Foetal Position: Can It Be Used to Predict the Sex of Unborn Baby?

Abstract

Sex is used to define the biological categorization of a human being as either a male or female. Globally, most of the pregnant women have expressed desire to know the sex of their babies prenatally. To determine sex of the baby before birth, both traditional and modern sex prediction methods have been used. The study aimed at answering the question; can foetal position and sex be related? If so, can it be used to predict the sex of the baby? Analytical perspective utilizing quantitative approach was conducted in a Referral County Hospital to collect data from a sample size of 340 women who were admitted in labour. Selection was done through convenience sampling method. Data were cross tabulated to determine variable frequencies and establish the association, while chi-square was used to test the study hypothesis. Overall results revealed statistically significant relationship between foetal position and sex of the baby (P = 0.001). Majority of female neonates (74.4%) had adopted right occipital anterior, while most of male neonates (57.4%) had adopted left occipital anterior. It follows then, that sex of the baby may be related to the foetal position. This knowledge may be used by the midwives to predict the foetal sex for the women who may not afford ultrasound scan. Further research may be necessary in a different setting.