There are two types of people – one are those who want to be surprised when they welcome a new baby into the world, and the other simply must know what gender a newborn is.
No matter which category you fall into, it’s a question every pregnant woman will ask herself – do I want to know?
So for all those expectant mums out there, and anyone who is curious, we collected all the information you need to know about predicting the gender of a baby.
If you’re all about the straight-up facts then unfortunately, you’re going to need a doctor’s help.
And even then, medical methods of determining sex only in the 90th percentile of accuracy.
That’s pretty accurate and works a treat for most people, but unfortunately the only real way to know if it’s a boy or girl is to see for yourself when the baby is born!
But, if you can’t wait that long, when it comes to tests, there a number of ways gender can be predicted by medicine.
One is non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), a simple blood test that can help the doctor screen for any form of chromosomal conditions, including Down syndrome. Usually taken at 10 weeks, the results will be able to tell if you are having a boy or girl because they are looking a chromosomes – a major component of gender determination!
The most well-known medical test used to determine an unborn baby’s gender is, of course, ultrasound.
A 3-D or 4-D ultrasound can often determine gender as early as 12 weeks, however it is usually more accurate after 20 weeks.
But, medicine and doctors aside, for centuries people have been using alternative methods to predict the gender of babies.
Whether it be cravings or hair loss, there are many common signs of having a girl or boy.
Fact or myth, we delve into the top five signs you are pregnant with a girl.
1
Morning sickness
It’s an old wives tale that the more morning sickness you have in your first trimester, the higher the chance you’re having a girl.
Apparently there is some scientific fact to this. When you’re carrying a girl, there will typically be higher levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG in your body which is known to worsen morning sickness.
However, this method is not 100% accurate and there are many variables.
2
Pregnancy glow
Another old wives tale states that if you have “the glow” then you’re carrying a boy and if you’re suffering from hormonal acne, then it’s one of the signs of having a girl.
This all boils down to the myth that little girls steal their mother’s looks in the womb.
However, if you’re looking for something more accurate, this one is not for you.
3
Carrying high
Probably the most common old wives tale regarding symptoms of baby girl or baby boy, it’s said that if you are carrying your pregnancy low, you are having a boy, and if you’re having a girl you will carry high.
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of science to back this one up. How you’re carrying your baby has more to do with your baby’s muscle tone, your shape, and even how old you are when you get pregnant.
4
Partner’s weight gain
As the myth goes, if the father of the unborn child gains weight during his partner’s pregnancy, then the couple are having a girl.
While there’s not a lot of scientific fact supporting this theory, a study in Denmark did reveal some interesting results.
Danish researchers studied 100 fathers-to-be and discovered that those who had girls gained more weight during the pregnancy than those who had boys.
5
Baby’s heart rate
This is one many women rely on as an indicator of their baby’s gender.
According to the theory, if your baby’s heart rate in the womb is more than 140 beats per minute, you’re having a girl.
Scientists have found that baby girls hearts do beat faster, however, only after they are born.
