How can an ultrasound be used to tell my baby’s sex?

An ultrasound is one of the most reliable ways to tell your baby’s sex. As a matter of fact, an ultrasound may be the only way, short of something like genetic sampling or amniocentesis, that you will be able to tell your baby’s sex with any degree of certainty. Understanding how an ultrasound can be used to tell your baby’s sex is an important part of knowing how reliable the ultrasound will be.

An ultrasound relies on making a visual representation of what is going on inside of your womb. Using an ultrasound, you can usually see your baby’s heartbeat at around 8 weeks of pregnancy, for example. An ultrasound is also used to measure your baby, and to track your baby’s growth. An ultrasound may be used to try to detect if there are any abnormalities with the way that your baby is forming, as well. And, as has been said before, an ultrasound can indeed be used to tell your baby’s sex.

How an ultrasound is used to tell your baby’s sex relies, at least in part, on the person operating the ultrasound, whether it is an ultrasound technician or whether it is your health care provider. The person operating the ultrasound will be able to tell your baby’s sex by looking for the presence of genitals. If the person that is operating the ultrasound can see a penis, she will predict that your baby’s sex will be male. Telling your baby’s sex when it is a girl, however, can be more difficult. If the person operating the ultrasound actually sees the labia on the ultrasound, your baby’s sex is obviously female. But if the person operating the ultrasound just doesn’t see a penis, it doesn’t mean for certain that your baby’s sex is male. As a matter of fact, without seeing the labia, most of the time the person operating the ultrasound will not tell you that your baby’s sex is female.

There are other factors that will tell whether the ultrasound is reliably telling your baby’s sex. First, the position of your baby can affect whether or not the genitals can be seen. Also, your baby’s age and size will play a role as well.

 

Ultrasound Pictures

You can see many ultrasound pictures at AmazingPregnancy-Pictures.com.

Diagnostic Testing and Baby Gender Prediction

Two tests that can be performed during pregnancy, amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, can both reveal the gender of your baby with accuracy.

Both of these tests carry the risk of miscarriage after having the test done.

Amniocentesis

This procedure is used to extract amniotic fluid from around the baby in order to test for complications. The fluid is removed by using a needle inserted into the abdomen around 16 – 18 weeks. Women over the age of 35 are recommended to get this test done due to the increased risk of Down’s Syndrome presented by advanced maternal age.

This test will reveal:

  • Chromosomal Disorders
  • 200 Single Gene Disorders
  • Baby’s Gender

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

This test is usually performed 10 – 12 weeks after the last menstrual period. Your doctor will take tiny tissue samples from outside the sac where the fetus develops. The tissue is tested to diagnose or rule out certain birth defects. There is a higher risk of miscarriage with this method than with amniocentesis.

This test will also reveal:

  • Chromosomal Disorders
  • 200 Single Gene Disorders
  • Baby’s Gender

Can I use ovulation to predict my baby’s gender?

Technically speaking, you can use ovulation to predict your baby’s gender. Using ovulation to predict your baby’s gender has not been proven through scientific study, though. Still, there are compelling medical reasons why you may be able to, with some degree of accuracy, predict your baby’s gender using ovulation. At a minimum, since there are only 2 genders to pick from, you will still have a 50% success rate with any method that you use to predict your baby’s gender.

To use ovulation to predict your baby’s gender, you need to be certain about a couple of factors. First, you need to know exactly when you are going to ovulate. If you are off by a day, it could affect the accuracy of your gender planning. Second, you need to plan intercourse according to what sex you are trying for.

To use ovulation to predict your baby’s gender, look at the day you had sex and the day of ovulation. Sperm can survive up to 5 days inside the woman’s body after ejaculation. Having sex further from ovulation, but still within the sperm survival range, will favor having a girl. Having sex as close as possible to ovulation will favor a boy.

