How accurate are traditional gender prediction methods. What does Chinese gender prediction reveal. Can morning sickness indicate baby’s gender. Which cravings hint at having a boy or girl. Are there any scientific ways to predict gender before birth.
Ancient Traditions for Predicting Baby’s Gender
Throughout history, expectant parents have eagerly tried to guess their baby’s gender long before modern medical techniques were available. While these methods lack scientific backing, they offer a fun way for parents to bond and speculate about their future child.
The Morning Sickness Theory
One popular belief suggests that the severity of morning sickness can indicate the baby’s gender. According to this theory, if a pregnant person experiences intense nausea and vomiting, it’s more likely to be a girl. Conversely, milder or no morning sickness might point to a boy. However, it’s important to note that this is purely anecdotal and not supported by scientific evidence.
Cravings as Gender Predictors
Another widespread notion links pregnancy cravings to the baby’s gender. The theory goes that craving salty or savory foods indicates a boy, while a hankering for sweets suggests a girl. This method, like many others, is more about fun speculation than accurate prediction.
Intriguing Gender Prediction Tests from Different Cultures
Various cultures have developed unique methods for predicting a baby’s gender, often rooted in ancient traditions and beliefs.
The Pendulum Test
This centuries-old method involves dangling a wedding ring on a string over the pregnant person’s belly. The movement of the ring is said to reveal the baby’s gender:
- Circular motion: Indicates a girl
- Back-and-forth movement: Suggests a boy
While entertaining, this method has no scientific basis and is purely for fun.
Chinese Gender Prediction Chart
Dating back 700 years to the Qing dynasty, the Chinese gender prediction chart claims to determine a baby’s gender based on the mother’s lunar age and the lunar month of conception. Despite its long history, this method is not scientifically proven and should be treated as an amusing tradition rather than a reliable predictor.
Mayan Gender Prediction
The Mayan method uses the mother’s age and month of conception to predict the baby’s gender. Here’s how it works:
- If both numbers are even or both odd: It’s predicted to be a girl
- If one number is odd and the other even: A boy is expected
For example, a 33-year-old mother conceiving in March (3rd month) would supposedly have a girl, as both numbers are odd.
Unusual Gender Prediction Methods from Around the World
Different cultures have developed unique and sometimes unusual methods for predicting a baby’s gender. While these methods lack scientific basis, they offer fascinating insights into cultural beliefs and traditions surrounding pregnancy.
Moroccan Insect Method
In Morocco, an intriguing tradition involves using an insect to predict the baby’s gender:
- The pregnant person lies on their back
- An insect is gently dropped onto their belly
- The way the insect lands is said to indicate the gender:
- If it lands on its feet: It’s believed to be a boy
- If it lands on its back: A girl is predicted
This method, while certainly unique, has no scientific backing and should be viewed as a cultural curiosity rather than a reliable prediction tool.
Hungarian Spider Web Technique
Hungary boasts an equally intriguing gender prediction method involving spider webs:
- The expectant parent gently pokes their finger into the center of a spider web
- They then pull their finger out, creating a hole
- The spider’s reaction is believed to indicate the baby’s gender:
- If the spider does nothing: A girl is predicted
- If the spider repairs the hole: It’s thought to be a boy
As with other traditional methods, this technique is based on folklore rather than scientific evidence.
Scientific-Sounding Gender Prediction Methods
While many gender prediction methods are clearly based on folklore, some claim to have a more scientific basis. However, it’s important to approach these with skepticism and understand that only medical tests can provide accurate gender information.
The Ramzi Theory
The Ramzi Theory, developed by Dr. Saam Ramzi Ismail, claims that the location of the placenta in early ultrasounds can predict the baby’s gender. According to this theory:
- Placenta on the right side of the uterus: Indicates a boy
- Placenta on the left side: Suggests a girl
While some parents swear by this method, it’s important to note that it has not been scientifically validated and is not recognized as a reliable prediction tool by medical professionals.
