How to determine the gender of the unborn child

The content of the article

• Genetic Testing Methods
• Amniocentesis
• Chorionic Villus Samples (CVS)
• Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT)
• Ultrasound scan
• Ramsey Method
• Home Test Kit
• Analysis of urine
• Blood test
• How to determine the gender of a child according to popular beliefs
• Fetal heart rate
• Shape and size of the abdomen
• Soda Test
• Morning sickness
• Fortune telling on the ring
• Weight distribution according to the figure of the future mother
• Chinese sex table
• Craving for sweet or salty
• Mood swings

Many pregnant women want to know as soon as possible who will be born: a boy or a girl. There are signs that predict the gender of the child: fortune-telling with the help of a wedding ring, strands of father’s hair, and even soda. Nowadays, medicine has reached a level where the baby’s gender can be recognized with almost 100% accuracy, so folk methods are often not necessary.

Genetic Testing Methods

It is possible to accurately calculate who is born in the family using amniocentesis and the study of chorionic villi. These are invasive methods when the doctor takes material from the fetus through the vagina or abdominal cavity of the pregnant woman. They resort to such analyzes in extreme cases, if a genetic disease is suspected, since they can provoke a miscarriage, infection of the mother and fetus.

Amniocentesis

This is one of the most accurate methods for identifying a child. During the procedure, the doctor carefully inserts the needle through the abdominal cavity into the uterus and amniotic sac. To avoid injury to the baby, the doctor monitors the process using ultrasound.

A medic takes amniotic fluid that contains genetic material. The sex of the child is determined after chromosome analysis: XX indicates a girl, XY indicates a boy. In rare cases, it cannot be determined, this happens with atypical genetic disorders: Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome.

A study is rarely prescribed only to determine the gender of the baby, since the probability of a miscarriage is 35% – this depends on the experience of the doctor and the duration of the pregnancy (the earlier the test, the higher the risk). Amniocentesis is prescribed at 15–20 weeks of gestation if the woman is over 35 years old or other tests indicate a serious hereditary disease. If you had to go through this procedure, you can make a request to determine the sex of the fetus. Deciphering the results takes up to 10 days..

Chorionic Villus Samples (CVS)

The procedure involves taking placental tissue for analysis. There are two ways to do this:

• inserting a thin plastic tube through the cervix;
• inserting the needle into the abdomen so that it reaches the placenta and captures tissue for analysis.

CVS allows you to find out the gender of the baby from 10 weeks of pregnancy. The method is 99 percent accurate, but carries a risk to the fetus (miscarriage 1 to 100). For this reason, samples of chorionic villi are taken only if there is a suspicion of chromosomal abnormalities (Down syndrome), genetic problems (cystic fibrosis) in the baby. If you have been tested, ask at the same time to determine the gender of the unborn child. Deciphering the results takes 2 weeks..

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT)

This is a new technology that was developed to determine chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, trisomy 13 and 18. The method is safe for the child, since it does not involve interference in his tissue: mother’s blood is taken for analysis. It contains the DNA of the embryo, which is secreted from the placenta into the bloodstream.

The lab assistant is looking for chromosomal abnormalities, but you can ask him to find out the gender of the baby. If he finds the Y chromosome, there will be a boy; if not, a girl. A test to determine the sex of the child will not be able to say whether you are expecting twins, it can only confirm or deny whether there is a boy in the stomach. A blood test is rarely mistaken: deviations are possible if the test is done in the first days of pregnancy.

Ultrasound scan

The procedure is carried out between 18 and 22 weeks. She helps the doctor and parents find out that everything is in order with the baby, and in parallel – determine the gender. the reliability of information at this time is 99%. A mistake is possible if the examination was carried out before 14 weeks, in the presence of genital anomalies. Sometimes a child turns so that his genitals cannot be determined.

