Becoming a mother is a wonderful experience! When you are pregnant, you can choose to know her gender so that you are prepared. There are useful medical techniques that can detect it fairly accurately from mid-pregnancy and are the only truly reliable methods for defining sex; however, it can be fun to try to locate it using traditional or ancient methods, although there is no evidence of their reliability.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Reliable Medical Techniques
Step 1. Write down the 18th week of pregnancy on the calendar
Generally, it is possible to define the sex of the unborn child starting from the sixteenth-twentieth week of gestation, although the best period is around the eighteenth; therefore, the best thing to do is to wait until that time. Schedule the second trimester ultrasound around this date.
You can determine the expected date of delivery when you have your first ultrasound, which is usually done around the eighth week. this is the best way to know which week of gestation you are in
Step 2. See your gynecologist for an ultrasound
It is a diagnostic test that produces images of the uterus and the baby using sound waves in a safe and non-invasive way. Talk to a serious gynecologist, who will be able to tell you the sex of the baby by looking at the genitals through the machine. When making an appointment for this test, ask your doctor if you need to follow certain instructions - for example, you may need to drink a certain amount of fluids or avoid going to the bathroom before the test.
- If the baby is in a position that prevents you from seeing the genitals, the ultrasound may be useless.
- However, keep in mind that it is not a 100% safe test for knowing the sex of the unborn child, although it is fairly reliable; you may always be given misinformation due to human error. The position of the fetus may make it difficult to distinguish the sex.
Step 3. Perform a non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT test)
If it has not been possible to obtain a certain answer through the ultrasound, talk to the gynecologist about this type of examination, which consists of a simple blood sample from the mother, from which it is possible to define the sex chromosomes of the fetus and thus determine whether it is a boy or a girl.
- This is a relatively common, accurate and reliable test, although it may not be among the tests covered by the National Health Service; then contact your private health insurance (if you have taken out one) and ask if it falls under the policy or inquire about the costs of the private exam to evaluate if you can afford it.
- This test also makes it possible to identify Down syndrome and other possible anomalies, thus proving to be a reliable test for several reasons; can be performed after the 10th week of pregnancy.
Step 4. Discuss more invasive tests with your doctor
Villocentesis (chorionic villus sampling) and amniocentesis are tests that look for any genetic abnormalities of the fetus and are usually done if the baby is at risk for such problems. If you need to have one of these tests, ask your doctor to check the sex of the unborn child at the same time. However, the procedures are not performed simply to detect gender, as they create a lot of discomfort and also carry a risk - albeit minimal - of miscarriage.
The villocentesis is performed between the tenth and thirteenth week of pregnancy, while the amniocentesis is performed between the sixteenth and twentieth week
Method 2 of 2: Traditional Methods
Step 1. Take note of morning sickness
Old popular beliefs say that if you suffer from this ailment a lot during the first three months of pregnancy, you will have a baby girl. Keep a journal or diary every time you feel bad; some modern studies suggest that you are more likely to have a baby if you suffer from morning sickness and experience general malaise throughout pregnancy. If, on the other hand, the discomfort is limited or you do not suffer from it at all, it means that a boy is "on the way".
It is quite normal to suffer from morning sickness for most of the first trimester due to hormonal changes; therefore, this method is not very reliable
Step 2. Pay attention to your "cravings"
Another popular belief is based on the type of cravings one has during pregnancy to predict the sex of the fetus. According to this method, if your cravings are mostly sweet, it means you are expecting a sissy; if you are especially craving salty or spicy foods, you are probably expecting a boy.
- For example, if you have an unbelievable craving for wedges during pregnancy, then you may be expecting a baby. However, if you crave french fries so much, you may be expecting a baby.
- Keep in mind that this is neither a reliable nor scientifically proven method.
Step 3. Use the Chinese calendar method
Use the date of your birthday and the date of conception of the unborn child to establish the sex based on Chinese astrology. You simply have to enter these two data in a table and look for the point where they intersect to define whether a baby or girl will be born. This is an ancient method, believed to be accurate by many people, although there is no research or studies to prove its reliability. Consult the table you find in this link to have fun.
Step 4. Check the baby's added weight
Look in the mirror and see the spots that are getting bigger due to the extra weight of the baby. This is an old method of finding out the sex of the unborn baby, but remember that there is no evidence to prove its effectiveness. If the excess weight is concentrated mainly on the hips and buttocks, it could be a child; if it tends to focus on the front and abdomen, it is likely that a boy will be born.
Step 5. Create a pendulum with a ring
Tie the wedding ring to a ribbon and let it swing over your belly to watch it move. If he draws circles, legend has it that a baby will be born; if it moves from one side to the other, it will be a child. This is also an old traditional method, with no scientific data to support its reliability; however, you can always try, if only for fun!
