Anyone else feel a little weird about the baby stats thing?

[kristen1978]

I know that it's just the traditional thing to do, but a big part of me is resisting announcing my babe's height/weight when she/he is born. It seems like such a strange thing to do, if you think about it . . . . why are we, as a culture, obsessed over numbers? Maybe I'm over-thinking this, but on some level it bothers me. I suppose that the stats don't really mean anything, but so often people make judgements because of them, or certain connotations are associated (ie, over 9 lbs is a "big" baby, the mama some sort of "hero," or the opposite -- bad diet, etc) Anyone else?

[mom22girls]

Well, at least we don't include APGAR scores!!! It is odd, and I wonder if it's a hold-over from the time when photos were so long in coming, so family could get a feel for the new little one. I did notice that on the July birth announcements, there are disclaimers for C/Sections: "after 27 hours of labor, etc..." I'm hoping these women aren't ashamed...

[QueenOfThePride]

I think it's fun. There isn't much you can tell specifically about a newborn's personality or how they look, so you talk about their size.

[AugustLia23]

I guess I must be obsessed too, I always like hearing the "stats". I give all the info when my babies arrive. I'd be happy to give the apgars too, if people cared...

[Jster]

I don't mind the stats...and I guess I think, if people don't want to give them, that's perfectly fine! For instance, I rarely if ever use my kids names in posts, just for anonymity...but others list whole names, first middle last, along with birth dates, which seems risky to me, but to each his own!

[dctexan]

I've never really cared about stats - it always seemed like something the parents of the babe cared about, but not anyone else (I still don't really know what the "average" length of a fullterm newborn is!). I say if you don't want to report stats, don't report 'em! If someone presses you, just repond with "healthy" or "within normal limits". I am MUCH more interested in birth/labor details (how'd it feel, where did you birth, when did water break, what coping techniques did you use, etc.).

[Twinklefae]

I agree with QOTP, I think it's because you can't even usually say for sure "Blue eyes and blond hair" or whatever because newborns change soooo much so fast! At least you have those numbers to cling to. I think they are fun, personally.

I also enjoy hearing birth details, but it's not fun to pass those along in cases of traumatic birth, so weight and height will distract a lot of people who don't need to know in those cases!

[twilight girl]

Originally Posted by Twinklefae

I agree with QOTP, I think it's because you can't even usually say for sure "Blue eyes and blond hair" or whatever because newborns change soooo much so fast! At least you have those numbers to cling to. I think they are fun, personally.

I also enjoy hearing birth details, but it's not fun to pass those along in cases of traumatic birth, so weight and height will distract a lot of people who don't need to know in those cases!

Yep, I'm with them.

[SeekingJoy]

Originally Posted by dctexan

I've never really cared about stats - it always seemed like something the parents of the babe cared about, but not anyone else (I still don't really know what the "average" length of a fullterm newborn is!). I say if you don't want to report stats, don't report 'em! If someone presses you, just repond with "healthy" or "within normal limits". I am MUCH more interested in birth/labor details (how'd it feel, where did you birth, when did water break, what coping techniques did you use, etc.).

:

[PiePie]

i think that weight matters but that length is completely arbitrary -- it all depends on how much they stretch the baby out!

[ladyleigh]

I was thinking about this as well, wondering what my birth announcements would say. And the numbers seem kind of weird to me. I can only think that you are somehow better if your baby is big? I don't know where I get that idea from. But yes, it does seem random to me. I mean, why do I need to tell people this? What does it inform them of, really?

BTW- it is good to know that some people find them interesting!

[lyttlewon]

Originally Posted by ladyleigh

I was thinking about this as well, wondering what my birth announcements would say. And the numbers seem kind of weird to me. I can only think that you are somehow better if your baby is big? I don't know where I get that idea from. But yes, it does seem random to me. I mean, why do I need to tell people this? What does it inform them of, really?

BTW- it is good to know that some people find them interesting!

Many people think baby stats are very important. I personally don't care one way or the other. I remember though going to work after I was at a friends birth and didn't know the exact weight. I got so much crap. Everyone wanted to know. As far as baby being big, low birth weight can be a bad thing so I think when people hear a baby is bigger than say 6 pounds they feel happy for you.

[kristen1978]

I figure that I'm probably just a little odd , and that if I withhold such info I'll get the same crap I've gotten from people regarding my due date (which I refuse to reveal, only "late Aug/early Sept") . . . but still -- this is a person, you know, who deserves to be treated with dignity and respect . . . . not a head of cattle (which is funny coming from me, the vegetarian ) or an automobile, kwim?

I agree about the other info being more interesting, as the babe's length and weight mean nothing in terms of the overall experience (I've known plenty of mamas with >10 pounders who had enjoyable/easy births, and those with <6 pounders who had difficult experiences, etc).

Anyway, thanks for the opinions!

[lyttlewon]

While I am not sure how telling someone how much your baby weighs is undignified and disrespectful I don't think you should do something that makes you so uncomfortable. If you don't want to tell people then don't. Personally I don't want to tell my neighbor about my labor. Her way of showing she is interested and cares about my experience is asking for a personal detail like birth weight. : I think most people consider it good manners to ask about a birth even if they don't feel they need to know when your water broke.