Don’t mock the new ultrasound viewing parties

Here’s a new trend I wasn’t expecting in 2013: ultrasound parties. Yes, you read that right. Pregnant women can now invite their friends and family over for ultrasound viewing parties in the comfort of their own homes. That goes way beyond the traditional baby shower and the more recent (and indulgent) practice of gender-reveal fetes. “Welcome to the new frontier in pregnancy oversharing,” writes Lela Davidson, who details the trend on “Today.”

“Will we ever reach the point of saturation when it comes to celebrating a person’s pregnancy?” asks the amusing Tracie Egan Morrissey, who refers to these events on Jezebel as “the latest rage for self-important pregnant women.”

Personally, if I were pregnant, I wouldn’t dream of inviting people over to look at my uncovered belly, much less inside of it. Some things are far too intimate. Still, I’m not rolling my eyes at the women who are embracing ultrasound parties. In fact, I rather admire these confident women.

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We live in a culture where women are encouraged to hide their pregnancies from their employers for as long as possible, so that they won’t get fired or passed over for a promotion. We’ve had commenters on this website who’ve said women who choose to have children sacrifice their careers, as though the two can’t exist in harmony. Yeah, Marissa Mayer was able to land the top job at Yahoo while pregnant, but she remains the exception to the rule -- so much so that her 2012 pregnancy became headline news. Sad to say, but pregnancy discrimination still exists.

So, while an ultrasound party may not be my cup of tea, I’m all for women celebrating their pregnancies -- and even screening their ultrasounds.

But note: The oversharing should end after the baby is born. (I’m looking at you, mommy bloggers.)

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Follow Alexandra Le Tellier on Twitter @alexletellier