Heart Rate Theory
Another popular belief is that a baby’s heart rate can indicate its gender. The theory suggests:
- Heart rate above 140 beats per minute: Likely a girl
- Heart rate below 140 beats per minute: Probably a boy
However, scientific studies have not found a significant correlation between fetal heart rate and gender. A baby’s heart rate can vary based on many factors, including gestational age and the baby’s activity level.
The Science Behind Gender Determination
While traditional methods can be fun, it’s important to understand the actual biological process of gender determination. A baby’s gender is determined at the moment of conception by the chromosomes in the sperm that fertilizes the egg.
Chromosomal Determination
Gender is determined by the presence of specific sex chromosomes:
- XX chromosomes result in a female
- XY chromosomes result in a male
The egg always carries an X chromosome, while the sperm can carry either an X or a Y chromosome. The combination of these determines the baby’s gender.
Reliable Gender Determination Methods
For those eager to know their baby’s gender with certainty, there are several medically approved methods:
- Ultrasound: Usually performed around 18-20 weeks of pregnancy
- Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT): A blood test that can be done as early as 10 weeks
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): Performed between 10-13 weeks
- Amniocentesis: Typically done between 15-20 weeks
These methods provide accurate results and are the only reliable ways to determine a baby’s gender before birth.
The Psychology of Gender Prediction
The desire to predict a baby’s gender goes beyond mere curiosity. It often reflects deeper psychological and emotional needs of expectant parents.
Bonding and Preparation
Trying to guess the baby’s gender can be a way for parents to:
- Begin bonding with their unborn child
- Start mentally preparing for parenthood
- Involve family and friends in the pregnancy journey
These activities can help create a sense of connection and anticipation, regardless of the accuracy of the predictions.
Managing Expectations
For some parents, gender prediction methods serve as a way to manage expectations and prepare for either outcome. It can help them:
- Explore their feelings about having a boy or a girl
- Address any gender preferences or biases they might have
- Prepare mentally for the possibility of either gender
This process can be valuable in ensuring parents are ready to welcome their child, regardless of gender.
The Impact of Gender Predictions on Pregnancy
While gender prediction methods can be entertaining, it’s important to consider their potential impact on the pregnancy experience and parental expectations.
Emotional Investment
Becoming too invested in gender predictions can lead to:
- Disappointment if the prediction turns out to be incorrect
- Unnecessary stress or anxiety about the baby’s gender
- Premature attachment to a specific gender idea
It’s crucial for parents to maintain a balanced perspective and remember that these methods are not scientifically reliable.
Cultural Considerations
In some cultures, there may be strong preferences for a particular gender, which can add pressure to gender prediction activities. It’s important to be sensitive to these cultural factors while promoting a healthy attitude towards gender in pregnancy.
Embracing the Unknown: The Joy of Surprise
While many parents are eager to find out their baby’s gender as soon as possible, there’s also a growing trend of parents choosing to wait until birth to discover their baby’s gender.
Benefits of Waiting
Opting for a gender surprise can offer several benefits:
- Creates an element of excitement and anticipation throughout the pregnancy
- Allows parents to focus on the health and well-being of the baby rather than gender
- Can lead to more gender-neutral preparations and gift-giving
- Provides a unique and memorable moment at birth
For some parents, the surprise element adds an extra layer of joy to the birth experience.
Preparing for Either Gender
When choosing not to find out the baby’s gender, parents can:
- Select gender-neutral colors and themes for the nursery
- Choose unisex clothing and accessories
- Prepare a list of both boy and girl names
- Focus on essential items that are needed regardless of gender
This approach can lead to more practical and versatile preparations for the new arrival.
Modern Approaches to Gender Reveal
In recent years, gender reveal parties and announcements have become increasingly popular, turning the discovery of a baby’s gender into a celebratory event.
