Reply #55: well, is it a male child, or a female child [View All]

[northzax]

because the Husband (who owns both the Child and the Vessel) can then make an informed decision about which piece of his property he is willing to risk. Obviously a male child, especially a first born son, is going to be worth more than any woman. After all, you can always find another wife, but first born children are hard to come by. And if it's the third girl? well then the woman isn't much use for child-birthing anyway, so you might as well try your luck with the child.