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What Bracha do you make on the birth of a child? What Bracha is made on a Boy? What Bracha on a Girl? When is this Bracha Made?

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  • What about a blessing when you find out the gender of the fetus? – Double AA♦ Apr 7 '16 at 14:23
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It appears that HaTov vehameitiv is said upon hearing "you have a new son!"

And shehechiyanu is made upon seeing your new baby daughter. Rav Moshe Feinstein says your new daughter is certainly no worse than a good friend you haven't seen in a while, which also warrants a shehechiyanu.

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    any exact sources does everyone agree – SimchasTorah Apr 1 '11 at 4:27
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    Hatov vehameitiv for a boy: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 223:1. Shehecheyanu for a girl: Mishnah Berurah ibid. :2. – Alex Apr 1 '11 at 22:59
  • You can only say Shehechiyanu on a friend if you have seen them once before and then there was a gap. Meeting a "pen pal" doesn't count. Shulchan Arukh 225:2 – Double AA♦ Sep 7 '14 at 19:22
  • @DoubleAA See MB 5 there. – msh210♦ Jun 21 '15 at 18:27
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    @msh210 Yes. Quite the Chiddush about a case that existed 2000 years ago but wasn't mentioned until 200 years ago. The silence is indeed deafening. – Double AA♦ Jun 21 '15 at 19:05
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The gemara says that you can say Hatov vehameitiv when you have a son. It also says you can say that same bracha on any 'besorot tovot' (good tidings). Both of these rulings are quoted in the Shulchan Aruch (OC 222:1 and 223:1). In my experience, hearing about a daughter's birth is pretty top-quality good tidings.

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