Is it possible to determine gender with one screening? Is it possible to find out the gender of the unborn child yourself in early pregnancy and what methods are the most accurate?

My name is Anastasia and this is my second pregnancy. I am now five months pregnant. It's going well.

When I became pregnant, I realized this even without the first signs of pregnancy. This is a special feeling, a feeling of reliability, joy, happiness. And when I started to feel nauseous, there was no doubt at all. The first pregnancy test showed two lines. The husband was happy. The son, although small, was also happy and said that soon he would be nursing a doll. My son is even learning to swaddle dolls, on his own initiative - apparently, he saw girls playing like this in kindergarten.

From the fourth to the seventh week of pregnancy I was tormented by toxicosis, then, to my joy, everything stopped. I started carrying something to snack in my bag for myself, because on an empty stomach I felt sick and started to feel nauseous.

I registered with the antenatal clinic at 10 weeks. I passed all the necessary tests and went through all the doctors. Everything was just great. At the first visit, the gynecologist suggested that I had twins and asked me to come in after lunch for an ultrasound. She said that the uterus is large and does not correspond to the term.

I didn't expect this. Of course, I was glad, one child is good, but two are better, but my eye twitched for half a day from the unexpected news. After lunch, I went for an ultrasound and went through it twice, since one machine did not show the gestational age. It turned out that there was only one baby there and the due date was the one I said. Then the doctor said that my baby was probably large or I had fibroids.

At 12 weeks, I went to have an ultrasound in another city. Screening showed that everything is fine, the baby is developing as needed. When I asked who would be born, a boy or a girl, they told me that they could make a mistake at this time, but they didn’t tell me. I think it's a girl. To be honest, I want to have a boy, a friend to my eldest son. But if it’s a girl, I’ll be happy too.

There was a funny incident recently. During my next visit to the antenatal clinic, the doctor told me that she could not hear the baby’s heartbeat. I was surprised, not scared, because I didn’t believe her - because the baby had been actively moving for a long time and quite noticeably. The doctor checked again, then said that she had confused the bladder and uterus. Even on the first day of visiting the antenatal clinic, I realized that “adventures” awaited me here.

I started looking for children's things. With my first child, they convinced me not to buy baby things until he was born. In general, I don’t believe in all sorts of prejudices - I decided to follow the lead of my relatives, for their peace of mind, so when the baby was born, I bought things quickly - as long as I had them. And now I want to choose and buy what I like.

After our first child, we still had a crib, a stroller for newborns, a stroller, and a lot of clothes for the boy. If it’s a boy, then there are already children’s clothes for him - mostly light blue. You can only buy a couple of new things to go out. But if it’s a girl, then, of course, you’ll have to buy children’s clothes that match the girls’ colors.

They will soon give you a referral for a second screening. I think everything will be fine. Since I haven’t been sick in the previous months, I eat right, take the necessary vitamins, eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, lead an active lifestyle, and walk a lot.

I finally find out who I'm having, a boy or a girl.

I am happy that I will become a mother for the second time, and I will try to be a great mother. Even during my first pregnancy, I read a lot of literature on the topic of pregnancy, childbirth, caring for a baby, raising a child, and now I am refreshing my knowledge and receiving new information. I believe that parents should be prepared for the arrival of a new family member. We are one hundred percent ready.

My family is happy, my husband and child are very happy that we will soon have another family member. We are waiting for him and love him very much.

Comment on the article “Who will be born, a boy or a girl? Gender of the child: waiting for the second screening"

Gender of the child. Analyzes, studies, tests, ultrasound. Donov or three-dimensional ultrasound?. Determining the sex of the child. Pregnancy and childbirth: conception, tests, ultrasound, toxicosis, childbirth, caesarean section, birth. And now I really want to find out the sex of the belly! Screening at 16 weeks.

Second screening. Analyzes, studies, tests, ultrasound. Pregnancy and childbirth. Some consultations refuse to carry out a second screening if the results of the first did not show abnormalities. Is this legal?

Discussion

“According to world standards,” for example, in England I was not given a second screening. Only ultrasound. No one even mentioned him.

With a bad first screening (blood), I was not sent to the second only for an ultrasound. I’m thinking of doing it myself at CIRC, they calculate based on the first ultrasound.

Ultrasound surprises (gender reassignment). Determining the sex of the child. Pregnancy and childbirth. Ultrasound surprises (gender reassignment). I went for an ultrasound today. And the doctor who looked at me shocked me with the news that I was having a girl.

Discussion

I was also told that our story is a girl. My husband and I want a boy, will the baby's gender change before birth?

03/29/2018 13:52:51, Guest

At the 2nd screening at 20 weeks they said it was a girl, and at the 3rd screening at 34 weeks another doctor said it was a boy) I hope it’s a girl)

01/08/2018 20:58:46, Christinaaaa

She made a mistake with the gender, although she somehow tried to measure the genital tubercle and inclination. :)) I also don’t take photos, I don’t write on the disk and I don’t wait for the correct gender determination at 12 weeks. At the second screening, my friend was told there was an 85 percent chance of Down syndrome, she was in...

Discussion

I made it at Tyo's. The first time I went with Olga. I can’t say how long it took, the disc was recorded, everything was detailed, essentially, without jokes or jokes. That's why I liked him, he was serious and businesslike. I watched the disc once at home and I don’t even know where I put it. During this pregnancy I wanted to go to Tyo, but the appointment was a month and a half in advance, I signed up for the second screening, and did the first with Spravtseva. She made a mistake with the gender, although she somehow tried to measure the genital tubercle and inclination. But as a specialist, I have no complaints, I looked at everything just as carefully and took photos. Then I went to Cho. He hasn't changed, he's a specialist from God :) Still to the point. I didn't burn the disc. I'm probably as callous as the Little Engine :) pampering is all :)

I had it done at 12 and 18 weeks with Blokhina, I liked it, there were only 3D photos. Te did it at 22 weeks, he didn’t seem to be doing anything, but he said one thing and in conclusion he wrote something completely different…. that is, he said that my pharynx is completely dug by the placenta, but he wrote that it’s just previa (((((((((((I don’t want to blame, but a fact is a fact)

Determining the sex of the child. Pregnancy and childbirth. But I still have hope for a second screening in 1.5 weeks. Question - has anyone had any real experience when the ultrasound was wrong at 18-19 weeks with the gender??

