Who determines sex of the baby???

[Rose2887]

I’m due Boxing Day and I’m not fussed either way... just interesting to get other people’s views and experiences..

I have a dd who’s 9 from a previous relationship and my dp has a ds from a previous relationship who’s 13.

I’ve heard it’s based on the man... so he is a twin but has a twin sister and a younger sister.

My mums side is very much all girl orientated.

This pregnancy so far is very much like my dd but early stages so may change!!

Because he has a ds it’s all I can imagine him with but I can imagine myself with a son, it’s odd!!

What were your outcomes based on dh or dp and do you think we have a say at all?

[Praisebe]

Scientifically the sperm decides

[meditrina]

Boringly, it's 50/50 and determined by whether X or Y sperm gets through first.

The biggest survey of births (New York) showed a small excess of fourth boys in couples who already had three, but no increase for girls.

[caoraich]

Yes it's based entirely on the man as the woman has two X chromosomes and contributes one. The man contributes either X or Y chromosome. XX and it's a girl XY and it's a boy!
However previous kids have nothing to do with it - which male sex chromosome they get is totally random.
Fraternal twins are genetically linked but on the mum's side as they're related to hyperovulation which is genetically determined, among a lot of other factors

[Mybabystolemysanity]

If I understand correctly, all eggs are X chromosome so female and it depends on being fertilised by female or male sperm.

Pregnancy with boy completely different to my girl. Sicker in the early stages and far more angry/emotional/hormonal later.

[Ifailed]

Apparently there are slightly more boys born than girls born in the UK (105/100) overall, and the ratio is slightly higher with younger parents - which is supposed to explain the Returning-Soldier effect seen after major wars.

[SoyDora]

The man’s sperm determines the sex, but the sex of children he already has or the sex that is most prevalent in his family has no bearing on it.

[BlueBug45]

Male sperm determines the sex.

There are some stats that you are more likely to have a girl if you are older and a boy if you are younger plus many other things but I would take them with a pinch of salt.

Oh and I've heard women say over the years say different things you being pregnant with boys or girls that differ from popular myths.

[userabcname]

Yes it's the sperm and 50/50. All very interesting though - on my side of the family it's very girl heavy whereas on DH's side it's all boys except those who have had 3 children and their 3rd is a girl! It's a very clear pattern. Obviously we know it's down to chance but I would not be surprised if our next child is a boy having had 1 boy already.

[PalePinkSwan]

A man who has fathered several (3 or more) of one gender is statistically slightly more likely to father another of that same gender.

Otherwise it’s 50/50 odds and depends on which sperm fertilises the egg.

The ratio of girls or boys on either side of the family has no bearing on it.

[Missingstreetlife]

Deep sea divers have more daughters, something about the pressure damages male sperm?

[KanyeWesticle]

Its on his side, but its basically a coin toss. Past history of girls or heads make no difference to the 50/50 odds.

[UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea]

I learned this week that you are ever so slightly more likely to conceive a boy if you conceive early in your fertile period rather than later.

But this only expresses itself at population level, individual couples can't skew it.

(Also, it works the other way around for cows)

[PinkSea]

I read that the maternal 'environment' can have some impact. Something to do with access to less nutrition = girls and times of plenty = boys. But I guess that could apply to men's influence on it too