Creative Reveal Ideas
Parents who choose to find out their baby’s gender often share the news in imaginative ways:
- Cutting into a cake with colored filling
- Popping balloons filled with colored confetti
- Opening a box of colored balloons
- Lighting sparklers or smoke bombs in blue or pink
These events allow family and friends to share in the excitement of the revelation.
Considerations for Gender Reveals
While gender reveal events can be fun, it’s important to approach them thoughtfully:
- Be mindful of the environmental impact of materials used
- Consider the feelings of those who may be struggling with fertility or pregnancy loss
- Avoid reinforcing harmful gender stereotypes
- Remember that gender is a spectrum and a child’s gender identity may not align with their biological sex
Ultimately, the focus should be on celebrating the upcoming arrival of a new life, regardless of gender.
The Role of Technology in Gender Prediction
As technology advances, new methods of gender prediction have emerged, blending traditional beliefs with modern innovations.
Gender Prediction Apps
Numerous smartphone apps claim to predict a baby’s gender based on various factors:
- Chinese lunar calendar calculations
- Input of symptoms and cravings
- Analysis of ultrasound images
While these apps can be entertaining, it’s crucial to remember that they are not scientifically validated and should not be relied upon for accurate predictions.
3D/4D Ultrasound Technology
Advanced ultrasound technology now offers detailed views of the developing fetus:
- Can sometimes reveal gender earlier than traditional 2D ultrasounds
- Provides clearer images that may make gender determination easier
- Offers a more immersive experience for expectant parents
However, even with this technology, gender determination is not always 100% accurate and depends on various factors, including fetal position and gestational age.
Gender Predictions and Parental Bonding
The process of predicting and discovering a baby’s gender can play a significant role in how parents bond with their unborn child and prepare for parenthood.
Imagining the Future
Engaging in gender prediction activities often leads parents to:
- Visualize their future child more concretely
- Discuss potential names and personality traits
- Start planning for specific parenting challenges and joys
This process can help make the pregnancy feel more real and immediate, fostering a stronger emotional connection to the baby.
Involving Partners and Siblings
Gender prediction can be a way to involve partners and older siblings in the pregnancy:
- Partners can participate in prediction games and discussions
- Siblings can share their hopes and predictions for a new brother or sister
- Family members can bond over the shared anticipation and excitement
These activities can help create a sense of family unity and shared experience during the pregnancy.
Balancing Fun and Facts in Gender Prediction
While gender prediction methods can be entertaining, it’s essential to maintain a balanced perspective throughout the pregnancy journey.
Enjoying the Process
Approaching gender prediction with the right mindset can enhance the pregnancy experience:
- Treat predictions as fun games rather than serious forecasts
- Use prediction activities as a way to connect with family and friends
- Embrace the element of mystery and surprise in pregnancy
Remember that the joy of expecting a child transcends any specific gender outcome.
Focusing on Health and Well-being
While gender predictions can be exciting, it’s crucial to prioritize the health and well-being of both the mother and the baby:
- Attend all recommended prenatal check-ups
- Follow medical advice for a healthy pregnancy
- Focus on preparing for parenthood in practical ways
- Celebrate each milestone of fetal development
Ultimately, the most important aspect of pregnancy is the growth of a healthy new life, regardless of gender.
Am I Having a Boy or Girl?? – Happiest Baby
By
Happiest Baby Staff
On This Page
- Age-Old Gender Prediction Traditions
- Gender Prediction Tests From Around the World
- Scientific-Sounding Gender Prediction Methods
- Final Thoughts on Gender Prediction
One of the most exciting parts of pregnancy is trying to figure out if you’re having a girl or a boy. Typically, expecting parents can find out of the gender of their child by week 20 of pregnancy during the anatomy scan—or sometimes during a blood test around week 10 or week 12. (Learn more about prenatal genetic testing.)
But in those weeks leading up a baby’s gender is anyone’s guess. And it turns out, making those guesses can be quite fun! We’ve rounded up a few entertaining and interesting gender prediction tests and traditions parents have used around the world. (But it should go without saying that these are for fun, and your doctor will be able to provide the official word on whether you’re expecting a boy or girl.)
