One of the most exciting things parents look forward to during pregnancy is finding out the gender of their baby. Though some prefer to be surprised on the day of delivery, others can’t wait to know what they’re having and start planning accordingly.

Luckily, there are several ways to determine your baby’s gender ahead of time. Here are some of the most common:.

Ultrasound

The most widely used and reliable way to find out your baby’s gender is through ultrasound. This involves using sound waves to create an image of your growing baby and can usually be done between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.

During this procedure, the sonographer will look for the presence of male genitalia or lack thereof to determine whether you’re having a boy or girl. Keep in mind that ultrasounds aren’t always 100% accurate, but their accuracy rate is around 95% or higher.

Nuchal translucency (NT) scan

This is another type of ultrasound that can also reveal your baby’s gender. The NT scan is usually done between 11-13 weeks of pregnancy and checks for markers of chromosomal abnormalities.

During the scan, the sonographer can sometimes see the genital tubercle, which is a small protrusion between the legs that will develop into either male or female genitalia. Though the NT scan is less reliable for determining gender than a traditional ultrasound, it can still give you an idea of what you’re having.

Amniocentesis

If your doctor has concerns about genetic abnormalities or birth defects, they may recommend an amniocentesis. This is a more invasive procedure that involves collecting a small amount of amniotic fluid from the sac around your baby.

Along with checking for genetic issues, an amniocentesis can also determine your baby’s gender with nearly 100% accuracy. However, because it’s a more invasive procedure, it’s usually only recommended for high-risk pregnancies.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

Like amniocentesis, CVS is another invasive procedure that can determine your baby’s gender. It’s usually done between 10-12 weeks of pregnancy and involves collecting a sample of the placenta to check for chromosomal abnormalities.

Along with detecting genetic issues, it can also determine your baby’s gender with nearly 100% accuracy. Similar to amniocentesis, CVS is usually only recommended for high-risk pregnancies.

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)

NIPT is a blood test that can be done as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy. The test checks your baby’s DNA for chromosomal abnormalities and can also determine their gender.

NIPT is considered to be highly accurate with a reliability rate of over 99% for detecting gender. The test is more commonly used for women with higher risk factors for genetic disorders but anyone can get the test done if they’re interested, though it may come with a cost.

Baby’s Heartbeat

In some cultures and communities, there are various ways to predict a baby’s gender based on old wives’ tales and superstitions. One popular method is to listen to the baby’s heartbeat.

The theory is that a faster heartbeat indicates a girl while a slower heartbeat means a boy. However, there’s no scientific evidence to support this method and it’s not reliable. Many other factors can cause changes in the baby’s heart rate, including the mother’s movements and position, so it’s best not to put all your faith in this method.

Cravings and aversions

In many cultures, pregnant women experience certain cravings or aversions to certain foods.

According to some beliefs, if you’re craving sweet and sugary foods, there’s higher possibility that you’re going to give birth to a girl while craving salty and sour foods indicates a boy. Again, there’s no scientific evidence to support this so it’s more of an old wives’ tale.

Fundal Height Measurement

Fundal height is the distance between the top of the pubic bone and the top of the uterus. Measuring this distance is important to track the baby’s growth throughout the pregnancy.

An increase in fundal height could indicate that you are carrying a boy while a slower or average fundal height could indicate a girl. While this is not scientific, research conducted on this shows some level of accuracy with fundal height measurements.

Dreams

Some people believe that dreams can predict a baby’s gender. In some cultures dreams interpret that having a dream of the baby born into your arms is a sign of having a girl while dreaming about a fish swimming through water predicts having a boy.

However, just like with all other superstitions, no scientific research supports this.

Conclusion

While there are several methods to determine your baby’s gender and some seem quite fun, reliable and accurate ways include ultrasound, nuchal translucency scan, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, and non-invasive prenatal testing.

However, keep in mind that no method is 100% accurate, and there is always a chance that your baby’s gender may be incorrect. But whether you find out the gender a few weeks into pregnancy or on the day of delivery, one thing is certain – the arrival of your sweet little one will be a precious and unforgettable moment.