

Mommy2Boys09 · March 2014

I wish I would have done this with my first. But when you're hoping for one gender over the other, it's hard to wait. Plus if we finally get a girl after 2 boys, we probably will want a lot of pink lol. But if we get a girl this time, and decide to have another later, I'm definitely doing it because I really want to experience that. I think it would be a much better surprise at 40w when you're delivering than at 20w when you still have 20w til you can meet him or her. I definitely recommend doing it! My friend done it, and it was pretty awesome!

MissMandyD · March 2014

I think it is one of the biggest surprises you can experience. I love the idea of finishing with the delivery and hearing it is a....boy or girl.

Wino411 · March 2014

theresat858 said:

I have never understood how it is more of a "surprise" at 40w than at 20w...

This!

trisharenee0316 · March 2014

I kind of want the surprise at delivery. And to stop myself from buying a ton of stuff in advance.

crystal8503 · March 2014

I have always wanted to find out at delivery for as long as I can remember. We were team green with my son and will be for this one as well. For me, being team green allowed me to focus on the baby inside of me and not daydream about its future. I feel like I connected with him more than I would have allowed myself to had I known during pregnancy. I'm probably having a RCS and it's even more important to me now. If I do have another section, only my husband's parents, my sister, BFF, and step mother will know when I'm scheduled for surgery.

crystal8503 · March 2014

trisharenee0316 said:

I kind of want the surprise at delivery. And to stop myself from buying a ton of stuff in advance.

You will still buy all the things! Trust me! I never realized how cute neutral clothing is until being team green. Some of my all time favorite outfits were the ones I bought before he got here. DO NOT go into Baby Gap if you are hoping to save some money!

TexasMom7137 · March 2014

We found out with DS1 but were team green with DS2. For me it was completely different finding out during a delivery. I had a c section each time and the first time I had a huge panic attack so I decided to try team green the second time to see if the surprise would distract me.

My second c section was actually a fun experience. All of the doctors and nurses joined in with their predictions and when N was born they let DH announce. There was something very exciting about finding out N is a boy and seeing him just seconds later.

For me knowing the exact date,time ,etc made the experience a bit anticlimactic. Having that surprise element in there was great for me. DH asked if I wanted to find out this time and I did not even hesitate. I definitely want to be team green.

I am a planner but there is so much planning that can be done without knowing the sex. Last time made sure we had a few girly things ready too. If we have another boy I will give them to friends or donate them.

pinkshades05 · March 2014

I really loved being Team Green. I still dealt with the intense anticipation of not knowing, but when Natalie was born and we found out she was a girl it added to the excitement. Even leading up to her birth, everyone was debating and speculating. It wasn't, "I can't wait for Baby Boy/Baby James to get here!" It now was, "I can't wait to find out the sex of the baby!"

My SIL did the opposite--she announced the sex and the name at 20 weeks and to me, it didn't feel quite as fun. I still anticipated the birth of my nephew, but it wasn't as exciting.

noellemari · March 2014

We didn't find out with either and both times they put baby on my chest and I got to announce the sex. It was a great moment! And I will def do it again!

mbcgirlie14 · March 2014

I am type A and a huge planner so I don't get when people say they can't plan if they don't find out. We didn't find out with the first and we won't with this one. I absolutely loved that my DH could announce the sex. It was so much fun anticipation. We had a great nursery and all of the neccessary baby things so it wasn't like we hadn't planned. It was also great because people buy you stuff you really need instead a ridiculous amount of newborn clothes that they think are cute. But the moment in the delivery room was reason enough!

Harveys11 · March 2014

Awesome! So much encouragement here. Also a few good points. Thank you!

Mlewis2319 · March 2014

Harveys11 said:

We found out the sex of DS and DD. I'm pregnant with #3 and thinking about giving team green a try. Everyone knew the sex AND the names AND the birthdays (c-sections) of our other kids before they were born. I guess that does make for kind of anticlimactic announcements. We already have a room and clothes for either sex, so why not, right? I admit, I never understood people's reasoning for wanting to be team green before. Why do people do it? Does it just heighten the anticipation for the big day? What did you get out of not knowing your baby's sex until they were born? Thanks.

We have a DS & DD as well, and DH always wanted to be Team Green, but I couldn't wait to find out...but since we have one of each, we're going Team Green. It'll be fun to wait...but I don't know how I'm going to handle the 20 week anatomy scan! LOL "Can you just swing by between the legs, let me try to guess?!?!?!" LOL DH Won't go for that either LOL

Bbelle88 · March 2014

There's a huge difference between finding out at 20 weeks and 40 weeks IMO. Most people can't stand to even wait 20 weeks to find out the sex, let alone a full pregnancy. You have to practice lots of patience to be team green. The build up and anticipation leading up to birth is amazing and like a PP has said it really is a beautiful surprise. There are very few, if any real surprises left in life and this one is worth it. The moment the baby comes out is intense as it, learning if it's a boy or a girl in that same moment is truly indescribable. We were team green for both our girls and will be doing it again this pregnancy. I highly recommend it. But like I said, it involves some serious discipline and patience that most people can't handle. It's not for everyone but if you can do it, I would go for it, it's quite an experience.

