Parents-to-be are often eager to find out the gender of their baby. Sometimes the desire is practical, with parents wanting to purchase nursery decorations or clothing tailored to the gender of their baby. Others may have sex-linked genetic disorders in their family history that they want to rule out or check for in the unborn child. Depending on the reasons for and the desired accuracy of the prediction, different methods can be tried.
Step 1
Try a baby gender prediction kit. The accuracy of these is debatable, although some companies state that they have success rates up to 90 percent. The kits purportedly work by testing the levels of testosterone in a blood or urine sample, since a baby boy should produce more testosterone in the mother's system than would a girl. Any results from a gender prediction kit should probably be followed up with a more reliable method of gender determination if you really want to be certain. The kits are readily available online.
Step 2
Have an ultrasound scan completed between weeks 18 and 22 of pregnancy. These scans look at the physical body structure of the fetus, so a trained technician can usually determine the gender by noting whether male or female genitalia is present. An ultrasound scan may be difficult to interpret without training, but some parents-to-be can identify the gender if the baby is in a favorable position. If trying to determine the gender yourself, look for a shape resembling a turtle peeking out of a larger round shell between the legs for a boy and three lines shaped similarly to a hamburger for a girl.
Step 3
If you are having an amniocentesis or chronic villus sampling done, ask the doctor to also check the sample to determine the gender and let you know. These tests are carried out to look for birth defects in mothers who are at high risk or whose screening tests indicate a need for further testing. They are not typically given just to determine gender because they carry a small but significant risk of miscarriage. But, because they look at the genetic material of the baby, they are 100 percent accurate in determining gender.
Tips and Warnings
- Only amniocentesis and chronic villus sampling are completely accurate before birth, so be aware that any plans you make based on gender prediction using ultrasound or home testing kits may be turned upside down if the original determination turns out to be wrong.
Things You'll Need
- Baby gender prediction kit
- Ultrasound appointment
