Boy or Girl? Pregnancy Myths and Facts on Which Gender You’re Carrying

Congratulations – you’re pregnant! So, are you having a boy or a girl? Everywhere you go, you’ll certainly be asked this question. Whether you decide to find out your baby’s gender as early as possible (hey, you may want to get a head start on choosing the right color paint for the nursery), or you decide to let your baby’s gender be a delivery day surprise, there are some facts and myths that can make the guessing game fun until you find out for sure.

GENDER MYTHS

Trust us… everyone from your mother to your prenatal yoga pals are going to weigh in on whether they think you’re carrying a boy or girl. So what are some of the common gender myths or wives’ tales? Read on! (Note: None of these myths are 100% accurate – but it sure is entertaining!)

Watch the Pendulum Swing

Hang a pendant over your belly or any small weighted item attached to a string, such as a ring. If it moves in a circular motion, a girl is on her way; if it swings back and forth, break out the blue booties.

Signs On Your Skin and Body

Does your skin look like it did during your teenage years? If you’re experiencing acne, as folklore has it, you’re carrying a girl. If you’re carrying extra weight out front, you have a little girl to thank for that. More around the hips and booty? Blame it on a boy. Carrying extra flesh in your face during your pregnancy (and really, who isn’t)? Some say that fullness in the face means you’re having a girl. It’s all in the areolas – if they darken, it’s a boy. Feeling a little lopsided with “the girls?” If your left breast is larger than your right, it’s a girl. Looking all a-glow? Your little man can take credit for that. Looking a little less fabulous than usual? Thank you, baby girl.

It’s All in the Beat of the Heart:

If the fetal heartbeat is above 140 beats per minute, you’re having a girl. Below 140, you’re having a boy.

Pregnancy Cravings?

Around conception, did your diet consist of mainly of salty foods and red meat? Hello, boy! If you ate a lot of sweets and calcium-rich foods around conception, you’re carrying a girl.

The Conception…

Didn’t have an orgasm during that fateful moment you conceived? (Darn.) Chances are you’re carrying a girl. Did you have sex right at ovulation? (You’re so on the ball with this fertility thing!) A bouncing baby boy just might be in store for you. Slipped in a little nookie 2-3 days before ovulation, and again two days after? You just might be tickled pink.

More Fun Myths

Carrying high? Hello, Loralei. Carrying low? Hello, Joe. Experiencing a lot of morning sickness early in your pregnancy? A girl just might be the culprit. Is the dad-to-be gaining weight right as your baby continues to grow? Like father, like son. Now if you’re the kind of pregnant woman who craves more facts that fiction, read on…

GENDER FACTS

Okay, so maybe Aunt Millie believes she’s a master at predicting a baby’s gender, but how do you really know for sure whether you’re having a boy or a girl? Head to your doctor’s office…

Ultrasound

At your 20-week visit to your OB/GYN, a routine ultrasound provides pictures of your baby, determining the gender with 95-100% accuracy. Although, there have been many cases where Mom and Dad still end up with something different than what they were expecting in the delivery room!

Amniocentesis

The purpose of this prenatal test (taken between weeks 16-18) is to check for genetic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities. Whew – heavy stuff. But hey, here’s the good news… it tells you the gender of your baby with 100% certainty!

CVS

More heavy stuff ahead: This test, chroionic villus sampling, checks for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down’s Syndrome or Trisomy 13. Ideally performed between weeks 11-12, it also can tell you your baby’s gender with 100% accuracy as well.

Intuition

And when all else fails, simply tune into your body and `trust your intuition. What do you think you’re having?! For more information about these tests, see ‘At What Week of Pregnancy Can You Tell if it’s a Girl or a Boy?’ (link is at the end of the article) or talk to your health practitioner.