Maternal reactions to fetal sex

A descriptive design was used to characterize maternal reactions to the knowledge of fetal sex based on sex preference. The sample was 88 females with singleton pregnancies who had had an amniocentesis for fetal chromosome studies and met the following sample criteria: (a) Fetal karyotype and other studies were normal, (b) knowledge of fetal sex was desired, and (c) sex preference had been established. Maternal reactions to the knowledge of fetal sex were ascertained through a questionnaire I developed and that participants answered in writing. Sample characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics, and the mothers' narrative responses were subjected to content analysis. Maternal sex preferences were equally split between male and female. However, there were differences in the way mothers who attained and mothers who did not attain their preferred fetal sex spoke of their fetuses.