Discussion

Hello! The girls told me at the 14th week that twins were definitely boys, and at 18 weeks they said one boy and the other looks like a girl... who had this happen?

01/05/2018 16:59:19, Sayana

My ultrasound technicians didn’t make a mistake with a single baby, as we now find out after giving birth :)

Determining the sex of the child. Pregnancy and childbirth. With the first and with the second child, they immediately said the gender - the boy was already at the second ultrasound, at the 3rd it was already 100% confirmed, but mine somehow lay well for the ultrasound specialist, did not close, now 3B, completely different, absolutely without ...

Gender at 17 weeks - is it already certain? Determining the sex of the child. Pregnancy and childbirth. We were at the screening for the 2nd trimester... It looked like we saw the boy again:) I’ve even thought of a name. Our dad really doesn’t like it... well, we won’t listen to him... Ahhhh no...

Discussion

Ha=ha! It happens that even at 38 they won’t be able to tell, and sometimes even at 10 they will say correctly. I think it depends on the position of the child and the experience of the doctor. It’s possible that if you go specifically for this, they’ll look at it until they see it, but a routine routine examination at a residential complex won’t give you any accuracy. It’s not that they won’t see it, but they are aiming to look at something completely different, and their time is very limited.

Yesterday I also had an ultrasound done at the LCD. The ultrasound specialist actually told me that it’s STILL EARLY to determine the gender :))) I was so disappointed :)))))) My boys were already determined for me at 12-13 weeks, but here at 16 it’s EARLY :))) I thought that she simply didn’t want to spend extra time on me (LCD after all), and decided to win her over with her personal charm - she told me that I already have two boys, I really want to know in advance who will be, etc. She took pity and looked - she said “I don’t see any ponytails yet.” But I can’t give an exact answer - IT’S EARLY :)))

Zhenya My wife and I are waiting for a new addition to our family. Wife is 14 weeks pregnant. I have already passed the first screening, but the sex of the child has not been determined. Tell me, at what time can we find out who we are having - a boy or a girl?

By turning to ultrasound specialists, the expectant mother can find out who she will give birth to in the early stages of pregnancy. The diagnostics in question allows us to see the first signs of sexual differences in children, starting from the 11th week of gestation. The erroneous result of the study is due to the fact that at this stage the child’s genitals are not yet fully formed. In this case, a qualified specialist with extensive experience will be able to recognize the boy by his developing scrotum. The absence of testicles in the fetus indicates that a female fetus is developing in the womb.

Starting from the 12th week of pregnancy, the chances of determining the sex of the child increase. If during the first screening ultrasound the baby is denied access to the genitals, the specialist will not be able to determine his gender.

Starting from the 14th week, the expectant mother can undergo ultrasound diagnostics again. At this stage, errors in determining the sex of the fetus are minimized, since these organs can already be assessed by their appearance. In addition, the doctor can conduct a study by calculating the distance between the spine and the fetal genital tubercle. The result will show who you will have: a son or a daughter.

Starting from the 18th week, a pregnant woman can find out the sex of the baby with almost 99.9% accuracy. At this stage, the degree of fetal development makes it possible to accurately determine who will be born in the family. To do this, the expectant mother needs to register with the antenatal clinic on time and undergo an ultrasound examination.

Carrying out the first, second and third screenings during pregnancy increases the chances of reliably determining the sex of the child. Doctors believe that after the 18th week, errors in ultrasound results are excluded, provided that the baby turned to the sensor in the right place during the diagnosis. If the child covered his genitals with his hand or turned his butt away, then don’t worry - perhaps he decided to organize a surprise for you. In any case, after giving birth, you will find out what kind of mysterious baby was hiding from the ultrasound for all nine months.

What should a child be able to do at 2 years old?

A two-year-old baby shows independence in everything: he behaves quite neatly at the dinner table - he does not throw food around and does not get wet; Maybe…

How to explain to a child where babies come from

What temperature should be brought down in a child?

Pediatricians say that it is necessary to bring down the baby’s temperature only if the thermometer has reached more than 39 degrees. However, even...

Ultrasound examination is the most informative and safe method that allows you to monitor the course of pregnancy and timely determine the development of pathologies. Mandatory ultrasound is prescribed for pregnant women at about 11-13 weeks. Many expectant mothers at this stage are interested in the question of whether it is possible to find out the sex of the child at the first screening.

General, or complete, screening is a complex of studies. An ultrasound examination is planned and mandatory, but in addition to it, the doctor may prescribe additional procedures - biochemical screening. A full examination is prescribed when there is an increased statistical risk of pathologies. First of all, the following are sent for screening in the 1st trimester:

if there are cases of genetic pathologies in the family;
pregnant women over 35 years of age;
if the mother has previously had a miscarriage, frozen pregnancy or premature birth;
if you have an infectious disease or are taking medications that may affect the development of the fetus.

Screening is safe for both mother and baby. It makes no sense to conduct research before the 11th week: most of the necessary indicators are not visible in tests before this period. The first screening consists of two main studies: ultrasound (ultrasound) and biochemical blood test.

Do not worry if the doctor prescribed or, conversely, did not prescribe this or that procedure. Each case of pregnancy is different from the others, and it should be remembered that the decision to prescribe examinations can only be made by a specialist.

How to carry out the procedure

An ultrasound examination helps to find out the exact duration of pregnancy (it may differ from the period calculated by the date of the last menstruation). At the first ultrasound screening, fetal parameters are measured: the size of the head, the length of the bones of the arms and legs, the functioning of the heart, the amount of amniotic fluid, the condition of the placenta and other important indicators of the course of pregnancy are assessed.

