>>>However, I don't think that we can call any birth anything but a joyful event.
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>Agree in principle. However, I was present at a delivery where the mother wanted a girl as she already had 3 boys. "Little bastard!" she exclaimed when she saw she had another boy who she refused to take in her arms. I pitied that little boy. This was 30 years ago now so I can't pretend I know what happened to him, or her.

I agree in principle as well. There are all sorts of great stories in the months leading up to Katy's birth. (Set Male Sentimental Fool On)

I remember when my family and friends all saw ultrasound pictures of Katy's face when Gwen was about 6 months or so along. Everyone joked that no one would ever question the identify of the father, because Katy had the exact same facial expression that I have.

When we'd make our twice-a-month trip to Chili's, the restaurant manager and some of the night workers would come to our table and ask how Gwen was doing and they'd give Gwen free desserts (definitely a big deal for someone "eating for two").

And one night when we were looking for a sound/wave machine that unborn babies can supposedly hear/feel (Gwen had gestational diabetes and spent most of the last trimester in bed), Gwen picked out the one that she wanted, looked at me, and with a little girl's voice, said, "Katy wants this one".

I could write a book about all the nice little moments in the months leading up to becoming a parent.

But sadly, JR has a point as well. There are people who get abortions in this country for no reason other than the baby isn't the gender the mother wanted. Given the mindset of the parent(s), that child might not know anything other than misery. And as someone who worked in WIC, I spent time at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and heard first-hand stories that are horribly sad. So while I am still reluctantly pro-choice with limits, I cannot even comprehend wanting to terminate a pregnancy for this kind of reason.