How to Determine Baby Gender by Heart Rate

Curious about whether you're having a girl or a boy? Determining baby gender is one of the most exciting aspects of pregnancy. There are many theories and myths on how to determine a baby's gender; one of those myths involves heart rate.

Studies have been conducted on this, but alas, there is no evidence to suggest that you can determine baby gender based on heart rate. But many parents still have fun trying fun tests to determine baby gender! After all - there's a 50% chance that your guess will be correct!

In order to try to test for baby gender at home using the baby's heart rate, you'll need:

- Ultrasound or hand-held doppler
- Stopwatch
- Calculator

How to Determine Baby Gender Using Heart Rate

For expecting parents who want to try to test for baby gender using heart rate, the following procedure can be used to determine the baby's heart rate (and supposedly, the baby's gender!)

Step 1: Determine the date of the woman's last period. If this information is not available, you will need to determine the approximate date of conception with a visit to the OB-GYN. The fetal heart beat will arise 22 days after conception (5 weeks after the woman's last period), but it is not audible until 9-10 weeks since the woman's last period.

Step 2: isit the OB-GYN for an ultrasound (if it's been 5+ weeks since the woman's last period) or purchase a hand-held doppler (if it's been 10+ weeks since the woman's last period). If you want to try to guess the baby's gender based on heart rate using the latter method, you'll need a stop watch.

Step 3: Set the stop watch for 60 seconds and count the baby's heart beats using the doppler. (You can also time it for 15 or 30 seconds, and then multiply by 2 or 4, respectively) If you're visiting the OB-GYN for a sonogram, you can simply ask the ultrasound technician for the baby's heart rate (BPM or "Beats Per Minute"), since this information will be displayed on the monitor.

"Determine" if the baby is a boy or girl using the following formula: it's a girl if the heart rate is over 140 beats per minute; it's a boy if the heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute.

Some pregnant mothers may wish to write down the results in a journal, notebook or baby book. If desired, repeat the process during each sonogram visit or at home using a hand-held doppler. Some parents may find it fun to track the baby's heart rate at different times of day and at different points in the pregnancy to see if the gender prediction changes!

More Info on the Baby Gender Myth - Determining Baby Gender With Heart Rate

Notably, the baby's heart rate varies according to activity level - you will get a faster heart rate when the baby is awake and a slower heart rate when the baby is asleep.

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that baby sex can be predicted using heart rate, but some pregnant parents find it fun to perform the tests anyways! Amniocentesis is the most reliable method to determine baby gender; the second most accurate method to determine baby gender is via ultrasound (sonogram.)

If you're expecting multiples, it will be difficult to determine one baby's heart rate using a doppler, especially early in the pregnancy when the babies are small and situated in close proximity to each other. For the layman, it can be hard to differentiate the babies' heart beats in a multiple pregnancy, especially in the first or early part of the second trimester.

Sources:
BabyGenderPrediction.com