How to find out if you have a baby boy or girl

What is the gender of my baby? This is one of the most common questions from expectant mothers when they show up for their gynecologist appointments. Find out how you can tell if you have a baby boy or girl.

Misconceptions

There are several misconceptions associated with finding out the sex of your baby. Most of them are old wives tales that have no scientific or medical bases such as telling by your cravings or the shape of your bellies to even the way that you look during the pregnancy. It is believed that a woman who has a patchy and flaky skin is carrying a baby boy while a glowing face indicates that it is a baby girl. In other places, there are even methods on how to have a baby girl or how to have a boy. The reasons for wanting to know the gender of a baby are numerous from balancing the number of girls and boys in the family to preparing for the arrival of the little one. This means buying clothes, furniture and equipment that the baby would need. Informing friends and family beforehand is also important to enable them to purchase the right boy gifts or gifts for a girl.

Methods to determine the sex of your baby

Baby gender tests do exist that can determine the sex of your baby including genetic and chromosome issues. Ultrasonography From 14 weeks or the second trimester onwards, the sex of a child can already be known through ultrasonography. This type of test is not 100% accurate because a lot depends on the foetal position when the procedure is performed. Other methods Amniocentesis Unless there is a life threatening danger to either mother or baby or both, amniocentesis is a risky procedure. It involves drawing fluids from the amniotic sac for genetic analysis. Chorionic villus sampling This type of examination entails taking a sample of the chorionic villus that is in the placenta. It is usually done between 10-12 weeks in pregnancy to detect abnormalities in the growing foetus. Percutaneous umbilical blood test For a quick chromosome investigation, this procedure is performed towards the last leg of the pregnancy. By using a needle inserted in the woman’s belly, a blood sample is taken from the umbilical cord to check for abnormalities and potential problems.