If you’re an expecting parent, the first ultrasound is a major milestone in your pregnancy. It’s the first time you’ll get a chance to see your little one, and the anticipation leading up to that moment will build up to a peak.
Naturally, with everything that comes with a first ultrasound, one of the first questions people ask is: What is the sex of the baby?
While there are several ways to find out the sex of your baby, the first ultrasound is typically the first time you get to see if you’re having a boy or a girl.
While this ultrasound, also known as the “dating scan” or “early anatomy scan,” is typically performed around the 18- to 20-week mark, it’s an important milestone in both the growth and development of your baby.
There is a chance you will see your baby’s sex clearly, but for others, this may not be a foolproof solution to knowing the sex of your baby early.
Let’s take a closer look at how the first ultrasound can help you determine the sex of your baby, what you can expect from the scan, and why your ultrasound may not be able to answer this question.
How Your First Ultrasound Can Tell The Sex Of Your Baby
The Basics of an Ultrasound
An ultrasound is a non-invasive scan that uses sound waves to create an image of your baby inside your womb. Using a device known as a transducer, the ultrasound will be placed on your belly, and high-frequency sound waves will bounce off your baby’s body and produce a real-time picture for your doctor.
Ultrasound scans are used throughout pregnancy to ensure that you and your little one are both healthy. These scans will measure your baby’s size, help determine developmental milestones, check for birth defects and other problems, and also examine the placenta, amniotic fluid, and more.
Around the 18- to 20-week mark, ultrasounds are typically more than advanced enough to give you some insight into your baby’s sex, depending on the position of your baby.
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When Can You Find Out the Sex of Your Baby?
There are ways to determine the sex of your baby in the earliest weeks, but most ultrasound scans for expecting parents typically happen around 18-20 weeks.
During this ultrasound, your doctor will check to make sure the baby is growing well, take specific measurements to ensure their body and head are forming properly, and verify that other developmental milestones are being met.
If your baby is in the correct position, this is also the time you can begin looking for physical telltale signs that will reveal your baby’s sex. Prior to this, the ultrasound may not be advanced enough to clearly show these features, which is why most people won’t know the sex of their baby until the second trimester.
How Ultrasounds Determine the Baby’s Sex
During an ultrasound, the technician or your doctor will examine a variety of different areas of your baby’s body. As far as your baby’s sex is concerned, the most important part of the body is the genital area.
Boy: For a male baby, the ultrasound will typically be able to see the penis and scrotum clearly. It is possible to identify these features as early as 18 weeks in certain circumstances, particularly if the baby is in a position where the genitalia are facing outward. The penis may appear as a small protrusion between the baby’s legs, and the scrotum is often visible as a small swelling.
Girl: Female genitalia can be identified by two small and distinct lines—also known as the “three lines” sign. These lines indicate the presence of the labia. You may also be able to see the female genitalia itself, with the labia appearing as separate and distinct structures.
The positioning of your baby will have a large impact on how visible these features are. If your baby is facing downward, or curled up in a fetal position with their legs together, this will make it harder to determine sex during the ultrasound. Some doctors may require you to move around to try to get a better position for the scan.
Key Tip:
Keep in mind that while most ultrasounds can usually determine the sex of your baby, it’s not always possible to be 100% sure, especially when the baby’s position makes it difficult to see the genital area. It’s always best to take the results of an ultrasound as a prediction, not a definitive fact.
Related: What Your Baby’s Birth Weight Tells You
Accuracy of Gender Prediction via Ultrasound
Overall, the accuracy rate for predicting the sex of your baby via ultrasound is quite high. In the second trimester, the accuracy rate for ultrasound gender determination is around 95-99% after the 18th week. However, there are several factors that can impact how accurate your ultrasound will be:
Baby’s Position: It’s important that your baby is in a favorable position to get a clear view of their genital area. If your baby is facing downward or in a position that hides the genital area, the ultrasound technician may not be able to see clearly.
Gestational Age: The earlier you have the ultrasound, the less clearly the genitalia of the baby will be shown. The best time for gender identification is around the 18-20 week mark.
Equipment and Technician Expertise: The quality of the ultrasound equipment will impact how clearly the genitalia can be seen. Additionally, the skill and expertise of the technician or doctor performing the ultrasound may influence the gender predictions made during the scan. While this is the case, in some instances, it may be possible to make an educated guess earlier, but results are still more reliable after the 18-week point.
What If the Ultrasound Doesn’t Show the Baby’s Sex?
In many cases, the ultrasound will clearly show the sex of your baby, but in other cases, it may not. There are several reasons why an ultrasound may not be able to determine the sex of your baby:
Baby’s Position: The most common reason for being unable to see the sex of the baby is that the baby is in a position where the genital area is hidden from view.
Obstructions: In some cases, the placenta or umbilical cord may be in the way, or your baby’s position may make it difficult to get a clear view.
Technical Limitations: Despite all the advances in ultrasound technology, there are still cases where the images may not be clear enough to make a determination. This is not common, but it is a possibility.
In some cases, where the sex of the baby isn’t clearly identifiable, doctors will try for a follow-up ultrasound later in the pregnancy, or suggest trying a blood test or other gender identification methods.
Related: 10 Interesting Facts About the Umbilical Cord
Alternative Methods for Gender Prediction
Ultrasounds are the most common method for determining the sex of your baby, but there are a few other methods you may want to consider:
Blood Tests: As early as 10 weeks, there are blood tests (such as NIPT) that are non-invasive and can screen for chromosomal conditions. These tests can also determine the sex of your baby with near 99% accuracy.
Genetic Testing: If you’ve opted for amniocentesis or CVS testing for genetic conditions, these tests will also determine your baby’s sex. These tests are typically only performed for medical reasons.
Home Gender Prediction Kits: There are several kits on the market that claim to use your urine to predict your baby’s sex. However, there’s no scientific backing for the accuracy of these kits, so they should be taken with caution.
Related: 8 Natural Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mom and Baby
Gender Predictions and Gender Reveal Parties
There are many people who like to find out the sex of their baby early, but there are also those who prefer to wait until the baby is born. Gender reveal parties have become increasingly popular, where family and friends gather to reveal the sex of the baby in creative and fun ways.
It’s important to note that because ultrasounds are not always 100% accurate, if you choose to do a gender reveal, the result may be a guess as to the sex of your baby, not an absolute fact.
Conclusion
Your first ultrasound is an exciting time during your pregnancy, and many parents are thrilled to see their baby for the first time. As part of the ultrasound, you may be able to determine the sex of your baby.
However, keep in mind that there are reasons your ultrasound may not be able to provide an accurate answer. If you don’t get a definitive answer, don’t stress—there are other ways to find out the sex of your baby before your due date.
Whether you want to know early or not, it’s an exciting experience to see the sex of your baby, whether it’s during an ultrasound or through an alternative method. No matter the sex, the most important thing is that your baby is healthy, and that’s something worth celebrating.
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