Q: My husband and I are expecting our first baby very soon. We didn't want to know what we're having, but now I'm worried because he really wants a girl and has told me he doesn't really want a boy. I'm beginning to think he'll be disappointed if we have a son! He keeps saying that a healthy baby is his main priority but I see his longing for a daughter. Am I worrying for nothing?

A: The short and most probable answer to this is yes - you are probably worrying for no reason at all. Both maternal and paternal love is a very powerful force, and your husband is very unlikely to find fault with his beautiful and miraculous newborn once he finally comes face to face with him/her, which is always a magical moment for any parent.

The real problem here is how your husband is making you feel. Have you spoken to him about this? It may be worth raising this issue and explaining to him that, while you understand he'd love a daughter, you are also beginning to worry about producing a son. He may just be totally unaware of how insensitive he is being.

The other issue to consider is your own reaction to what your husband has been saying. As a heavily pregnant woman you are, quite naturally, feeling vulnerable and nervous - and the hormones rushing around your body are enough to make any woman sensitive during her pregnancy. Are you sure you are not overreacting to your husband's desire for a girl? Could it be that you have taken his comments a little too literally?

Additionally, if you opted not to find out the gender, this doesn't really suggest a burning desire on your husband's behalf to prepare himself for a possible disappointment - so you may need to take a step back and see if you can find the right perspective on this situation.

At the end of the day, there are not many parents who experience disappointment with their baby's gender. Of course it can happen, but it is very unlikely thanks to Mother Nature's way of ensuring that a parent's heart will melt when she or he first sees their newborn. The emotions you will both experience - whether or not you choose to show them - will ensure that your little one is welcomed into the world with genuinely loving arms.

Did you have a gender preference or were you happy for nature to take its course?