While ultrasounds are primarily used to check on the well-being of the fetus, they can also serve another exciting purpose for some parents: revealing the gender of their unborn child. But how exactly do ultrasounds determine a child’s gender, and can they rely upon 100 percent of the time? We consulted with subject matter experts to provide answers to your questions pertaining to the baby girl scan.
Define Gender Scan
Ultrasounds during pregnancy are not routinely performed for the sole purpose of determining the sex of the unborn child. In the second trimester, between 14 and 22 weeks, technicians observe your baby’s genitalia during a standard anatomy scan.
Some expectant parents want to wait until the baby is born to learn the gender, while others are eager to find out as soon as possible. Pregnancy ultrasounds are a safe, non-invasive option for getting an accurate diagnosis.
Despite the name, these ultrasounds are not designed to determine your baby’s gender; rather, they are anatomy scans that assess your child’s growth and development. Technicians always check genitalia for issues, but they don’t need to tell parents about their baby’s sex (and if there’s an issue, the doctor can tell them as much as they want).
When do you get a Gender Scan?
Ultrasounds performed in the early stages of pregnancy are not the most reliable method for determining whether a boy or a girl will be born. Around 12 weeks into a pregnancy is the earliest in which the sex of the foetus may be confirmed by scan, and even at that point, it can be quite challenging to do so. It takes around 13/14 weeks for the external genitalia to become fully developed and visible.
If you would like a more conclusive response, it’s possible that you should hold off on getting an ultrasound until later in the pregnancy, such as your 20-week anatomy scan. It’s important to remember that parents can choose to undergo non-invasive prenatal screening in the form of a blood test that checks for chromosomal abnormalities. Chromosome analysis can also be used to establish a person’s gender. The NIPT procedure can often be performed at any point after 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Importance of Baby Gender Scan
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Relieves Stress
Some expectant mothers, aware of the scientific means by which they can learn the gender of their child, find out early on whether they are carrying a boy or a girl. Pregnancy-related stress has been linked to hypertension and other negative health outcomes. So, if mom worries about everything, knowing the gender of the baby early could help her relax.
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Strengthens connection with the unborn
According to the experts, learning the gender of the baby before childbirth can assist parents in feeling closer to their child.
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Get ready ahead of time
Being pregnant for nine months is a lengthy period of time, but keeping yourself active might help the time pass more quickly. When a couple already knows the gender of their child, they have more creative freedom when it comes to decorating the nursery. Rather than green or yellow, parents can use colors that indicate the baby’s gender. The added bonus of a gender-reveal party and unique baby shower presents are a win-win for everyone involved.
Bump2Baby Scans is here to assist you with both the baby girl scan and the baby boy scan by utilizing our years of experience as well as the most cutting-edge technology that we have access to. For additional information, please visit our website to make an appointment with one of our specialists.
