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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This is a process whereby some of the fluid surrounding the baby (amniotic fluid) is withdrawn and the cells which it contains are stained by a special method and then carefully examined under the microscope.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.

The second trimester is also a challenging stage of pregnancy. This is because at this period, the mother-to-be begins to notice drastic changes in her body especially her increasing bulging tummy. Here are what to expect in the different months of this trimester:

What to expect in the Fourth month (16th week):

Your body -

·        Constipation, heartburn, indigestion, bloating, flatulence

·        Fatigue

·        Headaches occasionally

·        Breast continued to increase

·        Frequency of urination decreases

·        Decrease in nausea, or nausea still normal

·        Occasional dizziness

·        At the end of the month you might feel your baby move, but that is if you are slender or this is not your first pregnancy

·        Hemorrhoids

·        Varicose veins on legs

·        Nasal congestion, and occasional nose bleeds

·        Bleeding gums when you brush

·        Leucorrhea (whitish vaginal discharge)

·        Mild swelling of hands and face, an occasionally of ankles and feet

·        Increase in appetite

Your baby -

By the end of the 4^th month the limbs of your baby are properly formed and all the joints are moving. The fingers and toes are normal and fingernails and toenails are present. The head is still large for the body. Primary sex characteristics continue to develop and the baby’s sex is now very obvious.

A fine downy hair, lanugos, forms over the whole body of your baby including the face. The eyebrows and eyelashes have started growing too.

The baby now weighs about 135gm (0.135kg) and the length of the baby is approximately 16cm.

What to expect in the Fifth month (20th week):

Your body -

·        Backache

·        Skin pigmentation, changes on face and abdomen

·        Changes in orgasm

·        Increased heart rate

·        Baby’s movement is well felt

·        Hemorrhoids

·        Varicose veins on legs

·        Nasal congestion, and occasional nose bleeds

·        Bleeding gums when you brush

·        Increased Leucorrhea (whitish vaginal discharge)

·        Mild swelling of hands and face, an occasionally of ankles and feet

·        Increase in appetite

·        Occasional pain in the lower abdomen

·        Constipation, heartburn, indigestion, bloating, flatulence

·        Fatigue

·        Headaches occasionally

·        Breast might produce colostrum (a creamy discharge that comes before the milk)

·        Occasional dizziness

·        Leg cramps

·        Occasional absentmindedness

Your baby -

At this stage your baby is now growing rapidly in length and weight increases too. Muscle is rapidly increasing in the limbs and you can now feel some active movement within you and also observe its movement outside.

Your baby’s weight is about 340gm (0.340kg) and has a length of approximately 25.5cm.

What to expect in the sixth month (24th week):

Your body -

·        More defined fetal movements

·        Hemorrhoids

·        Varicose veins on legs

·        Nasal congestion, and occasional nose bleeds

·        Bleeding gums when you brush

·        Increased Leucorrhea (whitish vaginal discharge)

·        Mild swelling of hands and face, an occasionally of ankles and feet

·        Increase in appetite

·        Occasional pain in the lower abdomen

·        Constipation, heartburn, indigestion, bloating, flatulence

·        Fatigue

·        Occasional Headaches

·        Occasional dizziness

·        Leg cramps

·        Backache

·        Skin pigmentation, changes on face and abdomen

·        Changes in orgasm

·        Increased heart rate

·        Itchy abdomen

Your baby-

Your baby continues to grow and its vital organs are now sufficiently mature for it to survive for a short time if delivered prematurely. But as the lungs are inadequately matured, it is unlikely to maintain an independent life for any length of time.

At this stage your baby’s weight should be around 570gm (0.570kg) and have a length of 34cm.

The second trimester is the stage for the main physiological growth of the fetus as well as the development of its enzyme systems and other highly complex endocrinological processes. It should be noted that abnormalities in the development of these processes would not be obvious immediately at birth, but hidden damage to the baby by overdose of insulin and discoloration of teeth due to administration of tetracycline can only occur at this stage.

The diagnosis of twin pregnancy should be simple. It ought to be obvious that two babies are present; that the uterus is larger than it would be for one baby and that there are two of everything including two fetal heartbeats. In fact about 8% of twin pregnancies reach delivery before the discovery of the second baby - usually to the equal embarrassment and astonishment of the doctors as well as the mother.

The following factors may make the doctor consider the possibility that you might be having twins:

• Excessive nausea and vomiting - may be associated with a twin pregnancy, especially if the symptoms continue beyond the 13th and 14th week.

• The uterus - is consistently larger than the dates suggest. Pelvic examination is performed at the first visit to the doctor or the antenatal clinic and the presence of any fibroid or tumors is noted. If the uterus is subsequently noted to be larger than the dates it is essential to know that a previous pelvic examination has been performed to exclude any other pelvic mass.

• Fetal movements - are felt in a twin pregnancy at the same time as they would be felt in a single pregnancy. As pregnancy advances, however, excessive movements may lead the mother to believe she might be carrying twins.

• The fetal hearts - it used to be very difficult to confirm the presence of a twin pregnancy by listening to the fetal hearts through the ordinary fetal stethoscope, but the sonogram will detect the presence of two fetal hearts as early as the 14th week.

• Acute hydramnios- usually accompanies a uni-ovular (identical) twin pregnancy. During the 24th week there is a rapid and dramatic enlargement in the size of the uterus. This may be so sudden that it causes considerable pain and discomfort and the abdominal girth may increase within a few days. This only occurs in identical twin pregnancies because the circulation of one twin becomes so dominant that the other twin is forced to produce a large quantity of amniotic fluid to prevent itself from getting heart failure.

• Many fetal parts - the doctor’s suspicion is aroused if an excessive number of fetal parts are felt within the abdomen, especially if two heads are palpated.

• Pre-eclampsia - does not usually occur until after the 32nd week of pregnancy, but a raised blood pressure or excessive weight gain before the 28th week is associated with twin pregnancy.

• Predisposition to having twins and/or heredity - if there are twins in the mother’s family, or the woman is of advanced age, these can increase the possibility of a twin pregnancy. The use of fertility drugs to stimulate ovulation, and in vitro fertilization are also factors that make a woman more likely to have twins.

• Ultrasound (sonogram) - the routine use of ultrasound in early pregnancy also helps to diagnose twins in early pregnancy. This is one of the trusted methods of determining a twin pregnancy. On the ultrasound monitor your doctor can easily distinguish two fetuses or two heartbeats with ease.

Some of these symptoms are probability that you may be having twins. Till date the ultrasound remains the most trusted of all the methods of diagnosing twin pregnancies. It’s only in rare cases that the ultrasound has failed, usually due to the position of the babies.