Dubsgirlie · March 2014

We were team green for DS and it was amazing. I don't care what people say, it's definitely a bigger surprise at 40w than 20. I made it very clear that my husband was to tell my what the baby was when it was born and having him do that was the most AMAZING experience ever! Plus I think it's fun that it seems to torture everyone else.

Also, the hardest was the anatomy scan. Once we got past that the suspense really wasn't that bad. We also were not at a shortage for boys stuff once he was born - people gave us so many wonderful gifts!

We won't be finding out this time. While a part of me wants to, I know I'll be disappointed if we do.

Dubsgirlie · March 2014

C_mo said:

Bbelle88 said:

There's a huge difference between finding out at 20 weeks and 40 weeks IMO. Most people can't stand to even wait 20 weeks to find out the sex, let alone a full pregnancy. You have to practice lots of patience to be team green. The build up and anticipation leading up to birth is amazing and like a PP has said it really is a beautiful surprise. There are very few, if any real surprises left in life and this one is worth it. The moment the baby comes out is intense as it, learning if it's a boy or a girl in that same moment is truly indescribable. We were team green for both our girls and will be doing it again this pregnancy. I highly recommend it. But like I said, it involves some serious discipline and patience that most people can't handle. It's not for everyone but if you can do it, I would go for it, it's quite an experience.

I hate the 'it's one of the only great surprises left in life' kind of responses, mostly because unless you have a way to determine the sex of your baby prior to conception, its a surprise regardless of when it happens.

That's what a lot of people say who don't wait to find out.... I guess they'll just never know or understand ;-)

Dubsgirlie · March 2014

mbcgirlie14 said:
I am type A and a huge planner so I don't get when people say they can't plan if they don't find out. We didn't find out with the first and we won't with this one. I absolutely loved that my DH could announce the sex. It was so much fun anticipation. We had a great nursery and all of the neccessary baby things so it wasn't like we hadn't planned. It was also great because people buy you stuff you really need instead a ridiculous amount of newborn clothes that they think are cute. But the moment in the delivery room was reason enough!

This is me to a T!

trisharenee0316 · March 2014

I have to admit, for my first pregnancy, I was of the mindset that I needed to know because I *needed* to plan. I *needed* to have her nursery done by 37 weeks, etc. Lots of needs that turned out to be sort of silly needs for me because she slept in our room for 3 months and for that time, we only used her nursery for diaper changes. I will admit though that it was easier to have the room painted in advance of furniture, etc.

This time, I'm just picking a gender neutral shade to paint the walls and decorate most things, then I will add either a feminine or masculine accent color as needed after the baby is born. Really won't take much work at all because I'm a master shopper.

I just feel so much more chill and relaxed with this pregnancy than I was with my first and it's kind of a nice feeling to know that all the anxiety I had about stuff getting done before was pointless...so I don't have it again!

Sofia2529 · March 2014

I was team green with my last two and will be with this one, as well. I loved having that delivery room surprise, didn't have a preference either way, and knew there was nothing I'd do differently based solely on the sex.

TexasMom7137 · March 2014

Dubsgirlie said:
We were team green for DS and it was amazing. I don't care what people say, it's definitely a bigger surprise at 40w than 20. I made it very clear that my husband was to tell my what the baby was when it was born and having him do that was the most AMAZING experience ever! Plus I think it's fun that it seems to torture everyone else.

Also, the hardest was the anatomy scan. Once we got past that the suspense really wasn't that bad. We also were not at a shortage for boys stuff once he was born - people gave us so many wonderful gifts!

We won't be finding out this time. While a part of me wants to, I know I'll be disappointed if we do.

The anatomy scan is hard when team green. I had an U/S at every appointment and they could tell every week until 38. Is was torture but so worth it in the end.

Bbelle88 · March 2014

C_mo said:

Bbelle88 said:

There's a huge difference between finding out at 20 weeks and 40 weeks IMO. Most people can't stand to even wait 20 weeks to find out the sex, let alone a full pregnancy. You have to practice lots of patience to be team green. The build up and anticipation leading up to birth is amazing and like a PP has said it really is a beautiful surprise. There are very few, if any real surprises left in life and this one is worth it. The moment the baby comes out is intense as it, learning if it's a boy or a girl in that same moment is truly indescribable. We were team green for both our girls and will be doing it again this pregnancy. I highly recommend it. But like I said, it involves some serious discipline and patience that most people can't handle. It's not for everyone but if you can do it, I would go for it, it's quite an experience.

I hate the 'it's one of the only great surprises left in life' kind of responses, mostly because unless you have a way to determine the sex of your baby prior to conception, its a surprise regardless of when it happens.

