Professionals and stay-at-home moms alike have tried many methods for generations to determine the sex of their unborn children. Using wedding rings as pendulums, checking out Chinese lunar calendars, experiments with drain cleaner and other liquids, fortune tellers and a few more have been old wives’ tales for centuries. But while sometimes expectant moms and dads make a lucky guess, the truth is that only a qualified doctor can accurately determine the sex of an unborn child.
Step 1
Ask your doctor which one of the major medical tests that determine the sex of an unborn child you can safely undertake during your prenatal care, advises Baby Centre. You also should wait until you’re at least 18 to 20 weeks pregnant to get the most accurate information, according to the MayoClinic.com.
Step 2
Undergo only the ultrasound method if at all possible, warns the Baby Centre. Other methods, including amniocentesis, work to determine the sex of the unborn child, but they bring more risks to both mother and baby. Tests like chorionic villus sampling also work to determine gender, but they are not used in the medical profession unless a clear need for the actual test is demonstrated; CVS can determine if a fetus has chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down’s syndrome.
Step 3
Fire your doctor if he agrees to an ultrasound, but then he won’t tell you the sex of your unborn child if this is information you truly want to know. Some doctors and hospitals refuse to tell expectant moms and dads the gender of an unborn child because they fear the pregnancy will be terminated if the fetus is a different sex than hoped.
Find a new doctor and/or hospital that will give you the accurate ultrasound information.
Warnings
- Call a doctor immediately if you suffer from excessive vaginal bleeding after an ultrasound, amniocentesis or CVS. While a little vaginal bleeding might be normal especially after amniocentesis or CVS, excessive bleeding during any part of your pregnancy could be a sign of an impending miscarriage or stillbirth.
Photo Credit
- grossesse 93 image by Nathalie P from Fotolia.com