Ultrasound is performed in two ways:

Transabdominal access - through the anterior abdominal wall. The sensor of the device is located on the stomach.
Transvaginal method. With this access option, the sensor is inserted into the vagina.

At the first screening, both methods are used. The second method is considered more informative: it allows you to carefully study a very small fetus and is suitable even for women with a large amount of subcutaneous fat. But it is typical for the first screening examination of pregnant women, because During the second and subsequent examinations, only the transabdominal method is used.

This procedure does not require special preparation. It is advisable to undergo an ultrasound with an empty bladder, but this is not considered critical during first trimester screening. It is also undesirable to consume foods that can cause gas formation for at least 8 hours. These are raw vegetables and fruits, juices, milk and carbonated drinks. The last meal can be approximately 3-4 hours before the procedure.

A biochemical blood test helps to identify the likelihood of developing fetal pathologies. To do this, the level of hormones in the mother's blood is determined. Blood sampling is no different from standard venous blood tests, which a woman undergoes repeatedly during pregnancy. You must donate blood on an empty stomach. For 2-3 days before the analysis, doctors advise abstaining from sexual intercourse, this is due to possible changes in hormonal levels after sex, although the errors may be insignificant.

Biochemical screening is not done in multiple pregnancies, if the mother is underweight or overweight, or if she has diabetes. This is due to the fact that in all of these cases the hormonal levels will be disrupted and the analysis result will be unreliable.

How does the baby develop?

Modern ultrasound examination allows the expectant mother to observe what is happening on the screen of the ultrasound machine along with the doctor. And the first examination becomes the first meeting between mother and son (or daughter).

Reference!

Although it is still difficult to see the child in the usual sense on the monitor, women are excitedly waiting for this moment.

The most important thing at this stage is to make sure that everything is going as it should. And, of course, when the doctor says: “Listen to how the child’s heart beats. Here is the head, here are the legs, and here are the arms, all the fingers have already formed. Everything is fine with you,” –

Mom feels a surge of happiness.

By 12 weeks of pregnancy, all the baby’s organs and body systems are fully formed.

Reference!

The baby’s weight now is no more than 19 grams, and his body length is about 9 cm.

Despite its tiny parameters, a child’s brain is no different from the brain of an adult in anything except its size.

Often, on an ultrasound, a woman sees how the baby sucks his finger, and his nails are already formed. The chaotic movements of the baby are thought out by nature - during them he trains his muscular system.

Video

The ultrasound video below contains footage of the baby's activity in the womb at 12 weeks of pregnancy.

What will the study show?

What is an ultrasound at the 12th week of pregnancy in terms of information content, and what is looked at with its help? Ultrasound screening at 12 weeks of gestation allows the doctor to see and evaluate:

the size of the unborn baby (the length of certain bones, body length and head parameters are recorded);
symmetry of the brain hemispheres;
location of the kidneys, stomach, heart and other important organs;
possible developmental abnormalities, including heart defects, tumors, congenital anomalies;
signs of genetic disorders;
the place where the placenta is attached (normally it should be located along the anterior or posterior walls of the uterus);
the condition of the umbilical cord, the presence and functioning of 2 arteries and a vein in it;
the length of the cervix, which depends on the duration of pregnancy and the individual characteristics of the expectant mother;
the exact date from the conception of the child.

How is it done?

The ultrasound examination procedure is performed transvaginally (by inserting a vaginal sensor) or transabdominally (through the abdominal wall).

And if the first method is common only at the beginning of pregnancy, when it is still difficult to obtain the necessary information through the abdominal wall, then the second method is used more widely

However, there are indications for transvaginal ultrasound at a later date.

The study is performed transvaginally

, If:

low position of the placenta or chorion is diagnosed;
Isthmic-cervical insufficiency has been identified, the severity of which needs to be assessed;
there are myomatous nodes;
there are suspicions of inflammatory processes in cysts or appendages;
There is a large layer of fatty tissue on the abdomen, through which it is not possible to see the necessary parameters.

Who is it prescribed to?

In our country, three times mandatory examination of all expectant mothers is regulated.

It is carried out for preventive purposes and is called screening. A screening study makes it possible for early detection of perinatal pathology even in those pregnant women who are not worried about anything.

There are three such studies in total; they are prescribed at different stages of pregnancy and include ultrasound examination and determination of the biochemical composition of the blood. So an ultrasound at 12 weeks is indicated for all pregnant women, without exception.

Norms and indicators

As mentioned above, during the first screening two main examinations are performed: ultrasound examination and blood donation from a vein.

What is determined by these studies, and what are the normal values? Let's look further.

What does an ultrasound show?

An ultrasound examination during the first screening is aimed at determining the following indicators:

The location of the embryo in the uterus - to exclude ectopic pregnancy.
Number of fetuses - one child or several, as well as identical or fraternal pregnancy.
The viability of the fetus is at 10-14 weeks, the baby’s heartbeat and his movements of arms and legs are already clearly visible.
Coccygeal-parietal size - this indicator is checked with data on the last menstruation of the expectant mother, after which a more accurate gestational age is determined.
Fetal anatomy - at the end of the first trimester, the baby’s skull and facial bones, as well as the rudiments of internal organs, in particular the brain, are clearly visible on ultrasound.
Nuchal translucency thickness (NTT) is the most important indicator determined during the first screening. Its excess may indicate the presence of genetic defects.
The size of the nasal bone - this parameter also helps in determining the presence of genetic diseases.
Conditions of the placenta - its maturity, method of attachment and other indicators that can cause spontaneous abortion are determined.

Hormone levels

Based on the results of the ultrasound, a biochemical blood test is performed to determine the level of the hormones hCG and PAPP-A.