Age-Old Gender Prediction Traditions
Morning Sickness and Gender
Although there’s not substantial science to back this gender prediction method, some believe that the amount of morning sickness a pregnant person has will determine gender. If you’re sick and turning green at every whiff, then you’re having a girl. If morning sickness blessedly passes you by or you have few problems in the puke department, then you’re having a boy. (Feeling nauseated? Here are a few ways to ease morning sickness.)
Sweet or Salty Pregnancy Cravings
Brace yourself for comments if you reach for those pickles. According to some, your pregnancy cravings are directly related to gender. Some say that craving salty or savory foods means that a baby boy is on the way. If you’re craving sweets then you’ve got a girl on the way.
The Pendulum Gender Prediction Test
Expecting parents have been trying this gender prediction test for centuries—though there is some question about where the tradition originates from. The parent-to-be is asked to lay on their back while someone takes a wedding ring and hangs it from a string. Then the string is dangled over the pregnant belly. The movements of the ring-weighted string will determine the gender of the baby, in a tradition known as dowsing. If the ring swings in a circular motion then it’s a girl and if the ring swing is a straight line then it’s a boy.
Chinese Gender Prediction
Chinese mothers have long used a gender prediction chart to figure out if they’re having a baby boy or girl. Invented 700 years ago for the imperial family in the Qing dynasty, the Chinese gender prediction chart is incredibly simple and fun to use (even if it’s not supported by science!). By lining up the mother’s lunar age at conception against the Chinese lunar month at conception a parent can see if they are having a boy or a girl…in theory! You can try it yourself to see if it was accurate for you:
Mayan Gender Prediction
Similar to the Chinese gender prediction chart, the Mayans also had their own calendar-based logic to figuring out a baby’s gender. This baby gender prediction method is based on the month of conception and the mom’s age at conception. If both numbers are either even or odd then it’s a girl. But if one of the conception numbers is odd and one is even, then the baby is a boy. For example, if you are 33 and conceived in March (the third month), this method says you’re having a girl (both 33 and 3 are odd). If you’re 33 and conceived in December (the 12th month) you’re supposedly expecting a boy (odd age + an even-numbered month). Easy-peasy!
More Gender Prediction Tests From Around the World
Moroccan Gender Prediction
If a pregnant person lays on their back and someone drops an insect on their belly, they can figure out the gender of the unborn child based on how the insect lands. If it lands on its feet, then congratulations, it’s a boy! If the bug lands on its back, then it looks like there’s pink in your future. (The question is…would you be willing to let someone drop a creepy-crawly on your pregnant belly?)
Hungarian Gender Prediction
Speaking of creepy crawlies, this method says if a parent-to-be gently pokes their finger into the center of a spider web and then pulls their finger out to reveal a hole, they can predict the gender of their child based on what the spider does. According to Traditions and Superstitions in Obstetrics and the Care of the New-Born in Hungary by Rudolf Temesvary, if the spider does nothing then a girl is on the way, but if the spider repairs the hole, then you can expect a boy.
Brazilian Gender Prediction
Brazilian folklore says that if an expecting mother cooks up a chicken’s heart then she can be certain to know if she’s having a boy or a girl based on how the heart reacts to heat. If it opens or splits or expands during cooking, she’s having a girl. If the heart doesn’t open or split or expand, she’s probably having a boy.
French Gender Prediction
French women can thank a 15th Century book of folklore called The Distaff Gospels for this one, apparently if a mother’s footsteps tend to start from her right foot, then she’s likely having a boy. If she starts walking with her left, then she’s having a girl.
