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All human cells contain 44 chromosomes plus two sex chromosomes making it a total of 46 chromosomes. The 44 chromosomes are responsible for all hereditary characteristics and also affect the structure and function of the body. A normal female cell contains two sex chromosomes ,which are the X chromosomes and denoted as XX,these chromosomes are responsible for all the female characteristics. The normal male cell also contains two sex chromosomes ,but of which one is the X chromosome and the other the Y chromosome, denoted as XY.

The ovum is made up of 22 chromosomes plus one sex chromosome which is an X chromosome, the sperms ,each also contain 22 chromosomes and one sex chromosome which can either be an X or Y chromosome, so if the ovum is fertilized by a sperm with the 22 plus X chromosome, the baby will be a girl (44 plus XX), but if the ovum is fertilized by a sperm with 22 plus Y chromosome, the baby will definitely be a boy( 44 plus XY). So the sex of a child is entirely dependant on the type of sperm that fertilizes the ovum, and therefore no woman should be blamed for not being able to produce a male or female child.

Methods used to Determine the baby’s sex.

Amniocentesis .

This is a process whereby some of the fluid surrounding the baby (amniotic fluid) is withdrawn and the cells which it contains are stained by a special method and then carefully examined under the microscope. If the XX chromosomes are present they form a characteristic stain within the nucleus of the cell, known as Barr body, which can be seen when the cells are examined under the microscope. This method can give you a 99% accuracy if done after about the 15^th week of conception, but it could cause miscarriage of the unborn baby, and is generally carried out if a baby is suspected to have a risk of genetic disease or mongolism.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) .

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is an antenatal test that detects if the baby has any chromosomal disorder such as Down syndrome. Here placental tissues are used unlike in amniocentesis where cells from the amniotic fluid are utilised. It can be performed between the 10th and 14th week of pregnancy and is also dangerous to the mother and baby. From the results obtained in the test, the baby’s sex would be known.

The Ultrasound (sonogram) .

The ultrasound is the most common of all the procedures used to determine the sex of the unborn child. Ultrasounds done between the 18th and 25th week of pregnancy are usually the most accurate , Because at this stage the baby’s sex organs are already well developed and very obvious through the ultrasound.

The ultrasound might fail if the baby isn’t in the right position or if it is done before the 18^th week of pregnancy, but it is a safe method when compared to the Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) and Amniocentesis .

Baby’s heart Rate.

Counting the baby’s heart rate in the uterus is probably the simplest method of determining the unborn baby’s sex. The normal heart rate is between 120 and 160 beats per minute. A heart rate which is persistently below 140 beats per minute is usually a male, whereas one which is higher than 140 beats per minute is usually female. But this method is only about 70% reliable.

There are many other methods according to old wives tales and folk lore, including suspension of an object on the end of a piece of string over the pregnant uterus, when the object moves in a clockwise direction the child is said to be a male ,and if it moves anti-clockwise the child is said to be female. Although many parents are anxious for any indication of the sex of their unborn baby, a majority also would in retrospect, prefer not to know until the baby is delivered.

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