Elevated levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may indicate:

pregnancy with twins or twins;
diabetes mellitus in the expectant mother;
the presence of pathologies in the fetus;
incorrectly determined gestational age.

HCG levels less than normal usually indicate the presence of an ectopic pregnancy, the threat of spontaneous abortion, or the development of pathologies in the fetus.

Another hormone whose level is determined during the first screening is the PAPP-A protein. It is responsible for the proper functioning of the placenta and its reduced level may indicate:

the presence of Down or Edwards syndrome in the fetus;
development of genetic pathologies;
frozen pregnancy.

Will a woman find out the gender of her baby at 12 weeks?

It happens that already at the first screening, the mother finds out who is worth waiting for - a boy or a girl. The child’s genitals are already fully formed, but only a very experienced diagnostician can discern the baby’s gender. It often happens that the baby turns sideways or backwards and does not want to open up to the doctor. Do not worry if the first ultrasound does not clarify the sex of the unborn child - it will be determined at the next examination.

Functional diagnostic doctors have their own secrets for early recognition of the baby’s gender, because this information is very important for the mother. For example, when the child is positioned facing the sensor, the specialist can measure the angle formed by the baby’s back and the genital tubercle. If it is less than 30 degrees, there is a high probability that it will be a girl. An angle above the specified value indicates that a boy is expected.

What can affect screening results?

Something went wrong? Do not panic! There are many factors that can cause test results to be inaccurate. Namely:

obesity or simply impressive excess weight “waiting”,
method of conception (with IVF, the amount of protein in the pregnant woman’s blood will be reduced),
multiple births (in this case, the norm indicators change somewhat),
amneocentosis,
diabetes mellitus in the expectant mother,
stress and “nerves” in a woman before the screening day.

All of the above reasons can affect the results of the study, as a result of which the results are distorted, and the doctor will not be able to judge your baby’s condition with one hundred percent certainty.

What is KTR?

One of the central indicators determined by ultrasound at 12 weeks is the coccygeal-parietal size of the embryo. During the first screening, normally it should be about 5.1-5.3 cm, fluctuations of a few tenths of a centimeter are acceptable. The doctor will clarify that the size of the KTP greatly depends on the exact stage of pregnancy. For example, at 11 weeks the CTE indicator will be approximately 4.2 cm (acceptable figures are from 3.4 to 5.0 cm).

Coccygeal-parietal size is a key factor in highly accurate determination of gestational age, but only for a period of 7 to 16 weeks

Important!

Determining the gestational age using KTP is unique in that the error when using this method is no more than 3 days.

But after 16 weeks, the method loses its relevance and completely different parameters come to the fore.

The resulting indicators must correspond to the standard, which is determined using a special table. Based on a comparison of two indicators, the doctor draws conclusions about the well-being of the embryo and the compliance of its development with the established period.

3D and 4D ultrasound – three-dimensional images for memory

More and more expectant mothers today prefer to replace conventional echography with 3D or 4D ultrasound. How are these methods better than traditional research? What is the difference between each other and what is given to future parents?

3D ultrasound allows you to get a three-dimensional image (photo), in which you can accurately see the baby’s face and examine the details of his appearance, find out the gender of the child and count his tiny fingers. The difference between a 3D examination and a traditional procedure is that it can only be carried out within a certain period of time - from 20 to 33 weeks and it is done only at the request of the parents, since from a medical point of view it is no different from a regular ultrasound, but costs several times more once.

4D differs from 3D only in the ability to see how a child lives in the womb in real time. Three-dimensional ultrasound shows only static frames, but four-dimensional, thanks to the rotation of the picture, allows you to see the baby’s movements and facial expressions.

What determines the accuracy of determining the sex of a child during an ultrasound?

With the advent of ultrasound machines, married couples have the opportunity to find out the gender of the child before birth. However, this can only be done for a certain period of time. Over the course of 9 months, the expectant mother undergoes 3 scheduled ultrasounds:

A study at 10-14 weeks allows us to identify the development of genetic pathologies and other dangerous diseases in the baby. The specialist takes appropriate measurements of the fetus, determines the heart rate and can tell the parents the sex of the child.
At 20-24 weeks, the baby’s weight and size are measured. Based on the results, deviation or compliance with standards is established, and the presence or absence of dangerous pathologies is finally determined. At the second ultrasound, the sex of the child is determined with high accuracy.
At 32-34 weeks, the doctor examines the correct location and functioning of the child’s internal organs. If, due to the location of the fetus, it was previously not possible to determine whether it was a son or a daughter, after the 3rd ultrasound the parents will most likely find out who they will have.

It is not always possible to recognize the sex of a child in the early stages. As the baby grows, all his organs become more visible, and the likelihood of accurately determining external sexual characteristics increases.

Sometimes the expectant mother does not know who she will have until the birth of her child. The accuracy of ultrasound results is influenced by several factors:

the stage of pregnancy at which the study is carried out;
technical characteristics of the device;
professionalism of the specialist performing the procedure;
location of the fetus in the uterine cavity.

What does the first screening during pregnancy show?

Screening (“screening”) is a mass examination of the population using safe techniques to identify a disease or high-risk groups. Prenatal means “before birth.” Prenatal screening is a comprehensive examination of pregnant women that allows you to identify women at risk of developing fetal malformations before birth. Before the advent of this method, a woman’s experience during all 9 months of pregnancy could be defined by the phrase “pig in a poke.” Only after the birth of the baby and all the hardships, inconveniences, worries and worries experienced during these 9 months could the mother find out whether her baby was healthy. Or get a terrible verdict of “Down syndrome”, etc. And how to live with this? The advantages of prenatal genetic screening are to identify chromosomal diseases of the fetus, accompanied by developmental defects, even before birth and, if the disease is accurately detected, to provide the pregnant woman with the choice of whether to continue this pregnancy or terminate it while there is time. And in most cases, this is the most humane decision for both parents and child.

