Your baby has 46 different chromosomes inside his or her body, but only two will determine your baby's sex.
Boy or Girl? That Depends on the Sperm
A female egg has one X chromosome, while the male sperm can have either an X or a Y chromosome. If the sperm is an X, the baby will be a girl, while if the sperm is a Y, your baby will be a boy. It's because of this that baby's sex is determined entirely by the man.
What Do the Old Wives' Tales Say?
Whether you want to know how to have a boy or how to have a girl, there are many different old wives' tales that claim to determine whether a boy or girl will be born. While some of these old wives' tales can be fun, they're also completely false!
If you're tempted to sleep with meat under your mattress so that you can have a boy or you tie a pink ribbon to your bed for a girl, just don't.
Some people believe that they can change their diet to influence whether they have a boy or girl. Eating acidic foods such as citrus is supposed to produce more Y sperm, while alkaline foods, like dairy, are supposed to produce more X sperm. While there's no harm in trying this (and your partner may probably like the excuse for extra ice cream if you want a girl), there's no real scientific evidence to back it up either.
How to Have a Girl
If you want to have a girl, some people recommend having sex two or three days before ovulation. Female sperm lives longer than male sperm, so when you ovulate, only the female sperm will have survived.
How to Have a Boy
Male sperm doesn't live as long, but does swim faster than female sperm. Because of this, it's thought that if you have sex the day of ovulation, your chances of having a boy are increased.
If you want to try for a specific gender, you should know when you ovulate. An ovulation calendar can help you determine when you should have sex for either a boy or a girl. These methods aren't foolproof but they can increase your chances of having a specific gender.
How to Know If You're Having a Boy or a Girl
Although the old wives' tales are fun, the best way to find out if you're having a boy or a girl is to have an ultrasound. If you want to know the sex of your baby, ask your technician if he or she can tell you during your 20-week ultrasound.