RD Can you predict your unborn baby's sex?
Old wives' tales on predicting the sex of your baby, for all you mums-to-be who can't wait for your 20-week scan!
In the days before ultrasound scans, mums-to-be found some creative ways to predict the gender of their unborn baby. While these old wives' tales may have questionable accuracy, they are fun and wacky to try. Yes, your pregnancy scan will be a little more reliable when it comes to revealing whether your baby's a boy or a girl, but check out our round-up of old wives' tales for predicting your unborn baby's gender, and let us know how they worked for you!
Breast size
If your left breast is bigger than the right when pregnant, apparently this means you’re having a girl. If it’s your right breast that is bigger, you guessed it, you’re supposedly having a boy.
Fast heart rate
Some believe that if your unborn baby has a fast heart rate (of around 170 beats a minute) this means you’re having a girl. If it’s slower, you’re pregnant with a boy.
Shape of your face
If your face is rounder and fuller, then old wives' tales will tell you you’re expecting a girl. Bizarrely, the tale also says that if your nose starts to grow or widen, it means you’re pregnant with a girl as she’s trying to ‘steal’ your beauty!
Mood swings
If you suffer from severe mood swings, it supposedly means you're having a baby girl. Although, considering the surge of hormones flowing through your body, we think you’d be hard pushed to find a mum-to-be who isn’t moody or hormonal!
Baby bump shape
If you're carrying your pregnant bump out front, it's said to mean you'll have a boy. If your baby bump grows outwards, expect a baby girl. The shape of your bump is also used to predict the sex - if your belly looks like a watermelon, it’s a girl, if it's more like a basketball, you could be expecting a boy. Also, if your bump sits quite high, it's a girl. If your bump sits low, it's a boy.
Your age at the time you conceived
Your age apparently can help you predicting your baby’s sex. If your age when you fell pregnant and the year of conception are both even, or both odd, the baby is a girl. If they are mismatched, you’re having a boy.
Acne and skin problems
If you've been suffering from spot breakouts or severe acne, this could mean you’re pregnant with a girl.
Pregnancy cravings
Some say that if you crave salty or sour foods whilst pregnant, it means you’re having a boy. If you crave anything sweet, it could mean you’re expecting a girl. Orange juice is another pregnancy craving said to indicate you're having a girl, as forum user Sian Applebee found: "I always wanted orange juice when I was pregnant but I was convinced I was having a boy, but it turns out to be true, as I had a girl!"
The way you lie down
Apparently, what side you lie down on tells a lot about which gender you're expecting - if you lie on your left, it’s a boy, if you lie on your right, it’s a girl.
Centre of attention
One old wives' tale says that if pre-school boys show interest in you when you’re pregnant, it will be a girl. If the boys completely ignore you, it’s a boy.
Dreams
Old wives' tales say that if you lie in bed dreaming about little girls, chances are you’re having a boy! If you dream about boys, it’s a girl you’re likely to be expecting.
Nipple colour
If you find your areolas become really dark and almost brown, the old wives' tales say it's because you're expecting a baby boy.
Hair colour change
If you discover your hair changes colour slightly to a reddish tint, it means you're pregnant with a girl. However, this might not apply to mums-to-be who are already redheads!
Leg hair growth
If the hair on your legs grows notably faster, you're said to be having a boy.
Pick-up-the-key test
Put a key on the floor. Pick it up whichever way comes naturally. If you pick it up by the round end, you’re pregnant with a boy. If you pick it up by the longer, pointy end, it’s a girl. If you pick it up in the middle, you could be having twins.
The Mayan Tale
Pick a number (any number), then match the number with the corresponding letter of the alphabet, where 1 is A, 2 is B, 3 is C etc. Now choose a name beginning with that letter. If you instinctively say a boys' name or a girls' name, well, you, work it out!
Swing a ring
Hang a pendant or wedding ring on a bit of string and hang it over your baby belly. If the ring swings back and forth, your baby is a boy. If it swings around in a circle, then it’s a girl.
Garlic smell
Eat a clove of garlic and if the smell comes through your pores afterwards, you’re having a boy. If no garlic can be smelt, you’re having a girl. Hmmm, we'd like to see someone who's expecting a girl put this to the test!
Hand test
Put out your hands for others to see. If you show your hands palms up, you’re having a girl. Palms down, it’s a boy.
Who instigated sex
If you instigated sex with your partner on the night (or day) you conceived, chances are, you're expecting a girl. If it was your partner, then it's a boy.
Morning sickness
If you've really suffered badly from morning sickness, apparently that's a sign that you're pregnant with a girl.
Dark lines on your belly
If you've noticed a linea nigra (a darkish line stretching down your belly) and it comes as far as your belly button, it's said to be a sign that you're having a girl. If it stretches past your belly button, however, it's a sign you're having a boy.
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