Scientific-Sounding Gender Prediction Methods
The Ramzi Gender Prediction Method
This method uses an ultrasound photo from a scan as early as 6 weeks to predict a baby’s gender based on the placement of the placenta. This theory was developed by Dr. Saam Ramzi Ismali, who believes that if the placenta is developing on the left, you’re expecting a girl. If it’s growing on the right, a boy’s on the way. This theory was first explained in a research paper published on a website called ObGyn.net. However, while that sounds like it might be legit, it’s important to note that this site is a media website—not a scientific one. And the paper published was not peer-reviewed. What’s more, additional studies have not been able to support these findings—or any gender prediction this early in pregnancy. Of course, if you’d like to give your ultrasound a close look, by all means, go ahead…but hold off on buying that pink or blue gear until you can do a more reliable test.
The Nub Method of Gender Prediction
Here’s another method that involves an ultrasound photo…but this one uses a 12-week scan. Basically, the nub method of gender prediction says that, if you catch a shot of your baby in profile and look at the area between the legs, you’ll see a small nub (the tubercle—a part of a developing baby that eventually becomes a penis or clitoris). If that nub is at a 30-degree angle or higher, it’s a boy. If the nub is horizontal or pointing down, it’s a girl. There’s a little bit of science to back this up. In a small study in 1999, researchers found that the nub theory was 70% accurate at 11 weeks and 98% accurate by 13 weeks (a slightly larger study in 2006 yielded similar results). But an even bigger, more recent study found that the nub theory was not a reliable way to predict gender. You can certainly ask your ultrasound technician and OB/GYN for their thoughts, but at this stage in the game, you’re better off either doing a blood test (which is conducted around this time and is very accurate), or holding tight until your 20-week anatomy scan.
Final Thoughts on Baby Gender Prediction
As you can tell, baby gender prediction traditions have been around for centuries! Trying to predict the gender of your baby can be a lot of fun. Once you find out your baby’s gender for sure you can get serious about choosing a baby name (check out our list of best baby names for some adorable inspo!) or plan a gender reveal (if that’s your thing!). Some fun ideas for sharing your news:
- Gender Reveal Cakes to Share Your Sweet News
- Gender Reveal Games That Will Make Sharing The News Extra Fun
- Unique Gender Reveal Ideas to Celebrate Your News
And while you’re waiting to learn your little one’s gender, you can get busy crafting the perfect baby registry. The Happiest Baby Registry makes it easy to add SNOO—as well as all the things you want from your other favorite shops—and let your loved ones chip in on your most-wanted gifts!
Have questions about a Happiest Baby product? Our consultants would be happy to
help! Connect with us at [email protected].
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or
condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or
yourself, please contact your health provider.
Try this Chinese Gender Calendar Predictor
Curious if you’re pregnant with a boy or a girl? There are many fun ways to predict your baby’s gender. One of the most popular old wives’ tale ways is using the Chinese Gender Calendar. This method tries to predict your baby’s gender based on an ancient Chinese gender chart and uses your lunar age and the lunar month you got pregnant to determine baby’s gender.
The History of the Chinese Gender Calendar Chart
We’ve heard several stories about the history of the Chinese Gender Calendar Chart. One legend says that the chart is around 700 years old and was found in an ancient royal tomb. Another rumor claims the chart was found in the underground storage room of the Forbidden City of the Ching Dynasty.
The most popular tale is that the chart was created during the Chinese Qing Dynast (1644-1911 A.D.), and it is based on the I Ching, or the “Book of Changes,” and relies upon the Five Elements (Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth), Yin and Yang and the Pa Kua (Eight Trigrams). It’s said that the Chinese Gender Calendar Chart was relied upon by the Qing Dynasty imperial family for the gender selection of sons. It was kept in the palace and was not available to the public. At the end of the Qing dynasty, the military took the chart during the Boxer Rebellion, and the documents were then sent to England. They were given to the King and it was translated into English. The chart later appeared in Austria, and when one Chinese scholar saw it, he copied the content, brought it to Taiwan, and published it in the newspaper in 1972.
We looked for facts to find the true history of the Chinese Gender Calendar Chart, and we couldn’t find any hard evidence to support any of these stories. We see this chart as a fun and unfactual way to guess your baby’s gender.