During the first screening, the risks of Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Patau syndrome (trisomy 13), and Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18) are calculated. This method also allows one to suspect a number of other developmental anomalies:

Cornelia de Lange syndrome, manifested by multiple developmental anomalies, from which the child most often dies in the first months. If the child survives, he will have severe mental retardation.
Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome - the severity of the disease can vary from minor impairments in physical and intellectual development to severe defects and profound mental retardation. Triploidy (when the genetic set is represented by 69 chromosomes instead of the normal 46), accompanied by multiple defects and mental retardation, the surviving child lives from several months to several years.

Signs of fetal gender on ultrasound

This article talks about typical ways to solve your issues, but each case is unique! If you want to find out from me how to solve your particular problem, ask your question. It's fast and free

Determining the sex of a child by ultrasound becomes possible after the fetus shows the corresponding signs. In boys it is the scrotum and penis, and in girls it is the labia.

The formation of the genitals in the fetus begins at 6-7 weeks of pregnancy. Until the 9th week, in both girls and boys, they have the appearance of a small genital tubercle, around which labioscrotal protuberances can be seen.

At week 11, boys develop a penis and scrotum. The testicles at this time have not yet descended and are in the tummy.

It is possible to find out the sex of the baby at the first screening, but there is a high probability of error, because at 11-12 weeks, the formation of the genitals is not yet complete. Sexual characteristics become more obvious after 5 weeks.

Starting from the 15th week, the doctor can quite accurately distinguish the genital organs and tell the mother the sex of the baby. The accuracy of the result may be affected by the following features of the development and location of the fetus:

swelling of the labia, observed in girls during the formation of the genitals, and they resemble a penis in appearance;
the location of the umbilical cord loop in such a way that it can be mistaken for the penis;
When the legs are tightly clenched, the penis is not visible in boys, which leads to an error in determining gender.

However, there is a way to find out the sex of the child using an ultrasound, even if the anatomical features of the fetus do not allow this to be done visually. It consists of measuring the angle between the baby’s back and the genital tubercle. For girls, the angle is always less than 300 degrees, while for boys the corresponding figure is greater than or equal to this value. This method shows accurate results at 14 weeks of pregnancy.

Is it possible to find out at the first screening?

Screening is a special diagnostic method aimed at identifying pathologies in the unborn baby. The procedure is carried out in two stages: the use of ultrasound diagnostics and the collection of venous blood from the mother. Ultrasound diagnostics allows you to evaluate fetal development, defects and abnormalities. Even the absence of such results from an ultrasound does not guarantee the baby’s health. That is why, to obtain more accurate data, a biochemical blood test is additionally performed.

Initially, the study is scheduled for 11-13 weeks of pregnancy. Already at the first screening you can find out the sex of the child. However, experts do not give a guarantee.

For those parents who are wondering whether it is possible to find out the sex of the child at the first screening, it should be noted that even at the 13th week of gestation an incorrect result cannot be ruled out. The possibility of error is completely eliminated later - at the 17th week of pregnancy.

Not all parents can boast of patience until the 13th week. Mothers are actively interested in how to find out the gender of their unborn child if they are already pregnant, and how to plan the desired baby. It was for them that numerous methods were invented, which, unfortunately, are far from science and are not highly accurate.

According to tables

One of the oldest teachings on how to find out the sex of a child says that you should turn to tables. They were developed in the East several centuries ago, are based on the principles of numerology and are not accepted by modern scientists.

There are two types of techniques: Chinese and Japanese. The calculation is based on the month the baby was conceived and the number of completed years of the mother. At the intersection of these two indicators will be the answer to the question of how to find out the sex of a child in early pregnancy using the table.

The Japanese sages went a little further. They introduced additional initial data into the methodology: the father’s full years. Those who are interested in how to find out the sex of a child using tables need to make not one, but two calculations. They give an inaccurate answer, but show the probability of having a baby of one sex or another. On the websites of many forums both Chinese and . How to find out the sex of a child is also indicated in specialized magazines for expectant mothers.

You can often hear from grandparents about using folk experience. For years, our ancestors have been collecting information on how to find out gender at home. A variety of signs and omens were used. Among the most famous:

This method is still quite popular among those who are looking for how to find out the sex of a child during early pregnancy. According to popular belief, when a boy is pregnant, the belly is elongated, and when a girl is pregnant, it is round.
According to eating habits. If a pregnant woman has a craving for meat, bitter, spicy dishes, then she is probably expecting a son. A love of sweets portends a daughter.
Another way to find out the gender of the child in advance is to pay attention to the woman’s appearance. Girls “take the beauty for themselves”, boys, on the contrary, make their mother more beautiful.

Of course, all these signs aimed at how to accurately find out the sex of a child are very doubtful. Their appearance is associated with the low level of development of science at that time.

We have already discussed above what DNA testing is and whether it is possible to find out gender with its help. In addition to this study, the gender test has become widely known. The manufacturer promises that the question of how to find out for yourself will be resolved quickly and at home. The principle of operation is similar to express strips that detect pregnancy. Only the result appears pink or blue (girl or boy, respectively). How to find out using a test is described in the instructions.

It should be noted that this invention is for entertainment purposes. The manufacturer of the test strips also warns about this. There is a message on the packaging of the gender test stating that the possibility of obtaining an incorrect result cannot be ruled out. Whether it makes sense to spend money on such things is up to parents to decide.

This technique has a pseudoscientific background. Its supporters argue that the speed of a sperm directly depends on the chromosome it carries. In addition, gametes allegedly have different life cycles. In order to make the calculation, it is necessary to accurately determine the date of ovulation. This can be done using a special test, by keeping a graph of basal temperatures or by assessing external signs.

How to find out the gender of a child using a calendar:

if sexual intercourse was performed on the day of ovulation, then the likelihood of having a boy increases;
intercourse a few days before the release of the egg leads to the birth of a daughter.

This method of finding out on your own is not one hundred percent, although it tries to rely on biological mechanisms. The theory itself has not been confirmed by anything.

