How Do Sonographers Determine a Baby's Gender?

Finding out whether you're having a boy or a girl is a milestone moment in your pregnancy. But how exactly do our sonographers determine your baby's gender when all they've got to go on is a blurry black-and-white ultrasound image?

In this guide, we'll explain everything you need to know about ultrasound gender confirmation.

How Early Can a Sonographer Determine My Baby's Gender?

Before we get into the 'how', a quick note about the 'when'.

Gender confirmation scans cannot be performed until you are at least 16 weeks into your pregnancy. This is because, prior to that point, your baby simply hasn't developed visible sexual characteristics yet. While genetic sex is determined at conception, the external sex organs take time to form and reach the point where they're visible on an ultrasound scan.

By around the 16-week mark, these features are usually developed enough for a trained sonographer to identify them on screen.

How Will the Sonographer Know If I'm Having a Boy or a Girl?

Sonographers use ultrasound technology to create a live image of your baby inside the womb. This works by sending high-frequency sound waves into the body, which bounce back to form a picture on a monitor.

To determine gender, the sonographer will carefully look at your baby's anatomy – specifically the area between their legs.

• If the baby is male: the sonographer may be able to see the penis and scrotum.
  
  
• If the baby is female: the sonographer will look for the 'three lines' that indicate the presence of the labia.

Our sonographers are professionals who take their work seriously, so they will never guess your baby's sex if the signs are unclear. For us to obtain an accurate result, you must be at least 16 weeks along and your baby must be in a position that's conducive to gender confirmation.

Why Does My Baby's Position Matter?

Even at 16 weeks or later, gender confirmation isn't always guaranteed straight away.

Your baby's position within the womb plays a big role. If your little one is facing away, curled up or resting with their legs crossed, it can be difficult to get a clear view of their anatomy.

If this happens during your visit to First Encounters Ultrasound, our sonographer may recommend that you take a short walk to encourage your baby to move into a better position. This very often does the trick!

If your baby is still feeling camera-shy, don't worry. We'll offer you one complimentary re-scan date so that we can try again another day.

Gender Scan Options at First Encounters

At First Encounters, we offer two gender scan options:

• Gender&Wellbeing™ (our cheapest gender scan package)
  
  
• GenderGrowth&Wellbeing™ (includes additional growth measurements)

Whichever one you pick, your scan will be carried out by a fully qualified, HCPC-registered sonographer in our relaxed Cardiff clinic.

You can also choose to add a secret gender reveal option, in which case your sonographer will keep the result under wraps during the scan and provide you with a complimentary gender reveal scratch card instead. This is perfect if you're planning a gender reveal party and want to find out the answer with friends and family.

Can I Find Out Earlier Than 16 Weeks?

If you're eager to know your baby's sex as soon as possible, there is another option.

We offer an early gender DNA blood test that can determine your baby's sex from as early as 6 weeks into your pregnancy.

This test works by analysing a sample of the mother's blood for the presence of male (XY) chromosomes:

• If XY chromosomes are detected, the baby is male.
  
  
• If no XY chromosomes are found, the baby is female.

This test is 99.9% accurate from 6 weeks, making it a popular choice for parents who don't want to wait for a scan.

Whether you choose to discover your baby's gender via an ultrasound scan or an early blood test, we're here to make that moment as memorable and enjoyable as possible. If you're ready to book your scan, click below to explore your options.

Book a Gender Scan   Book a Blood Test

Image from pexels.com