Ramsey Method

Fans of this theory argue that the sex of the child depends on which side the placenta is in the uterus. This is determined by ultrasound, which can be done in the early stages. If the placenta is on the left, there will be a girl, on the right – a boy. There is no evidence of the accuracy of this method, so it’s better to wait until the second trimester begins, do an ultrasound scan and get the results.

Home Test Kit

A woman often wants to calculate the sex of a child as early as possible before ultrasound determines it. For such cases, there are home tests that help you learn about urine and blood..

Analysis of urine

Such tests can be purchased online, but none of them is reliable. Some manufacturers directly write on the box that the product is intended for entertainment purposes only: in the instructions you will find the seller’s disclaimer of responsibility for the accuracy of the results.

Blood test

There is a NIPT option that you can do at home. It is more reliable than urinalysis, but the risk of error is high due to the quality of the sample taken. For example, if a woman takes blood from a finger, before touching a man, his DNA can get into the sample and give incorrect results. For this reason, before piercing, you need to wash your hands thoroughly, take care of disinfection.

How to determine the gender of a child according to popular beliefs

A pregnant woman listens to a lot of ideas on how to find out who the baby will be. Friends advise fortune-telling, cling to different signs. People who read such tips may mistake them for medical facts, but all signs are unreliable. If you really want to tell fortunes about the unborn child, use methods that will not harm either you or the baby.

Fetal heart rate

They say that if a child’s heart beats faster than 140 beats / min. – This is a girl, although a 2006 scientific study showed no gender differences in heart rate in the first trimester. The difference is visible later, immediately before childbirth, when many already know who they are waiting for.

Shape and size of the abdomen

Another theory says that if the stomach is low, there will be a boy, high or wide in the middle – a girl. This is a pure myth. The type of abdomen depends on the position of the child, as well as on the tone of the mother’s muscles, her body shape, weight, number of previous pregnancies.

Soda Test

There is still an option to mix the powder with urine: if the mixture bubbles, you can wait for the boy, in the absence of reaction – the girl. This is a futile test because it all depends on the acidity of urine. Indicators may vary depending on the diet, physical activity, but the sex of the child does not affect it.

Morning sickness

It is believed that if a girl feels terrible after sleep, she will have a girl. This may have some truth, since women who are expecting a daughter have a slightly higher level of hCG. Nevertheless, the difference in sensations is insignificant: a pregnant woman may have severe toxicosis, even when she wears a son.

Fortune telling on the ring

Some people advise cutting off a strand of hair from a mother or father and pushing it through the ring, connecting the edges. When the pregnant woman lies down, you need to raise the drooping ring over the stomach and wait until it starts to swing. Movements back and forth, left and right will say that there will be a boy, and circular ones indicate a girl. Such fortune-telling cannot be taken seriously: the person holding the ring subconsciously makes micro-movements, depending on who he wants to see at the woman in labor.

Weight distribution according to the figure of the future mother

Many argue that you can find out the sex of the baby only by looking at the pregnant woman. If fat is deposited on the hips and buttocks, there will be a girl, and if on the stomach – a boy. In fact, everything depends on the characteristics of the mother’s body, such as a figure, the sex of the child has nothing to do with it.

Chinese sex table

Legends say that Chinese gender charts are more than 700 years old and 90% accurate if applied correctly. The gender of the child is predicted based on the month of conception and the mother’s birthday, the values ​​are indicated in the lunar calendar. The reliability of the methodology is doubtful, but fortunetelling often comes true, because you need to choose only from two options.

Craving for sweet or salty

They say that if a pregnant woman constantly wants to eat sweets, there will be a boy, sour food – a girl. This is an unfounded version: addictions to products are formed due to unstable hormonal levels and can be absolutely any.

Mood swings

Popular wisdom says: if a woman has mood swings, there will be a girl. When she cannot control her emotions, she needs to wait for the boy. Fans of the theory say that estrogens and testosterone play a significant role here. In reality, a higher concentration of hormones may be in the amniotic fluid, but this does not affect their level in the mother’s blood.