If a difference in the speed of gametes existed, then separating “male” sperm from “female” would not require efforts on the part of specialists in a laboratory setting (for example, as part of ICSI).

Unlike tables and folk signs, this method requires calculations to be made in several stages. How to find out during pregnancy in this case:

The number of full years of the expectant mother must be added to the planned or existing month of fertilization.
Add one more to the result.

The resulting number should be analyzed. If it is even, then the couple will have a daughter. An odd number signals the arrival of a son. This technique is not 100% accurate. The chances of getting the correct answer are 50/50 and are equivalent to fortune telling or flipping a coin.

If a woman has not performed an ultrasound examination of the fetus at an earlier stage, then an ultrasound scan at the 12th week of pregnancy becomes the first and takes on special significance.

The deadline already allows the mother to see the baby in its entirety, albeit only on the equipment monitor. And the doctor has the opportunity to evaluate the anatomical features of the fetus and tell the expectant mother about them. From a medical point of view, ultrasound screening at 12 weeks (1st trimester) is of considerable value for determining measures for further management of pregnancy and maintaining the health of the baby.

There are several reasons why an ultrasound examination of a pregnant woman at 12 weeks is of great importance:

At this time, the age of the unborn child can be determined with high accuracy, and later he will gain weight, and the error in the date of conception will be significant (up to a week).
At this time, it is important to determine the size of the collar area
(the so-called soft tissues of the back of the head and neck).
This indicator is key in the early diagnosis of chromosomal diseases, including Down, Patau, and Edwards syndromes. The examination must be carried out before 12 weeks
, because after 14 weeks, chromosomal pathologies can no longer be detected and some fetal malformations too.
Assessing the placenta insertion site, the presence of abruption, the quality and quantity of amniotic fluid are significant indicators of pregnancy that affect the health of the child and the management of pregnancy - they are also important to find out at 12 weeks.
The doctor assesses the condition of the uterus - there should be no increased tone (that is, tension) or isthmic-cervical insufficiency. All these conditions require timely treatment, so high-quality and timely diagnosis during pregnancy plays a key role.

What can prevent you from obtaining a reliable result?

Modern ultrasound equipment allows you to see the genitals of the unborn child quite accurately, the probability of error is 10%. The reasons for obtaining an unreliable result may be:

Short gestation period. When turning to an ultrasound doctor with a request to determine the sex of the baby at the first screening, parents should understand that in the first months of pregnancy the genital organs are still forming, and it is not always possible to examine them.
Baby's mobility in the last weeks before birth. During the examination, the child may turn around so that his genitals are not visible.
Human factor. The ultrasound specialist may make a mistake with the conclusion due to his inexperience or other circumstances.
Outdated or faulty equipment. High-precision studies are only possible with modern ultrasound machines. Ultrasonic sensors on long-life devices may fail.

Preparation for 1st screening

Some sources give long lists of recommendations and restrictions that must be followed before this examination. In reality, these restrictions are much less. It is not necessary to donate blood for analysis on an empty stomach. You can donate blood during the day. On this day you can eat and drink. But at least 3-4 hours must pass between the last meal and blood sampling for biochemical analysis. The day before, you should limit your intake of fatty foods. All other products can be freely consumed. The day before, you can play sports at your usual intensity (the main thing is that there is no more physical activity than usual). If you need to systematically take medications, then they do not need to be cancelled. But in the form that you will fill out, you indicate this. If donating blood for analysis was preceded by stress or a cold, this also does not affect the result of the analysis.

To perform an ultrasound, you simply need to be present. A full bladder is not required for fetal examination. Therefore, the main recommendation for correctly conducting the study and obtaining reliable results is to comply with the study deadlines (11th - 14th weeks). Do not eat for 3-4 hours before donating blood for biochemical testing and it is recommended to limit fatty foods the day before.

Sincerely, Alena Aleksandrovna Skalitskaya

Ask your doctor any question you have for free!

At what time can the sex of the child be determined? Is the first screening informative?

To monitor fetal development at all stages of growth, a pregnant woman must undergo 3 routine ultrasound screenings.

The first study is carried out at 12-13 weeks. It is necessary to determine and evaluate:

anatomical features in order to exclude genetic pathologies that appear in the early stages;
markers of complex chromosomal abnormalities;
condition of the uterine cavity, placenta, amniotic fluid.

Also, at 12 weeks, a multiple pregnancy can be detected if this could not be done earlier. Based on the results of the first ultrasound, the viability of the fetus and the compliance of its development with established standards are assessed.

Considering the fact that in the first months of pregnancy the genital organs are just forming, it is not always possible to determine the sex of the baby. In most cases, parents find out who they will have during the second planned ultrasound.

What to do if your child shuts down during screening

They say about some children that they close up during an ultrasound. During pregnancy, a woman undergoes three screenings and one routine ultrasound upon admission to the maternity hospital, unless the birth is an emergency. If the baby is closed at the first screening, there is a chance to determine his gender at subsequent examinations.

If children of a certain gender were born more often in a mother’s family, then the likelihood that her child will be of that gender is quite high. There are methods for determining gender using a blood “update” table, the accuracy of which cannot guarantee the gender of the child. But grandmother’s methods of determining the shape of the expectant mother’s belly are more likely.

Based on the structure of the body and the presence of swelling, they can actually quite accurately determine the gender of the child. Typically, pregnant girls who are expecting a baby girl are more likely to swell, suffer from deterioration of their skin and hair, and experience brittle nails. But while expecting a boy, mothers usually “bloom,” their skin becomes more even and smooth, and their hair becomes shiny. Swelling is almost always absent. These old grandmother’s methods even today make it possible to determine the sex of the child quite accurately even without an ultrasound, but in any case, the expectant mother should not refuse to attend screening.