The reason that you can use ovulation to predict your baby’s gender has to do with the nature of the different types of sperm. The sperm that will produce a baby girl tends to be stronger and live longer than the sperm that will produce a baby boy. On the other hand, the sperm that will produce a boy tends to swim faster, and to be more likely to beat the other sperm out in a race. So, it makes sense that if the sperm was present several days before ovulation, that the “boy” sperm would have died off, leaving the “girl” sperm to fertilize the egg. In contrast, if conception occurs closer to ovulation, those “boy” sperm are going to outrun the other sperm.

This method of gender selection is commonly known as the Shettles Method. In addition to the timing of having sex, there are other aspects of your attempt that you need to pay attention to. You can read more about conceiving a girl here and how to conceive a boy here.

How can I predict my baby’s gender using Drano?

First of all, it should be said that it is probably best not to predict your baby’s gender using Drano. While this method of predicting your baby’s gender has been around for a long time, there is not scientific evidence to suggest that it actually works, or that the results are in any way reliable. In addition to this, there may possibly be dangerous side effects from the fumes that are produced when mixing urine and Drano. Finally, there are much more reliable methods of predicting your baby’s gender that don’t pose a risk.
Having said all of that, the fact remains that many women believe that you can indeed predict your baby’s gender using Drano. TO predict your baby’s gender using Drano, you should first be certain not to handle the mixture yourself or to breathe in the fumes from the mixture. Get someone else to help you, for your safety and the safety of your baby.

The first step in predicting your baby’s gender using Drano is to collect around 2 or 3 ounces of your urine. You will want, it is said, to use the first urine of the day for this test. Once you have the urine, you will need to ask your helper to mix it with around two tablespoons of crystal Drano. Do not use the liquid form, as there will not be the same sort of chemical reaction. Once the urine is mixed with the Drano, observe the change. If the mixture turns brownish in color, it is said that you are going to have a boy. If the mixture doesn’t get any darker, and if it doesn’t become brownish in color, the Drano is predicting that your baby’s gender is going to be female.

There are other variations to using Drano to predict your baby’s gender. One version suggests that if the mixture bubbles, you will have a boy. Other variations suggest that a certain color might mean that you are going to have a boy, where a certain other color might mean a girl, and no color change means that the test has failed.

Are there gender prediction tests?

There are indeed a variety of gender prediction tests that people have used to determine the gender of their baby before their baby is born. Some of these tests are unscientific and fall into the category of myth, while other tests are actually fairly reliable in terms of gender prediction.

In terms of the unscientific gender prediction tests, there are at least two that come to mind. The first test is the Drano gender prediction test. In this test, the pregnant woman mixes a sample of her urine with crystal Drano. The color that the Drano turns after being mixed is then used for gender prediction. However, there are conflicting ways to interpret the Drano gender prediction test. In some cases, it is thought that a brownish color, for example, means that you will have a boy, where in other cases it is thought that a brownish color predicts a baby of female gender.

Another unscientific but more fun gender prediction test is the wedding ring test. In this test, you dangle a wedding ring over the pregnant woman’s belly. If the ring swings in a circular motion, the baby will be a girl. If it swings back and forth, it will be a boy.

The most reliable gender prediction test is a genetic test done with Amniocentesis. However, this sort of test is rarely done for the sole purpose of gender prediction, as there are certain risks to the baby. An ultrasound is probably the next most reliable gender prediction test. How reliable an ultrasound is at gender prediction has to do with a variety of factors, including the skill and experience of the ultrasound technician. Done at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy, gender prediction with ultrasound is thought to be more than 90% reliable.

There are also home blood tests that can be used for gender prediction. The makers of these tests claim that they are at least as accurate as ultrasounds at gender prediction. Many of them will also offer a refund on the price of the test if the baby turns out to be different than what the gender prediction test said that it would be. You must be extra careful if you decide to try one of these home tests. There have been many cases in the past couple of years where the tests turn out to be scam. Buyer beware.

Are there supplements that I can use to help with gender selection?

