When Can You Find Out the Gender of Your Unborn Baby?

It's Hard to Wait!

Sarah Lipoff
Congratulations! You just discovered you are pregnant and are excited about what is to come! This is a wonderful time full of changes. A baby is growing inside you and around every corner is something new! You are ready for some real answers - when can you find out if you are having a boy or a girl?

There many "old wives' tales" on how to determine the sex of your unborn child. You can watch your wedding ring hang on a thread in front of your growing belly for which way it swings. Some think having lots of morning sickness means you're having a boy. Many seem to be able to determine the sex of your baby by the way you are carrying your child (and wont hesitate to tell you their guess)! These methods are fun and entertaining, but don't put your faith in them! The only way to get the facts is with your doctor - and even then it isn't always fool proof!

Around the 16-20th week of your pregnancy, an ultra-sound will check how your pregnancy is progressing. This is when there might be some routine genetic testing also. During the ultra-sound the technician will ask if you would like to know the gender of your baby. This is your big moment! If you want to know the technician will fill you in on the gender based on information from the genital area on the ultra-sound. Remember, these results are not %100! There is always a chance they might be incorrect.

There are a couple other ways to determine the sex of your baby such as through a CVS or Chorionic villus sampling or an amniocentesis. These procedures are a bit more risky for mom and unborn child and are usually only done when there are potential genetic issues. Both tests involve using a small needle to remove a sampling of the amniotic fluid for testing. There is some risk for miscarriage involved, but both tests, if administered, will help provide answers for parents of potential genetic or chromosomal issues with an unborn child. You can also determine the baby's sex through these procedures, which are also done between the 16th and 20th week of pregnancy.

Finding out the sex of your unborn child is so popular there is a new gender predictor test called the Pink or Blue that determine your baby's sex as early as 7 weeks! This test uses cell-free fetal DNA that circulates through the mother's blood stream by the 7th week of conception. Using a finger prick blood test, you can have quick results of the sex of your baby! You can purchase this ground breaking test at your local drugstore and online. This test touts a %95-success rate or your money back!

It is hard being patient when you want some answers but if you choose to find out the sex of your baby, you only have to wait a couple weeks until you can have results. Whether you find out via an ultra-sound or the new Pink or Blue test, having a new baby is a magical experience! Knowing what color to paint the nursery makes it even more fun!

http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/fetal_development/genetics_gender/quiz/having-a-girl
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=209200&aid=336064&aparam=pink%20or%20blue%20test&scinit1=pink%20or%20blue%20test

Published by Sarah Lipoff

Sarah Lipoff is mom to a busy two-year-old daughter and wife to a talented (and patient) photographer husband. Before becoming a mom, she taught kids of all ages the wonders of art and how awesome it is to b...  View profile

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