What is the best way to find out the gender of your baby?

The only 100% accurate and reliable way to find out the sex of your baby before birth is with a DNA test.

While some people choose to wait until the birth, many people want to find out earlier, so that they can prepare for their new arrival.

In this article, we look at the different testing methods available for finding out the sex of your baby before birth, and how to decide which test is best for you.

How does blood testing work for baby gender?

Traditionally, women could find out the sex of their baby from ultrasound scans performed around 18 weeks into pregnancy, or after having amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) procedures carried out as part of their prenatal care.

However, scientific advancements have made it possible to accurately determine a baby’s sex from as early as six weeks into pregnancy, with only a blood sample from mom required.

Blood testing for baby gender is 100% risk-free for mom and baby and works by detecting small amounts of fetal DNA in the mother’s bloodstream, which begins to circulate from around 6 weeks into pregnancy.

Highly sensitive testing methods are then used to detect Y-chromosome DNA in the mother’s blood sample.

Because the Y chromosome is only found in males, the presence of a Y chromosome indicates that the baby is a boy. If no Y chromosome is detected, the baby is a girl.

Which blood testing methods can be used to find out a baby’s gender?

An AlphaBiolabs Prenatal Gender Test can be used to determine a baby’s sex from as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy, with only a blood sample from mom required.

Our test works by analyzing the mother’s blood sample for the presence of a Y chromosome. If a Y chromosome is detected, this means the baby is a boy. If no Y chromosome is detected, this means that the baby is a girl.

The mother must be at least 6 weeks pregnant to ensure that any Y chromosome present is at a detectable level. You will be responsible for arranging your own blood draw, and your test kit will contain full details on how to book a blood sample collection appointment through our recommended mobile phlebotomy service.

How does an ultrasound scan work for baby gender?

An ultrasound scan is performed by a qualified sonographer, and uses a process called sonography to visualise the inside of the body.

The scan is performed using a probe which produces soundwaves. These soundwaves bounce back from the body, creating internal images that can be examined by the sonographer.

Ultrasound scans are non-invasive and are typically carried out by healthcare providers as part of the mother’s prenatal care. They can be used to determine a baby’s sex from around 18 weeks into pregnancy.

However, ultrasound scans are not always accurate. This is because the sonographer must be able to get a clear view of the baby’s genitals in utero, which is not always possible depending on the way the baby is positioned at the time of the scan.

How does Chorionic Villus Sampling work for baby gender?

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is an invasive procedure that is typically only offered to pregnant women who are at high risk of having a baby with a genetic or chromosomal abnormality (e.g. Down’s Syndrome). It can also be used to determine the gender of the baby.

During a CVS test, which is performed from 11-14 weeks into pregnancy, cells are obtained from the placenta by guiding a thin tube through the cervix, or by inserting a needle into the uterus to remove a sample of chorionic villus cells.

Unlike non-invasive testing methods (such as blood testing for baby gender), CVS testing carries a small risk of miscarriage.

How does amniocentesis work for baby gender?

For amniocentesis, a small sample of amniotic fluid (the fluid surrounding the baby) is extracted from the uterus using a long, thin needle which is inserted into the abdomen.

As with CVS testing, amniocentesis is usually performed for high-risk pregnancies, where there is a chance that the baby may have a genetic or chromosomal abnormality.

The test is performed between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and carries a small risk of miscarriage.

Is it possible to predict baby gender without a DNA test?

There are still many myths surrounding how to find out a baby’s biological sex – many of them old wives’ tales with no basis in scientific fact.

Not only are these myths misleading, but they can also cause disappointment for expectant parents.

Chinese gender prediction chart

The Chinese gender predictor chart is said to have been found over 700 years ago, in a royal tomb near Beijing.

It is thought that the chart can be used to predict a baby’s gender using the age of the mother at the time of conception (when she first became pregnant), and the approximate date when conception took place.

These dates are then converted into dates on the Chinese lunar calendar to predict whether the baby is a boy or a girl, based on the mother’s lunar age, and the lunar date of conception.

Mayan calendar gender predictor

The Mayan calendar theory is very similar to the Chinese gender predictor chart, in that it uses the mother’s age and the month of conception to determine baby gender. However, the calculation is much simpler.

If both numbers (mother’s age and month of conception) are odd, or both numbers are even, it is thought that the baby will be a girl.

If one number is even and the other is odd, it is thought that the baby will be a boy.

Other common gender prediction myths include…

• The ring test – to perform the ring test, the mother lies on her back and another person dangles her wedding ring over the baby bump on a piece of thread. If the ring moves back and forth over the bump, it’s said that the baby is a boy. If it moves in a circle over the bump, it’s a girl.

• Baby bump shape – a common myth persists that you can tell the sex of the baby from the shape of the mother’s bump. ‘Carrying low’ is a term that’s often used to describe the baby bump sitting closer to the hips. Historically, this was thought to indicate that the baby was a girl. ‘Carrying high’ or having a protruding bump was thought to indicate a boy.

Pregnancy cravings are another popular but unproven predictor. Of course, while it can be fun to guess the sex of a baby before it’s born, it’s worth noting that the only 100% accurate and reliable way of finding out the sex of a baby before birth is with a DNA test.

So, we’d recommend taking the results of these gender prediction methods with a very big pinch of salt!