The likelihood of an accurate diagnosis depending on the timing of the ultrasound

Most parents want to find out the gender of their unborn child as early as possible and are wondering at how many months it can be determined. An ultrasound doctor can see obvious sexual characteristics only when the fetus has completed the formation of its genitals. This happens at 15 weeks.

If parents already received an answer to their question at the first screening, there is a possibility that at the next examination the result will be the opposite. The most accurate information is obtained at 20-24 weeks, when the likelihood of error is minimal. As confirmation, parents can receive a photo or video recording of an ultrasound examination.

In the last weeks before birth, the baby is already quite large and mobile, he can take positions in which the genitals are covered by the legs. In such cases, determining gender becomes difficult.

1st trimester screening results are normal

The correct screening result is presented by indicating the individual risks of trisomy, which are compared with the baseline. If the report only indicates the levels of hCG, PAPP-A and the ultrasound report, this is not screening. These are separate ultrasound and biochemical tests. To carry out screening, special calculation programs are used (PRISCA, ASTRAIA, etc.), which, based on all the data obtained, determine the individual risk of a genetic disease in a particular fetus. Read in detail about the results of the first screening and how to interpret them in the article.

Is it possible to find out the sex of a child without an ultrasound?

Most often, future parents find out who will be born - a boy or a girl - after an ultrasound examination. However, several other methods are used in medical practice, the results of which can answer this question.

During pregnancy, many mothers feel who exactly will be born to them, and some rely on folk signs in this matter. There is also a known method for calculating the sex of a child, the result of which depends on the month in which he was conceived and how many full years the parents were at that time.

Alternative medical techniques

Invasive methods are used in isolated cases when the likelihood of developing some genetic pathology from the father or mother depends on the sex of the child. In this case, doctors use one of two methods:

Chorionic villus sampling allows you to determine gender by examining a certain amount of uterine contents. To do this, a probe is inserted into the mother's vagina, with the help of which biological material is collected. The procedure is carried out at 3 months of pregnancy and gives a 100% result.
Analysis of amniotic fluid can be carried out no earlier than 12 weeks. Amniotic fluid is collected for analysis using a syringe that is used to pierce the placenta. The result of the research cannot be wrong.

The decision about what analysis needs to be performed is made by the obstetrician-gynecologist. Since each procedure can have negative consequences, its use must be agreed upon with the expectant mother.

Another highly accurate alternative method for determining a baby’s gender is a DNA blood test. It can be carried out already in the first months of pregnancy. The study uses the mother's blood, which is taken from a vein. Parents are told the test results within 24 hours. The only drawback of this method is its high cost.

“Grandmother’s” methods of determining the sex of a child

There are several folk signs that can help an expectant mother find out the gender of her baby. You cannot rely on them entirely, but often the forecasts turn out to be correct. The most popular signs include the following:

If pimples or pigmentation appear on a woman's face during pregnancy, she will give birth to a girl.
Before the birth of her son, the mother’s skin condition improves and she looks attractive.
If you constantly crave meat or salty foods, then a boy will be born. Mothers who prefer chocolate and other sweets should prepare for the birth of their daughter.
An elongated abdomen is a sign of the birth of a son, and a round one is a sign of a daughter.
Early toxicosis most often indicates the birth of a girl.

Additional options

Some parents, taught by bitter experience when children of the opposite sex are eventually born, are thinking about other technologies.

Such methods exist, but using them unless absolutely necessary is not recommended.

Among the invasive methods are:

villus biopsy of the future placenta;
amniocentesis.

As part of the first method, it is proposed to send the chorion for biopsy. To perform this procedure, long, small forceps are inserted into the amniotic sac. Doctors use this method if they need to check for genetic abnormalities associated with sex chromosomes.

Another invasive method is amniocentesis. For this method of work, the bubble is pierced, and a small amount of water is taken for testing. The procedure can be performed between 16 and 18 weeks. Complications from this procedure are associated with the first option. Parental curiosity is not a sufficient reason to perform such a diagnosis.

Whether it will be a girl or a boy can be determined using a new method of ultrasound diagnostics - 3D. The method helps to more clearly visualize the necessary parts to find out whether it will be a boy or a girl.

There are also special calculation methods based on the date of ovulation and sex, during which conception occurred. If you had sex about three to five days before the release of the egg, then the likelihood of having a girl increases. If sexual intercourse took place a day or two before ovulation or on its day, then the likelihood of giving birth to a representative of the stronger sex increases.

You can also use the blood type of your parents. There are special tables. It is read that men undergo a complete replacement of blood once every four years, and women once every three years.

What is important is the age of the mother, divided by three, and the father by four. The smaller number will be the indicator of gender determination.

It is also possible to find out by heart rate, which begins to be determined from the 12th week. For boys, the figure is less than 140 beats per minute, while girls are content with a figure higher than this. The appearance of the abdomen is often cited as a sign of gender.

It is believed that a round belly is more relevant for the birth of a girl, while a “sharp” belly indicates the birth of a boy. A number of fans of such methods cite the baby’s first movement as an option. If it first moved on the left side, the birth of a girl is possible; if on the right, then the birth of a boy. Pregnancy in girls is more difficult.

My name is Anastasia and this is my second pregnancy. I am now five months pregnant. It's going well.

I finally find out who I'm having, a boy or a girl.

My family is happy, my husband and child are very happy that we will soon have another family member. We are waiting for him and love him very much.

Comment on the article “Who will be born, a boy or a girl? Gender of the child: waiting for the second screening"

Discussion

“According to world standards,” for example, in England I was not given a second screening. Only ultrasound. No one even mentioned him.

With a bad first screening (blood), I was not sent to the second only for an ultrasound. I’m thinking of doing it myself at CIRC, they calculate based on the first ultrasound.

Discussion

I was also told that our story is a girl. My husband and I want a boy, will the baby's gender change before birth?

