Is it a boy or a girl? That might’ve been the first question on your mind after finding out you were having a baby — and one that gets asked countless times throughout your pregnancy.
But while you might be wondering about your baby’s gender from the moment you read your test results, finding out the answer takes a little longer. Here’s when you can expect to learn the big news, and how it might happen.
When can you find out your baby’s sex?
The answer depends on which prenatal tests or screenings you undergo. Women with healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies can typically find out their baby’s sex sometime around 20 weeks, during their level 2 ultrasound or anatomy scan.
You can opt to get the news a little earlier — possibly as soon as 9 weeks — if your provider has recommended prenatal testing to check for chromosomal abnormalities.
Prefer to be surprised when you give birth? Even though ultrasounds and other prenatal tests can reveal the sex of your baby, that doesn’t mean you have to be told about the big news. Just let your doctor or ultrasound technician know so they don’t accidentally spill the beans while performing your scan or sharing your results.
How can you learn your baby’s sex?
You can find out whether you’re having a boy or a girl through an ultrasound performed about halfway through your pregnancy, while certain tests that check for chromosomal abnormalities can also give you the news a little sooner.
Ultrasound
What it is and how it works: Ultrasounds or sonograms are imaging tests that use sound waves to take pictures. Most women undergo a level 2 ultrasound (sometimes called an anatomy scan) halfway through their pregnancy that checks your baby’s developing anatomy and measures growth. While the ultrasound tech checks your baby from head to toe, they can take a look at his or her developing genitals to see if your little bundle is a boy or a girl.