I hate when people are so negative about being team green. It's personal preference and an opinion on whether or not it's for you. The OP asked everyone's opinion on why they liked team green, that was my reasoning.

And it further explain "no surprises left"...I think as an adult there aren't surprises and excitement left in life. It's hard to even pull off a surprise party for an adult because it's almost like we don't want to be surprised.

But then think of your innocence as a kid....As a kid, daily life is full of surprises and excitement. I mean the anticipation of Christmas morning or waking up on your birthday or a surprise vacation, those things that are lost as an adult (until you of course experience them through your kids).

To me waiting 9 months to open your gift and find out what it is, is a way to get that excitement back from childhood. And to me, it makes a difference waiting until birth, that's where all the build up comes into play. The constant speculation from friends & family about what you're having throughout your pregnancy and the excitement and anticipation from not only you and your husband but everyone who cares about you waiting to hear the news when you finally deliver makes the whole experience like no other.

pugmom11 · March 2014

It's fun, it was nice "surprise" at the end (and yes, it can be a surprise when you find out too), it just made everything more fun for "us".

Do what's in your gut.

crystal8503 · March 2014

Dubsgirlie said:

Bbelle88 said:

There's a huge difference between finding out at 20 weeks and 40 weeks IMO. Most people can't stand to even wait 20 weeks to find out the sex, let alone a full pregnancy. You have to practice lots of patience to be team green. The build up and anticipation leading up to birth is amazing and like a PP has said it really is a beautiful surprise. There are very few, if any real surprises left in life and this one is worth it. The moment the baby comes out is intense as it, learning if it's a boy or a girl in that same moment is truly indescribable. We were team green for both our girls and will be doing it again this pregnancy. I highly recommend it. But like I said, it involves some serious discipline and patience that most people can't handle. It's not for everyone but if you can do it, I would go for it, it's quite an experience.

I hate the 'it's one of the only great surprises left in life' kind of responses, mostly because unless you have a way to determine the sex of your baby prior to conception, its a surprise regardless of when it happens.
That's what a lot of people say who don't wait to find out.... I guess they'll just never know or understand ;-)

We were team green for my son and will be for this one, and I still don't see it this way. It's a surprise regardless of when you find out. To me, the only difference is you have a ton of time to process the results if you find out early, which it's all in the same moment if you wait. I do understand what you're saying, but I think you're explaining it poorly.

DanielleB27 · March 2014

We were team green with DD, and are going to be team green again this time around. I liked finding out when she was placed on my chest, and I think it was my mom that told me before she was born that while in labor it helps to get closer and closer to finding out the sex. I think it did help me, as I wanted to go natural, and it got pretty hard (and long)! It was one more thing to cheer me on as I went through labor and delivery!

BloomingMomma · March 2014

I wanted a girl so badly it was amazing to know with our first. Now, we do not have a preference so TG seems nice. We aren't huge decorators or shoppers anyway, so not knowing gender seems to keep it simpler.

mghnmouse · March 2014

I personally wanted to avoid the overload of pink if we found out we were having a girl. I am against pink, especially an alllllllll pink wardrobe. The excitement of not knowing is great, we also didn't share the names with anyone. We also only do a one time quick check type of ultrasound, so I like to avoid any extra time that might have to be added on in order to find out.

loopybaby · March 2014

I didn't find out the first time mostly because they wouldn't tell where we lived. It was hard to wait but finding out in the delivery room was thrilling especially since I had myself convinced I was having a boy and it was a girl. With my second, we did find out ahead of time and it was so nice to prepare ahead of time, especially since we were having a boy. That said, I do feel like I was robbed a little of the thrill of finding out in that moment after you deliver. This time, we have decided to let it be a surprise again:)

roundabout2 · March 2014

Well, this baby was a surprise, so we figured we'd keep with that theme lol.

slsl509 · March 2014

mbcgirlie14 said:

I am type A and a huge planner so I don't get when people say they can't plan if they don't find out. We didn't find out with the first and we won't with this one. I absolutely loved that my DH could announce the sex. It was so much fun anticipation. We had a great nursery and all of the neccessary baby things so it wasn't like we hadn't planned. It was also great because people buy you stuff you really need instead a ridiculous amount of newborn clothes that they think are cute. But the moment in the delivery room was reason enough!

All of the above. While I am a big planner, life has taught me that thinking about things I cannot control is a pointless activity for me. I truly don't understand peoples' obsession with gender and measuring angles of dangles and squinting at ultrasounds. It's very foreign to me, plus we knew we wanted more than 1 kid so all of our big purchases were neutral anyway. So I don't understand the needing to know what to buy argument either.

Since I have no other experience, I can't compare, but that moment when the doctor announced the gender during my scary/unplanned c-section? Oh! I still feel so much joy remembering that.
Different strokes for different folks but for me, it's team green.

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