Nutritional supplements may be able to help people with a variety of sorts of problems or conditions. While most nutritional supplements have not necessarily been proven through clinical trials and scientific study, many people believe they have had positive results with supplements. Supplements have been able to help people when they are trying to conceive, for example. There are even supplements that you can use to help with gender selection when you are trying to conceive a baby.

The nutritional supplements that you can use to help with gender selection will, in many ways, depend on whether you are hoping for a girl or for a boy. If you want to conceive a girl, there are several supplements that may be able to help. Cranberries, for example, lower the pH in the reproductive system. This makes it more difficult for the weaker sperm, that is, the sperm that produce boys, to survive. This favors conceiving a girl. Cranberry supplements should be taken the week before you ovulate. There are also herbal tablets, such as Lydia Pinkham’s tonic, that may be able to help conceive a girl, as well.

The supplements that you can use to help with gender selection if you are interested in conceiving a boy are, of course, different than the supplements you would use for a girl. You should use Evening Primrose Oil, in order to improve the quality of your cervical mucus, which allows the faster boy-producing sperm to reach the egg before they would die off. You should take care not to take evening primrose oil after you ovulate, as it is possible that evening primrose oil could keep the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.

There may be other nutritional supplements, as well, that can help you with gender selection. While not all of these will be identical, if you look hard enough you will eventually find that the supplements for boys tend to have certain specific ingredients, while the supplements for girls have certain different ingredients.

The Emotional Side of Baby Gender Prediction

 

It’s happened to many couples: you start a family, become pregnant, and have a child. That child is the most precious thing in your world, no matter whether it’s a boy or a girl. As time goes on, you decide to have another child. This time, you’re hoping for the opposite. If you have a boy, you want to add a girl to the family, or if you have a girl, you want to add a boy.

When you get to that 20-week ultrasound appointment, you can’t wait to hear which it will be. When you find out it’s the same as your other child, your heart sinks a little bit.

Sure, you’re still happy to be pregnant. Yes, you’re going to love that second child just as much as you love your first child. Still, you sometimes wish you could have one of each.

By the time you get to the third child, you really start thinking hard about gender. You do some reading, and find out that having sex at certain times and in certain ways might maximize your odds of conceiving one gender or the other.

So, you try – and you fail. Baby number three, while precious, is the same gender as the other two.

There’s nothing wrong with feeling disappointment. It’s normal and natural. It doesn’t make you a bad parent. It doesn’t mean you’re going to resent the child because they’re not the gender you hoped for.

What it does mean is that you probably need to talk through these feelings. Your partner is a good place to start, but he’s probably feeling some of the same emotions. You might even think about talking to a therapist, as it can be a difficult time.

You need to learn to accept the emotions that come. Don’t feel guilty at sadness or disappointment. But instead you need to bring yourself to the point of acceptance, and remember just how much you truly love your other children. Having one more boy or one more girl isn’t going to change that.

Understanding Gender Prediction Tests

 

Today, there are a variety of gender prediction tests that expecting parents might use to try to determine their baby’s sex before the baby is born. Some of these gender prediction tests aren’t based on science, and are really meant for fun. Other tests are pretty accurate, and a good way to determine your baby’s gender.

For example, the Drano test is one that seems to be scientific but really isn’t. There’s no basis to suggest it works. For the Drano test, a woman mixes urine with crystal Drano. If the Drano turns one color, her baby is supposed to be a boy. If the Drano turns a different color, it’s supposed to be a girl. As a matter of fact, depending on who you ask, the same color might mean a boy for one or a girl for someone else.

Another test that’s more interesting and fun is the wedding ring gender prediction test. For this test, someone needs to dangle the woman’s wedding ring over her pregnant belly. If the ring swings around in circles, it’s going to be a girl. If it goes back and forth like a pendulum, it will be a boy.

