As someone who spends every day helping women feel confident in their own skin, I often find that the conversations taking place in my treatment room go far beyond skincare.
Recently, I welcomed a client who appeared calm on the surface, but as we talked, she shared something that left a lasting impression on me. She was pregnant and carrying the weight of immense anxiety. Not because of her health or the baby’s wellbeing, but because of the pressure she felt to give birth to a boy.
Many people reading this may think these attitudes belong to a different era. Surely in 2026, in modern Britain, women are no longer judged on whether they have sons or daughters?
Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
While significant progress has been made, some women still face subtle and sometimes very direct pressure from family members, cultural expectations and long-standing patriarchal traditions that place greater value on boys than girls. The comments may be disguised as jokes, family wishes or harmless preferences, but for the woman carrying the child, the emotional impact can be profound.
My client was not facing any physical danger, nor was she being threatened. Yet the stress she carried was real. She worried about disappointing relatives. She worried about how people would react if she had another daughter. She worried about being judged for something that is entirely beyond her control.
What struck me most was that instead of enjoying her pregnancy, she was spending precious months feeling anxious about other people’s expectations.
During our conversations, I encouraged her to focus on what truly matters: the health of both mother and baby.
Whether a child is a boy or a girl, they deserve to enter a world where they are welcomed, celebrated and loved unconditionally. A baby’s worth is not determined by gender. Their future potential, their ability to bring joy, their achievements and the love they give to their family are not dependent on whether they are born male or female.
As parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles and community members, we all have a responsibility to challenge outdated attitudes when we encounter them. Every time we place greater value on one gender over another, we risk creating feelings of inadequacy, not only for mothers but eventually for the children themselves.
The emotional consequences can be long-lasting. Mothers may experience guilt, anxiety or low self-esteem. Children may grow up sensing they were somehow less wanted or less celebrated. No child should ever carry that burden.
I reminded my client that her role is not to fulfil someone else’s expectations. Her role is to nurture and protect the life she is bringing into the world. The greatest gift she can give her child is confidence, love and security.
As a society, we have made enormous strides towards equality, but some conversations remain hidden behind closed doors. Perhaps it is time we brought them into the open.
A healthy baby should always be the celebration.
A loved child should always be the goal.
And every mother deserves to experience pregnancy free from the pressure of having to prove her worth through the gender of her child.
