A baby gender predictor is any tool, tale or test that can help identify the gender of your baby, and can range from whacky old wives’ tales to professional and proven pregnancy testing and diagnoses.

Discovering that you are pregnant is an incredible moment and one that is often followed by a myriad of different emotions. Knowing that there is the beginning of a new life growing inside you is an indescribable sensation and marks the beginning of the long and very special journey that is motherhood. Many questions will present themselves along this path, and one of the earliest and most prominent is the ineffable, "Is it a boy or girl?" Thus begins the search for a baby gender predictor.

In the early days and weeks of your pregnancy you will be come across several different options for identifying your baby’s gender. Old wives’ tales and Chinese lunar calendars will have to compete with formal obstetric scans and pregnancy procedures. As a prenatal test incorporating chromosomal analysis, amniocentesis testing fits firmly into the second category. With an accuracy of identifying baby gender at over 99%, it is understandable why the amniocentesis test attracts attention from parents seeking a baby gender predictor. Nevertheless it is of significant importance that parents considering undergoing an amniocentesis fully understand the purpose of the test as well as the procedure, risks and implications.

The word ‘centesis’ means a puncture or perforation, and medically refers to the act of puncturing a body cavity or organ with a hollow needle in order to draw out fluid. An amniocentesis is therefore the extraction of amniotic fluid; the surrounding liquid that nourishes and protects your baby during pregnancy. Although not as intrusive as it might sound, it is clear that this is certainly not a non-invasive procedure. Let us therefore consider the process steps, the risks involved and the circumstances where an amniocentesis may be a prudent option.

The test is usually conducted at around 15 to 22 weeks into a pregnancy when there is a desire to check for chromosome abnormalities that indicate a condition such as Down syndrome, Edward syndrome or Turner syndrome, or neural defects that may reside within either parent’s genetic history. Under ultrasound guidance, a thin needle is inserted through the mother’s abdominal wall to extract approximately 20ml of amniotic fluid from around the baby. The amniotic fluid naturally contains some foetal cells containing the same genetic blueprint as your baby. A chromosomal analysis of these cells will test for abnormalities indicating known conditions such as Down syndrome, Edward syndrome or Turner syndrome. The chromosomal analysis will also confirm baby gender.

The vast majority of amniocentesis tests are completed without complication, approximately 1 in 200 results in a miscarriage. The use of ultrasound guidance and the competency of medical practitioner are key factors in minimizing this risk. There is also a secondary risk of a uterine infection in the days following the test which may also cause a miscarriage, although the occurrence rate is less than 1 in 1000.

Amniocentesis is normally only offered as an option in one or more of the following circumstances:

• The mother is to be 35 years old or older at delivery

• The parents have already had a child with a chromosomal disorder

• The parents themselves have a genetic or chromosomal disorder

• A previous ultrasound suggested possible abnormalities

• A maternal screening revealed the baby would be at a higher risk

Parents in these circumstances will have to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of choosing to proceed with an amniocentesis test, and any decision is recommended to be taken in consultation with your medical professional.

Although without doubt an extremely accurate baby gender predictor, identifying baby gender should not be the primary incentive for taking an amniocentesis. There are other less-invasive baby gender predictor options that can be used very early into your pregnancy.