Question
What bracha is made on the birth of children? Does it make a difference if it is a boy or a girl?
Answer
A birth of a child is certainly a happy occasion. It is inspiring to see new life and a new Neshanah come to the world. In such occasions we feel that we want to thank Hasem, but don't always have the words.
Our sages instituted Brachot for after birth. The Bracha of giving birth to a boy is "Hatov V'hameytiv". If the father is not at the birth, he says the Bracha when he hears the good news. The Bracha for a girl is "Shehecheyanu", said when the parents see the baby for the first time. if the Bracha wasn't said at that time, the parents can still say it if they are still happy and excited seeing their daughter.
The difference comes from the Halacha that a boy must respect his parents even after marrying and raising children, so the parents pleasure is more tangible (Pniney Halacha) .
Rabbi Yisrael Wende
