Pregnancy - Gender Surprise?

From as far back as I remember, before I was even pregnant, both Ben and I had already decided that we would find out the gender of our baby at our 20 week scan. Not one part of me was interested in waiting until the birth. The idea of finding out the gender half way through a long pregnancy filled me with excitement and who was I kidding? I'm impatient.
It's a common question that you're asked during pregnancy, "Do you know what you're having or are you having a surprise?" I don't know about you but pushing a baby the size of a watermelon out of my nunny is quite a surprise by itself.
When I was pregnant, I was often asked what my gender-finding-out-plans were and I was met with varying responses. The majority of them however, from strangers and distant family members were that of disapproval when I revealed that I'd be finding out at our 20 week scan.
I guess this was my first taste of what it's like to have unwanted parenting opinions shoved in your face. 
What is so disappointing for other people about finding out before the "big day"? Anyway, my scan date arrived and Baby T had their legs crossed. I left the hospital with no more of an idea of the gender than I did when I went in. I did, however, have a perfectly healthy baby growing inside me, and of course, that's the most important thing.
There seems to be stigma attached to "not waiting". As if you only want to find out because you want a specific gender and that you should just be happy that you're growing a healthy baby. I feel embarrassed to admit that I left the hospital with tears in my eyes. I now look back and imagine that, to some people, it would look like I was being ungrateful. Of course I was relieved I had a healthy baby. Many people aren't that fortunate. I'll admit it, I'd built myself up for 16 weeks. I was excited. The day had finally arrived where I was going to be able to imagine a little bit more about my little baby. They were no longer going to be an "it" but a he or she. I would be able to finalise baby names, decorate the nursery, go clothes shopping. To me, after 16 weeks of morning sickness where I'd been off work, the gender scan was a little something to look forward to. Obviously, I would have been happy with either gender. I was just excited to know. It was a little disappointing to not find out after 16 weeks of anticipation, of course it was. I don't think that makes me an awful person.
By the time we were home, I was over it. We discussed paying for a private scan but we decided to wait until the birth day. For someone who's pretty impatient, that's quite a big deal! I then had the following 20 weeks filled with awkward moments when strangers would congratulate me on waiting to find out the gender because "It's a shame people find out early nowadays" "A surprise is better".
I'll be honest, not knowing the gender was a mix of excitement and frustration. I desperately wanted to know, I felt like I couldn't imagine a genderless baby and I wanted to feel more prepared. I wasn't a fan of beige and white clothes, I wanted a bit of personality there and struggled finding anything neutral that I liked. (Not that clothes should really be an important factor but I was nesting and buying baby clothes is fun!) We did have fun wondering about what we were having, I was sure I was having a little boy. Most people thought I was having a boy. I focussed more on boy clothes, boy names, I imagined a little mini Ben. Baby T was a boy in my mind.
On the 2nd June at 5.30am, my mum exclaimed, "It's a girl!" She was placed on my chest and her gender meant absolutely nothing. Her gender didn't cross my mind. I was just overwhelmed that my baby was finally here and that was all that mattered. 
If I'd have found out her gender at 20 weeks, the surprise, excitement and love in the room on the day of her birth would not have been any different.
I'm glad I waited this time but we think we'll find out early next time, so we've experienced it both ways, my opinion still stands though, I don't think finding out at 20 weeks is a shame. I think it's exciting either way but if you think you need a gender surprise to make the birth special, I think you're wrong. Every birth is an absolute miracle, regardless of how much of a surprise you get. Both ways are beautiful and exciting for different reasons, who cares when individuals choose to find out!