I want to lie about the sex of our baby to shut everyone up

"My MIL is pestering us and wouldn't believe we didn't find out... so to lie about it is the only option." Do you think this will work?

A woman has suggested to the internet that she lies to her family about the gender of her unborn baby. 

It was a rookie error, because most people who use the interwebs know that liars are not tolerated.

But, to be fair, if you've ever been involved in the process of birthing a child, you might just see her point.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

AITA for lying to my family about the gender of my baby?

Writing to Reddit, where she made the mistake of thinking people would be on her side, she asked, AITA for lying to my family about the gender of my baby?

The responses were so brutal, she has since deleted the post.

Kidspot saw the post just three days ago, so can tell you that she was concerned about the "harassment" from her MIL about discovering the baby's gender.

The poster is already a mum to two boys, so there's been a lot of "pressure" on her to have a girl.

It's become constant, and thus annoying. So now that the mum can confirm the sex, she's thinking that maybe she should lie to everyone to keep them quiet, without revealing a private detail she and her husband want to keep to themselves.

So why not just tell people they haven't found out?

The woman is adamant that her MIL would not believe them if they insisted they didn't find out in the first place, and would constantly trying to catch them out.

Many readers could relate to her situation about excitement/commentary leading up to the birth of a child, but predicted a shitshow (aka the end of her family) if she lied.

Image: iStock/supplied

RELATED: Mum who invented gender reveal parties regrets it

"Just say you're not telling people"

The poster describes herself as being in "risk management", so asserts her family would never believe the lie that they didn't find out the gender.

This person warned: "Lying could lead to a bad start for your little girl, as people could be upset. Do you really want some family to cut you out, after finding out you lied to them for eight months? So don't say anything."

But the poster was more worried about her family trying to "trip us up" for that time, instead of how it might make them feel.

Others observed that an outright lie would likely lead to gifts being bought in certain colours, and awkward situations after the baby is born when excited relatives need to explain to their own friends and family that they'd been deliberately duped.

Again, the poster wasn't dissuaded by that thought, almost implying that her MIL especially deserved that to happen publicly, as a punishment for her over-excitement and "harassment" now.

Which is why some urged the woman to have an "adult conversation" and "set boundaries", rather than lie - such as this person:

"Lying to them is...well, disrespectful. It sounds like MIL is over the top, but I don't think a lie is the solution. You're just making the eventual conversation "I lied to you, it is a girl", which sounds worse than a frank conversation where you discuss your feelings."

Finally, there was this very strong message to the woman: "Grow up and talk to your family. Tell them all of the things you told us. Let them be excited for you. Don’t make bad blood by lying."

Originally published as I want to lie about the sex of our baby to shut everyone up