4 Ways To Predict Your Baby's Gender

There is nothing more exciting than knowing you are expecting a child sooner or later. But before you get DNA testing before birth, do know that there are several options you can consider to predict the gender of your unborn baby. Here are the four common ones.

Invasive DNA Testing (Amniocentesis & Chorionic Villus Sampling)

Both these tests are the most precise methods of predicting a baby’s gender while pregnant. During the process of amniocentesis, a needle is used to get an amniotic fluid sample of the fetus by inserting it through the abdomen of the mother. An ultrasound is used to guide the insertion of the needle to prevent harming the baby. The extracted amniotic fluid contains the genetic composition of the baby, making it possible to detect any genetic disorders as well as gender.

Almost the same process of DNA testing before birth is done with chorionic villus sampling that is done by taking a sample of tissues from the placenta by inserting a needle via the mother’s genitals. However, since there is a risk involved in both these methods, they are not really recommended just for detecting the sex of the child.

Traditional Ultrasound

This is the most popular method of sex prediction that is usually done between 18 weeks and 22 weeks in pregnancy. The result of ultrasound is almost 100% percent if done by a professional as scans are almost always accurate. The penis becomes very visible during the scan. While it involves little risk, prolonged exposure to ultrasound can also be harmful due to the radiation it emits.

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)

Also called cell-free DNA (cfDNA), NIPT is the most recent DNA testing before birth that involves no risk to both the mother and the baby. Only blood drawn from the expecting mom is enough to analyze in the laboratory. The fetal cfDNA, coming from the placenta, is known to be found also in the mother’s bloodstream, which is genetically identical to that of the unborn baby.

This testing can be used to determine the sex of the fetus by looking for Y-chromosome cell-free DNA fragments. If the chromosome is present, it is more likely that the baby’s gender is a boy. Otherwise, it is most likely a girl.