Am I Having A Boy Or A Girl

Predicting a baby's gender is area filled with science, folklore and something in between? As far as folklore is concerned, you will find many, many people who swear by the validity of some of these theories, and I'm not making any claims one way or the other. Here is my list of the tradition and the science available to answer your question Am I Having a Boy or a Girl?

Well, Dad's you have the say here. Your baby's gender is determined by the father. If the father provides an X chromosome, the baby will be female, and if he supplies a Y chromosome, the baby will be male. Mothers can provide only an X chromosome, so they do not have the same influence over gender. Studies show that there is nearly an equal number of sperm containing X chromosomes as containing Y chromosomes so you have an equal chance of having a boy or a girl for each conception. There are also plenty of theories and methodson how to pick the sex of your baby, as well as how to tell what you are having.

HOW YOU CARRY - a commonly tradition is calling the baby's sex by the way you are carrying the child. Obviously, one couldn't even make this determination until late in the pregnancy. If you're carrying low, you're having a boy. If you are carrying high, then you must be having a girl. However, doctors generally say the way you carry is determined by muscle and uterine tone as well as the position of your baby. Now, we just need to wait for the studies that show whetherbaby boys or girls prefer certain positions.

HEART RATE - One myth states that if your baby's heart rate was is under 140 beats per minute, expect a boy. If the heart rate was at 140 or over, then you would be having a girl. However, to date, there has never been a study that has shown this theory is to be accurate.

DRANO - I can't say that there is scientific evidence backing it up,but the Drano test has been around for a while. Keep in mind, if you are pregnant, Drano gives of toxic fumes. If you must, do the test outside. Sometime after the 4 month of pregnancy, you need to collect 2 -3 ounces of urine, preferably from first thing in the morning. Collect this in a some paper or other throw-away cup. Then, get a medium (at least 10 ounces), clean GLASS jar that you can also throw away afterwards. Put 2 tablespoons of Crystal Drano in the glass, then add the urine. Stay away from the jar while the chemical reaction occurs. After 10 seconds or so, note the color. If a brownish color, a boy. If no color change, a girl.

MAYAN METHOD - The ancient Mayans believed that you could tell a baby's sex by comparing the mother's age at conception with the year of conception. If both numbers are even or both are odd, you'll have be a girl. If one number is even and the other is odd, the baby is a boy.

CHINESE METHOD - The belief is that if you compare the mother's age at conception and the month of conception you can accuratly predict the sex of the baby using a birth chart.

CRAVINGS - Simply, more cravings for sweet food mean you are having a girl. Sour cravings indicate a little boy is coming.

BREAST SIZE - Next time you get out of the bath, look in the mirror at your breasts. If the left one is bigger, it's a girl. If the right one is larger, you're having a boy! (If they're the same size? Twins?)

KIT - There are kits, like home pregnancy kits, on the market in the US and UK that claim to be able to determine the baby's sex. The mother-to-be has to draw a little blood and send it to the kit's company (on a card) and the company sends back the results. The company claims a high degree of accuracy but these claims are not all verified in public yet.

ULTRASOUND - Most medical professionals will have you take an ultrasound exam during your pregnancy somewhere around the 24th week, to make sure the baby is healthy. At that time the technician, doctor or midwife may be able to see the baby's genitalia to tell if it is a boy or a girl. But the baby may not be positioned in such a way where the tech can see--and you just won't know until delivery. Routine use of ultrasound during pregnancy is never recommended.

GENETIC TESTING - Amniocentesis or Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) are generally used to find out if your baby has a chromosomal disorder, These tests involve inserting a needle through your belly and into the placenta to withdraw fluid. The doctor would only risk this type of test if your history or family history determines that there is a need for it, but the results can identify gender.

Ultimately, the answer to the "am I having a boy or a girl" is answered when your baby is born.