The most completely accurate gender test would be with amniocentesis. Amniocentesis can be dangerous for your baby, although the risks are fairly low. For the most part, amniocentesis isn’t done for the purposes of baby gender prediction.

An ultrasound is probably how you will actually predict your baby’s gender. After around 20 weeks of pregnancy, ultrasounds are about 90% reliable. An ultrasound tech or a doctor can identify the developing genitals, and let you know whether it’s a boy or a girl.

There are home gender prediction tests, as well. How well these work isn’t certain. Many of the manufacturers offer a money-back guarantee. If your child winds up being the other gender, you can get a refund. Even if the tests don’t work, there’s a 50% chance they will be correct, of course. 

Gender and Sibling Rivalry Before Baby is Born

The arrival of a new baby in the house can be a wonderful and joyous experience. However, for families who already have one or more children, the arrival of a new baby can also signify the arrival of an unwanted bundle – sibling rivalry. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to help to prepare your older child or children before and after the new baby arrives.

Sibling rivalry is often characterized either by acting out or even regression by older siblings. A toddler, for example, might pick back up some of his baby-like habits, such as wanting a bottle or a pacifier, or even losing ground on potty training. A child might even become aggressive, and act out violently against himself, the new baby, or other friends or family members.

To help prepare your child for a new baby, make sure to talk with them when you discover you are pregnant. You want your child to hear it from you, not from someone else, that there will be a new baby in the house.

If the new baby will be sharing a room with a sibling, try to get the room set up a couple of months before the birth so that the older child has time to adjust. If your toddler will be moving from her crib to a toddler bed, try to do this early as well.
Take your child or children with you on a prenatal visit, if possible. This can help them to be more comfortable with the whole process. Many hospitals also offer classes for the new big sister or big brother; take advantage of these.

Help your child to understand what it will be like when the new baby arrives. Explain that the baby won’t be able to be a playmate for quite a while. Explain that many times, because the baby is not as grown up as your other children, that the baby might have to have more attention from mom and dad for a while.

Once the new baby arrives, make sure that you have one-on-one time for your older children as well. Even just a few minutes a day can help to overcome feelings of jealousy and neglect. Also, talk with you your older child about his feelings, and help him to say how he feels. Be clear that it is never OK to hurt anyone, including themselves. In time, you will be able to make your older children partners with you in the baby’s care.

Is There A Natural Way To Select My Baby’s Gender?

The fact of the matter is that the advances that we have made in terms of medical science in the last century is staggering. Yet, some of those advances can, in many ways, be a little bit frightening. In some ways, we seem to be tinkering with things that it just doesn’t seem natural to tinker with. Sometimes, we use science to change things or to make things happen a certain way that, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t really necessary or even ethical. In other cases, there are perfectly natural ways to perform some tasks that we readily give over to medicine. In terms of trying to conceive, we know that we can select our baby’s gender during In Vitro Fertilization. However, most of us don’t have the capacity or the desire to spend tens of thousands of dollars on IVF just to select our baby’s gender.
Fortunately, there may be natural ways to select your baby’s gender. While natural ways to select your baby’s gender may not have been proven in clinical studies to be effective, many women nevertheless have experienced some degree or another of success in selecting their baby’s gender through these means.

Some of the most common natural ways to select your baby’s gender have to do with the timing of intercourse. Specifically, they have to do with the timing of intercourse as it relates to the timing of ovulation. It is thought that if you have intercourse 2 and a half or more days before ovulating, you are more likely to have a girl, whereas if you have intercourse less than 2 and a half days before ovulating, you are more likely to have a boy. In addition, you can select your baby’s gender naturally by doing certain things both before and during intercourse to make it more likely that you will have a certain gender.

Most of these natural ways to select your baby’s gender are based on some relatively solid scientific information, such as the difference between “boy” sperm and “girl” sperm. Using natural methods of selecting your baby’s gender may not be as reliable as medical methods in the long run, but they are certainly less complicated, and less expensive as well.