If you’re pregnant and are so desperate to know that baby’s sex that you can’t wait until your scan, then you may be happy to hear that new blood tests on expectant mothers can reveal the baby’s gender after just 7 weeks have proved to be 98% accurate.
Usually couples have to wait at least 12 weeks until a gender prediction can be made after a scan of the foetus. However, when there are health risks that can be dependent on the sex of the baby, 12 weeks can be too long to wait.
The tests are available privately in some hospitals, but are being offered by some hospitals such as Great Ormond Street to detect male babies who could have haemophilia.
Whilst, this is a great breakthrough that could help babies medically, there are some worries that this could be used by couples trying to “balance” their families. If a woman were to discover that she were carrying a boy, when she particularly wanted a girl, it would be a lot easier for her to terminate a pregnancy at 7 weeks than at 12.
The medical director of Midland Fertility Services, Dr Gillian Lockwood agrees that it could become an issue, saying: "In the UK we would not normally approve of someone who decided to terminate because it was a 'blue' pregnancy rather than a 'pink' one. Sex selection for social reasons is illegal in the UK. But there's the danger that this is part of a slippery slope."
Personally, we’d just want to know so that we can get shopping! Buying your own clothes is fun enough, but when they’re in miniature form and so adorable, it’s even harder to resist.
Mamas and Papas have a great range of everything any expectant parents could need, from the more practical – pushchairs and car seats, to the cots and bedding for your little ones nursery, as well as clothes for both mummy and baby to make sure that they’re always looking their best.
Order your FREE Mamas & Papas catalogue today and you’ll get an extra £5.00 off your first order.
Posted by Rebecca Kehoe.