Want to Know the Sex of Your Baby?
If you find out whether you’re having a boy or a girl, you will be able to choose some cute gender specific nursery decorations and clothing. It will also make choosing a baby name half the battle. Knowing the sex of your baby may help you bond and identify closely with your baby while it is still in your belly.
Waiting until the birth to find out your baby’s sex will give you a lovely surprise on the day. Some women say this helps them deal with the child labour. There are lots of gorgeous gender neutral nursery decorations and newborn clothes. Gender neutral gear is very useful if you are planning on having more babies.
If you want to know the sex of your baby, the most accurate gender prediction tool is an ultrasound (scan).
If you don’t want to know for certain the sex of your baby, you can still have plenty of fun predicting whether you are having a boy or girl with the following gender tests and old wives tales. There has been no scientific research done that shows any of these tests to be accurate, but they do have a large following of believers. Is it just a coincidence when they are right, or is there some truth behind the myths? Read on and make up your own mind.
A Scan – The Most Accurate Gender Prediction
An ultrasound is the most accurate way of determining the sex of your baby. The best time for the technician to see the baby’s gender is between the 18th and 26th week.
You will be sent for a pregnancy scan around the 19 week mark, during which the technician will check on your baby’s progress. At this scan you have the choice of finding out the sex of your baby. If you don’t want to know, tell the technician at the start of the scan.
Keep in mind that a scan can not determine the baby’s gender with 100% accuracy. The technician may struggle if your baby is in an awkward position. It is rare, but there have been instances where the parents are told they are having a baby boy or girl, but on the day the opposite sex is born. This can stun the parents if they have strongly identified with the baby as being of the opposite sex, and turn all their well-organised plans upside down as they try to choose a new name and wonder what to do with all the new baby boy or girl clothes.
The Gender Ring Test
There are two slightly different gender ring tests that predict your baby’s sex. They both involve a ring and either a strand of hair or fine thread.
- Thread a strand of hair or piece of string through a ring. Dangle the ring over the pregnant women’s belly while she is lying down. If the ring swings in a circular motion it’s a girl. If it moves from side to side it’s a boy.
- Thread a strand of hair or piece of string through a ring. Dangle the ring over the women’s wrist. It will predict the gender of all the babies that woman has and will have (including miscarriages). It will swing for 10 seconds for each baby, and then switch to the gender of the next baby.
Predict the Gender by your Baby’s Heart Rate
This test is based on the theory that baby girls have faster heart rates in the womb than boys. Your baby’s heart rate will vary depending on whether he/she is sleeping, active, or going through a growth spurt. However your midwife will listen to the heartbeat at each visit, so you can work out over time whether the heart rate has a tendency to be high or low.
- It’s a baby girl if the heart rate is 140 beats per minute or faster.
- It’s a baby boy if the heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute.
Myths and Old Wives Tales Based on How Mum Looks and Feels
There are a number of myths and old wives tales based on how you look and feel during pregnancy that can be used to predict your baby’s sex. Some people believe in these gender predictions so strongly that you may find yourself stopped on the street by strangers who are positive they can tell you the sex of your baby.
It’s a baby boy if you –
- Do not experience morning sickness.
- Carry most of your pregnancy weight out front.
- Have a belly that is sitting low.
- Want to eat more salty foods than before.
- Need to shave the hairs on your legs more frequently.
- Are looking better than usual, i.e. everyone tells you that you are blooming.
- Notice that your right breast is bigger than your left.
- Get drier skin.
- Find your hair is shinier and fuller.
It’s a baby girl if you –
- Experience morning sickness.
- Carry quite a bit of the pregnancy weight in your hips and rear.
- Have a belly that is sitting high.
- Want to eat more sweet food, fruit and juices than before.
- Are looking worse for wear – the myth is that daughters steal their mum’s beauty.
- Notice that your left breast is larger than your right breast.
- Get softer skin and possibly more acne.
- Find your hair is duller and thinner.
Mayan Gender Test
The ancient Mayans were ahead of their time, especially with astronomy and math. They developed a gender test which took into account the year of conception, and the mother’s age at the time of conception.
- It’s a baby girl if both numbers are even, or if both are odd. For instance, if you conceived while you were 32 in the year 2008, then you are having a baby girl. Also, if you conceived in 2007 while you were 29, you are having a baby girl.
- It’s a baby boy if one of the numbers is odd, and the other is even. For instance if you conceived while you were 25 in the year 2008, then you are having a baby boy.
Baby Gender Disappointment?
If you find out your baby is not the gender you were hoping for while pregnant, you may be amazed at how any disappointment disappears the moment your wee one is born. Parents that wanted a baby girl can be surprised by how beautiful and adorable their baby boy is, and vice versa.
If you believed you knew the sex of your baby while you were pregnant, it can be a great shock if your baby turns out to be of the opposite sex. As well as the panic to find a new name, and clothes of the right colour, parents can initially feel disassociated and worry that they’ve lost the bond they had created based on the baby’s believed sex. Be kind to yourself and remember that everybody varies in the amount of time it takes to bond strongly with their new baby. If you’re concerned about the way you are feeling, talk to a midwifery professional.
This article was kindly supplied by NZS.