How Accurate is the Chinese Gender Calendar Chart?
The accuracy of the Chinese Gender Calendar Chart is questionable. Some say its accuracy is higher than other gender prediction tools. We’ve read that about 70% accurate. Others say it’s 90% accurate. There is no scientific basis for the Chinese Gender Calendar Chart, so the most we can guarantee is 50%. We caution anyone relying on this method to conceive a specific gender. Take this prediction with a grain of salt and know it’s a 50/50 chance you are carrying either a boy or a girl.
For a more accurate answer, we recommend having an ultrasound or a blood test to determine the baby’s gender.
How Does the Chinese Gender Calendar Chart Work?
This chart predicts your baby’s gender by gathering the mother’s lunar age and the lunar month of conception. Many people think that these charts go by Gregorian or Western calendar dates. However, it’s the lunar dates that make the prediction. If you don’t know your lunar dates, not to worry! We’ve made this Chinese Gender Calendar Chart easy for you. All you have to do is:
- Enter your actual date of birth.
- Enter your month of conception.
- Click “Predict Baby’s Gender.”
With your information, our calculator will convert your dates into lunar dates for you with a final gender prediction. Let’s see what it will be!
I’ve Seen Multiple Gender Charts – Are They All Accurate?
There is only one Chinese Gender Calendar Chart, and it never changes. If you find others elsewhere with different predictions, those predictions are incorrect and must not be using the original Chinese Gender Chart.
Boy or girl? | Articles of EMC clinic doctors about diseases, diagnostics and treatment
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While expecting a baby, future parents like to dream about what it will be like. Will he inherit his mother’s blue eyes, his father’s height and posture, his grandmother’s smile? But the main question, of course, is whether it will be a girl or a boy? Different peoples have a lot of signs and amazing theories on this subject. Olga Loginova, an EMC obstetrician-gynecologist, Candidate of Medical Sciences, tells whether it is possible to determine the sex of a future baby without ultrasound.
Determination of gender by the shape of the abdomen
In some expectant mothers, the belly becomes noticeable almost from the 10th week of pregnancy, in others it may not be visible until the middle of the second trimester. These features could not be ignored.
People say: “The belly grows forward – to the boy.” One of the popular folk signs says: if a woman’s tummy is small and neat, located high, sharp (“cucumber”), and you can’t even see it from the back, then it will be a boy. If the belly is large, set low, protrudes on the sides, and the fact that the woman is pregnant is clearly visible even from the back, this is a sure sign of the birth of a girl.
Doctors say that the shape of the belly of a pregnant woman is influenced by a large number of factors. These, in particular, include: gestational age (gestational age, fetal size), the position of the fetus in the uterus, as well as what the figure of the expectant mother was before pregnancy. The belly of a thin and tall woman will always be different from the belly of a full woman of short stature. Thus, from a medical point of view, the relationship between the shape of the abdomen and the sex of the unborn child is very doubtful.
According to taste preferences
Herring with jam, chocolate bar with roach, chips with yogurt or milk with pickles – expectant mothers often want to eat something unusual, and their desires are unpredictable. Why not think about the connection of your taste preferences with the gender of the expected baby?
People say that a mother who is expecting a daughter, in the early stages of pregnancy, experiences an irresistible craving for sweets. And if a passionate admirer of chocolates is suddenly drawn to smoked meat and pickles – wait for the boy.
Doctors say that Oriental medicine gives its own explanation for the change in taste preferences during pregnancy: each human organ corresponds to a certain taste: for example, the liver “loves” sour, the spleen and stomach – sweet, the kidneys “are greedy” for salty, the gallbladder – for tart and bitter. In accordance with this theory, it should be assumed that all pregnant boys have some kind of kidney problems, which, you see, is strange.
