Determine the Sex of a Baby Girl With Ultrasounds

16 Week Ultrasound

This is a fairly early ultrasound to be determining girl or boy, but this one proved to be correctly identified as a baby girl.

17 Week Ultrasound

This shot at 17 weeks is from the bottom where you can see the labia marked as a baby girl by the ultrasound technician.

19 Week Ultrasound

This 19-week ultrasound also shows a clear three white lines for a baby girl. So even though this baby is a bit younger than some of the other images, there is a better image, making it easier to discern if the baby is a girl or boy.

Midpregnancy Ultrasound

This is another baby girl a bit further along into the pregnancy at 20 weeks. You can see the three lines, though not as clearly as some ultrasound images.

Sometimes this lack of clarity has to do with the ultrasound equipment, the mother's weight, the baby's size...There are many factors involved in getting a clear picture from an ultrasound. The ultrasound technician has marked this one a girl as well.

20 Week Ultrasound

This 20-week ultrasound is a bit more obvious if you're looking for the classic "hamburger" sign of three white lines. The three white lines—which are actually the labia with the clitoris in the middle—can resemble two buns and the meat of a hamburger.

This image is more easily defined as you can see the baby's thighs, too. These landmarks make it easier to tell what you are looking at, particularly when it is a photo and not a video.

Another 20 Week Ultrasound

It's a girl for sure! That's what the ultrasound technician said at the look of this 20-week ultrasound. This baby helped make the diagnosis of girl a bit easier with the space between her legs.

22 Week Ultrasound

This image is of a baby girl at 22 weeks. It could be difficult to tell if you weren't sure what you were looking at, but knowing this is a "girl shot" obviously helps you figure out what you're looking for in the image.

When you have your ultrasound done, remember that while the technician's call is usually right, sometimes, mistakes happen. There are many reasons why your ultrasound might be wrong when it ​says girl or boy. These possible hiccups are usually controlled for in a variety of ways, but also you should have the limitations of your exam explained to you in a way that you can understand.

Understanding the limitations of ultrasound technology will give you a better idea of how seriously you should take the results, and how much decorating you should do in the baby's room or in a baby's wardrobe. 

23 Week Ultrasound

This baby is 23 weeks into pregnancy. The ultrasound technician has marked the area for a girl. You can see that this is more defined, even with just a few more weeks into gestation.

Late Pregnancy Ultrasound

This baby girl is getting ready to be born when this was taken in pregnancy. Because of this being later in gestation, the labia is much more defined and easier to see. The clitoris no longer protrudes from between the lips of the labia.

35 Week 3D Ultrasound

This is a baby girl at 35 weeks gestation, and the ultrasound is done as a 3D ultrasound. I have to say this is the most obvious ultrasound photos I've ever seen. Certainly, the use of 3D technology helps, but so does the advanced gestational age.