03/29/2018 13:52:51, Guest

At the 2nd screening at 20 weeks they said it was a girl, and at the 3rd screening at 34 weeks another doctor said it was a boy) I hope it’s a girl)

01/08/2018 20:58:46, Christinaaaa

Discussion

Hello! The girls told me at the 14th week that twins were definitely boys, and at 18 weeks they said one boy and the other looks like a girl... who had this happen?

01/05/2018 16:59:19, Sayana

My ultrasound technicians didn’t make a mistake with a single baby, as we now find out after giving birth :)

Discussion

If a woman has not performed an ultrasound examination of the fetus at an earlier stage, then an ultrasound scan at the 12th week of pregnancy becomes the first and takes on special significance.

There are several reasons why an ultrasound examination of a pregnant woman at 12 weeks is of great importance:

At this time, the age of the unborn child can be determined with high accuracy, and later he will gain weight, and the error in the date of conception will be significant (up to a week).
At this time, it is important to determine the size of the collar area
(the so-called soft tissues of the back of the head and neck).
This indicator is key in the early diagnosis of chromosomal diseases, including Down, Patau, and Edwards syndromes. The examination must be carried out before 12 weeks
, because after 14 weeks, chromosomal pathologies can no longer be detected and some fetal malformations too.
Assessing the placenta insertion site, the presence of abruption, the quality and quantity of amniotic fluid are significant indicators of pregnancy that affect the health of the child and the management of pregnancy - they are also important to find out at 12 weeks.
The doctor assesses the condition of the uterus - there should be no increased tone (that is, tension) or isthmic-cervical insufficiency. All these conditions require timely treatment, so high-quality and timely diagnosis during pregnancy plays a key role.

Does multiple pregnancy affect the reliability of the results?

The procedure for determining the sex of twins is carried out in the same way as during a normal pregnancy. However, in this case, babies have more opportunities to hide their genitals. Sometimes doctors see the gender of only one child, and the genitals of the second are covered by the umbilical cord or legs. During the next screening, the situation may repeat itself, and the baby’s gender will remain a secret until the moment of his birth.

My name is Anastasia and this is my second pregnancy. I am now five months pregnant. It's going well.

I finally find out who I'm having, a boy or a girl.

My family is happy, my husband and child are very happy that we will soon have another family member. We are waiting for him and love him very much.

Comment on the article “Who will be born, a boy or a girl? Gender of the child: waiting for the second screening"

Discussion

“According to world standards,” for example, in England I was not given a second screening. Only ultrasound. No one even mentioned him.

With a bad first screening (blood), I was not sent to the second only for an ultrasound. I’m thinking of doing it myself at CIRC, they calculate based on the first ultrasound.

Discussion

I was also told that our story is a girl. My husband and I want a boy, will the baby's gender change before birth?

03/29/2018 13:52:51, Guest

At the 2nd screening at 20 weeks they said it was a girl, and at the 3rd screening at 34 weeks another doctor said it was a boy) I hope it’s a girl)

01/08/2018 20:58:46, Christinaaaa

Discussion

Hello! The girls told me at the 14th week that twins were definitely boys, and at 18 weeks they said one boy and the other looks like a girl... who had this happen?

01/05/2018 16:59:19, Sayana

My ultrasound technicians didn’t make a mistake with a single baby, as we now find out after giving birth :)

Discussion

In the first months of pregnancy, many parents already want to determine the sex of the child. Everyone wants to know what to prepare for, what to buy. Determining the sex of a child is a question that arises sooner or later. Very few modern couples prefer surprises, finding out about the gender when the child is already born.

An ultrasound during pregnancy allows you to see how the baby is developing. This is an effective diagnostic method that is mandatory for all pregnant women.

According to the data obtained from the study of this diagnostic method, ultrasound does not show a negative effect on the fetus. To determine the sex of the child using ultrasound, a specialist observes the first sexual signs. We are talking about the structural features of the genital organs.

Usually an ultrasound of a girl or boy is scheduled at 11-12 weeks. This is the date for the first screening. If we talk about determining gender by ultrasound, then this period is still too short. The study shows at 11-12 weeks only the process of formation of the organs of the reproductive system.

Gender determination is possible even at such a time frame.

An experienced doctor can determine the gender using an ultrasound and tell you whether you should have a girl or a boy. Statistics show that many people make mistakes during this period.

What does the first screening include?

First trimester screening is a very important procedure. It will help the doctor check whether the fetus has genetic pathologies. The examinations that were used by gynecologists earlier could not show the development of the baby’s condition with such accuracy.

Essentially, this is an ultrasound and blood test. In this case, all the data of the expectant mother must be taken into account: her weight, height, past illnesses and harmful addictions.

Even if the screening results alert your doctor, he will not give you a diagnosis right away. Having suspected a pathology, he will refer you for a more thorough diagnosis, and only after that will he talk about treatment.

Deadlines

In order to avoid stumbling upon ultrasound errors when determining gender, at what time is it best to perform an ultrasound? If a woman’s pregnancy proceeds without abnormalities, an ultrasound scan is performed three times, once in each trimester.

The sex of the child is determined by male sperm. If the basis is represented by X chromosomes, there will be a girl. When the Y chromosome predominates, a boy is most often born. It also happens that the woman who gave birth is expecting a girl, but the birth is a boy. Chromosomes are also not a 100% guarantee.

What timing is most appropriate? The second screening (22-24 weeks) is ideal for determining gender.

By week 22, the fetus is already anatomically formed. At this “age”, it is possible to identify indicators that are important from a medical point of view. These are the size of the child, his heartbeat, level of development. How accurately are such parameters determined? The accuracy is very high, unless we are talking about very old ultrasound machines.

Despite the child’s sufficient development by the second screening, the child is not always visible from the right side. Could there be a mistake? Yes, if the child does not turn his front towards the wall of the woman’s abdomen or does not turn completely. There is often a situation where an ultrasound suggested a girl, but the birth was a boy.

The last screening, which is mandatory, will be at 32-34 weeks. Doctors suggest waiting for the third screening, since if the position is incorrect, there may be an error.