By changes in appearance
Pregnancy, as they say, colors some women: smooth skin, wonderful complexion, thick hair, shining eyes. Other expectant mothers, on the contrary, notice that their appearance has changed for the worse: inflammation, pimples appear on the face, the skin becomes more oily, sometimes a lot of hair appears on the face, abdomen, and other parts of the body. All this is the work of hormones. The strongest hormonal changes during pregnancy affect each expectant mother in different ways.
People say that if a woman becomes prettier with pregnancy, then she is expecting a boy. The girl “takes away” the beauty from her mother. However, the active growth of “unnecessary” hairs is associated precisely with the fact that a woman is carrying a male baby.
Some doctors say that the male hormone testosterone affects hair growth, so if a mother has a boy in her stomach, she may develop unwanted body hairs. In fact, studies show that this is not the case: the testosterone content in the blood of the fetus is not enough to affect the mother’s body and, accordingly, change the rate of hair growth.
According to the strength of toxicosis
Toxicosis often overshadows the expectation of a child: the body of the expectant mother experiences hormonal stress and at first tries to fight the “foreign body” – the embryo. Until the body gets used to the new life emerging in it, it rejects it. At the same time, some women experience only mild nausea, while others are literally “turned inside out” during the first months of pregnancy.
People say that if a pregnant woman has severe toxicosis in the first trimester, this is a sure sign that a girl will be born. With boys, mothers practically do not suffer.
According to doctors, scientists do not reject this omen either. They believe that morning sickness is a consequence of elevated levels of the hormone HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which indicates that the fetus is female.
Physician sex determination
In fact, only special tests and medical examinations can help a couple determine the sex of their unborn child.
These include:
Fetal ultrasound. As a rule, the sex of the child is determined at the 16th week of pregnancy. The accuracy of the method is 80-90%.
Amniocentesis. In this case, the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus is examined. Usually the method is used to diagnose various genetic abnormalities of the fetus, but the sex of the unborn child can also be determined with 100% accuracy. It is invasive, that is, penetrating, and entails certain risks, including miscarriage. Therefore, aminocentesis is performed according to strict indications and never – in order to determine the sex of the child.
Very accurate in determining the sex of the baby, but at the same time no less expensive, is the DNA test. It is not widely used: it is carried out in highly specialized laboratories and only for special indications.
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How to determine the sex of the unborn child
Article author:
Yudina Elena Alexandrovna
, obstetrician-gynecologist
1. Determination of the sex of the child using ultrasound diagnostics.
2. Sex determination by Rh factor and blood type of parents. A girl will be born if the mother has I blood type, and the father has I or III (II – II or IV; III – I; IV – II). A boy will be born if the mother has blood group I, and the father has II or IV (II – I or III; III – II, III or IV; IV – I, III or IV).
3. Sex determination by date of conception. It is important to know when a woman ovulates. For a more accurate determination of the time period, you need to purchase an ovulation test. If the child was conceived a few days before ovulation, then a girl will be born. This is because the sperm contains XY chromosomes, and the egg contains XX. Y chromosomes are very active, but they die faster, so only a set of XX remains before ovulation begins. The result is a girl.
Conception that occurred on the day of ovulation or after it is more likely for a boy, since the Y chromosomes get to the egg faster, a male XY set is formed.
4. According to the shape of the abdomen. This is not the most reliable way, one can only assume. When the belly grows enough (not earlier than 5-6 months of pregnancy), then the sex of the child is determined by its shape. If it is round, looks like a ball that reaches the sides, then it will be a girl. If the belly is sharp and sticks out forward, then it’s a boy.
5. According to the location of the abdomen. If the belly is lowered, then the woman is expecting a boy. If it is raised high and is located directly under the breast, then a girl is expected.
It should be noted that none of the above methods can give a 100% accurate result. Specialists in ultrasound diagnostics can also make mistakes: for example, the fetus may turn so that it will be impossible to determine the sex of the child, and in the early stages of pregnancy, the male and female genital organs are very similar, even an experienced doctor can confuse them.