Is it accurate to determine the baby's gender based on fetal heart rate?
My wife is six weeks pregnant, and the prenatal checkup has already detected the fetal heartbeat. I previously heard that you can determine whether the baby is a boy or girl based on the fetal heart rate—is this accurate?
Doctor's answer (1)
There is no scientific basis for the belief that fetal heart rate can determine the sex of the baby. Fetal heart rate refers to the frequency of the baby's heartbeat in the mother's uterus, with a normal range of 110 to 160 beats per minute, primarily reflecting the condition of the fetus in the womb. Regardless of fetal sex, heart rate is mainly influenced by factors such as the maternal environment, fetal activity level, and gestational age.
Questions are often raised regarding the accuracy of predicting fetal sex using fetal heart rate. Although various claims about predicting fetal sex based on heart rate exist, these are not accurate. Multiple studies have found no direct correlation between fetal heart rate and fetal sex. The sex of a baby is determined by the parents' chromosomes and is unrelated to fetal heart rate.
During pregnancy, regular prenatal checkups should focus more on monitoring the health status of the fetus. If pregnant women have any concerns or notice abnormalities regarding fetal heart rate, they should seek medical advice promptly.
