Finding out the sex of your baby during pregnancy

One of the most common questions during pregnancy that comes to the parent’s mind is the gender of their baby. Many parents can’t wait to determine the sex of their baby. A few early sex prediction methods include ultrasound testing, genetic testing, and blood testing. For reliably determining the sex of the baby, you must consult a doctor for the ultrasound test.

The baby’s position during an ultrasound test is the key to finding out the sex of a baby. But if your baby is curled or facing the wrong way, then you might have to wait for the next appointment.

Read this blog further to get detailed knowledge about the methods that you can use for predicting the sex of your baby.

How soon can a parent find out their baby’s sex during pregnancy?

By the 6th week of pregnancy, the vulva or penis starts forming and occurring in a baby. The male and female fetuses look similar during the first-trimester ultrasound (approximately the 14th week of pregnancy).

Well, there is one theory, i.e., the Ramzi theory. It suggests that one can predict the sex of the fetus in the 6th week of pregnancy just by looking at the placement of the placenta on the ultrasound result. This theory states that you can find the sex of a fetus by examining which side of the uterus the fetus is on. But then, there is no scientific evidence that can support this method of sex determination.

There is also non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), a blood test done between the 11th and 14th weeks of pregnancy. The genetic testing methods like amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) are also used for guessing the sex of a baby. Doctors prefer performing CVS between the 11th and 14th week of pregnancy and amniocentesis during the 15th to 20th week. It is easier to determine whether the fetus is male or female during an ultrasound done around the 18th to 22nd week of pregnancy. Getting a clear image of the fetus’s genitals during ultrasound helps in help ensure results of identifying sex.

Different ways for identifying the sex of the baby

First-trimester screening blood test

The first-trimester screening takes place during the 11th and 14th weeks of pregnancy. A blood test and an ultrasound scan are the two steps to this pregnancy screening. NIPT is a blood test specifically done to check the chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, trisomy 18, extra or missing copies of X/Y chromosomes, etc. Moreover, it is useful for detecting the fetal DNA present in the mother’s blood for determining whether the fetus is female or male. Non-invasive prenatal testing is majorly recommended for women with a higher risk of having a baby with chromosomal abnormalities.

Ultrasound

Many pregnant women choose to determine their baby’s sex during mid-pregnancy (18th and 22nd week) through ultrasound. It includes examining the fetus’s genitals by looking at different signs which suggest that a baby is male or female. But if a mother is having twins, then determining the sex of the baby becomes a little difficult during the ultrasound. The use of the high-resolution machine for ultrasound tests helps in obtaining better images for accurate results. By the 18th week of pregnancy, if the baby is lying in the right position in the womb, then the ultrasound result can help get more definite results of the baby’s genital. Ultrasounds are one of the safe ways and do not involves X-rays or any radiation.

Ultrasound signs for identifying the sex of the baby 

Here are few particular things that doctors and other health care providers look at in the ultrasound images to find out the fetus’s sex:

1. Visualization of genitals — Healthcare providers look for the penis to determine whether the fetus is male or not. It is also possible to detect the vulva, clitoris, and labia in a female fetus and scrotum, penis, and descended testicles in the male fetus. Many doctors use the sagittal sign and the direction of the genital tubercle for determining sex during the 11th week of pregnancy.
2. The hamburger sign – Another ultrasound sign used for indicating whether the baby is female is the hamburger sign (3-line sign). The baby is female if the fetus’s genital looks like a hamburger with the clitoris situated between the two labia.
3. The turtle sign – The turtle sign during ultrasound means that the fetus is male. In this sign, the penis appears to peek from behind the testicles. As this sign is difficult to identify, thus, doctors look for other signs to find the sex of the fetus.

You can visit your trusted doctor during pregnancy and ask for the right method of determining the sex of the fetus. There are other signs of ultrasound through which the doctor can identify the right fetus’s sex.

Genetic testing

Genetic testing methods such as amniocentesis and CVS can be used for early gender prediction methods. Doctors generally don’t recommend genetic testing for determining sex as it is associated with certain risks.

• In amniocentesis genetic testing, the doctor takes a small quantity of amniotic fluid from the uterus with the help of a thin needle. The amniotic fluid contains the fetus’s cells, which helps identify the genetic disorders and the sex of the fetus. This method is usually performed between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy.
• Another kind of genetic testing is the CVS, which checks congenital disabilities such as Down syndrome and the fetus’s sex. During CVS, the doctor removes a sample from the chorionic villi (tissue in the placenta) that has information about the fetus’s genes. This method is usually performed between the 10th to 12th week of pregnancy.

The genetic testing method is not generally recommended as it might increase the risk of miscarriages. These methods are done for pregnant women above 35 years or couples having a family history of genetic disorders. So, you must always make sure that you consult your doctors first for choosing the appropriate testing method for yourself.

What is the accuracy of the early baby sex prediction methods? 

Ultrasound tests done between the 18th and 22nd week of pregnancy gives a more accurate prediction of the sex of your baby, but there are few chances of mistakes as well. For example, if your BMI comes in the obese range or carrying twins, or if the fetus is lying in a position where genitals are hard to see, it might cause difficulty in sex identification with an ultrasound. 

Getting the accurate gender determination test with Digibaby 3D/4D Ultrasound

With the greater availability of 3D and 4D ultrasound techniques, it has become easy to determine a baby’s gender. You can get in touch with the professional team at Digibaby 3D/4D Ultrasound to obtain more accurate results. Their team performs accurate ultrasound tests, which will help you see your baby’s body parts more clearly.

So, if you are interested in getting the best 3D/4D/Live ultrasound at an affordable price, give a call to their expert team on 877-470-7531.