16 Ways Pregnancy Symptoms Predict Gender
By
BG Staff
Updated Jan 29, 2021
Dry lips, being sensitive to smell, sore breasts, and other symptoms can be an indicator of the baby's gender.
Dry lips, sore breasts, acne, and other symptoms during pregnancy can indicate gender
Via: Pixabay, PublicDomainPictures
This article was originally published on February 15, 2017. It was updated on January 28, 2021 by Katrina Butcher.
It can be a long nine months waiting to find out if it's going to be a boy or a girl, especially if baby is being uncooperative at the 20-week scan. Ordinarily, most parents-to-be will be asked, when having an ultrasound, if they would like to find out the sex of their growing baby. It is typically possible to tell the gender from a scan after 16 weeks, sometimes earlier, at 12 weeks, if the “nub theory” is used. But, of course, many little babies are not accommodating and don't let the sonographer have a good enough look to see if they are a boy or a girl. It can be disappointing to leave a scan with an uncertain gender in mind, especially if you were very keen to know the sex.
There are, however, other ways to find out if you are having a boy or a girl. Many consider these methods to be old wives’ tales. We shouldn't rely completely on their use in predicting gender as they are unreliable, but they can be fun to do. I know in my case, many of them were true and rightly predicted both my girls.
In fact, just this month, scientists have discovered that a woman's immunity plays quite a large part in determining the gender of her unborn child. Many women experience pregnancy differently depending on whether they are carrying a boy or a girl. Symptoms such as nausea or certain cravings can give you an inkling about whether you should be searching for a boys or girls name. Researchers have determined that a woman's immune responses play a role in establishing whether they are having a boy or girl.
According to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, postdoctoral researcher Amanda Mitchell says, "This research helps women, and their obstetricians, recognize that fetal sex is one factor that may impact how a woman's body responds to everyday immune challenges."
So, while many would say that these are old wives’ tales, we now have evidence that suggests our bodies do in fact react differently to pregnancy depending on whether it's a boy or girl. There seems to always be some level of truth to old wives’ tales but let's not celebrate just yet unless a scan or blood test reveals the gender for certain!
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16 Morning Sickness?
third trimester morning sickness is more common than you think
Credit: Pixy
Morning sickness has long been a significant sign as to whether you are having a boy or a girl. It's often believed that if you suffer from Hyperemesis Gravidarum, extreme morning sickness, then you are having a girl, reports What to Expect. While there are always exceptions to this rule, several scientists have thoroughly researched this phenomenon and have backed up the claim, according to Springer Link. It would appear that the hormones produced by a baby girl during pregnancy can make moms feel overly nauseated with a higher level of sickness throughout the pregnancy in comparison to baby boys.
Severe morning sickness in the first trimester is often considered an indicator of a baby girl. However, don't rush out to buy pale pink onesies just yet as this method of predicting a baby's gender is not fool proof. There are many women who suffered morning sickness at the beginning for it to taper off and come back again, and they ended up having beautiful baby boys.
But let me tell you, I had severe morning sickness with both my girls. The first lasted the entire nine months and the second five months. So, I believe in this one!
15 Positioning Of The Linea Nigra
Linea Negra Pregnancy Line On Belly
via Pexels
Do you have a dark line reaching down over your belly bump? This dark line is called the Linea Nigra and is a very common symptom of pregnancy. They say that if this line reaches from your navel to your pubic bone, then you are having a girl. If it reaches above your navel, reports Refinery 29, and travels from your pubic bone to under your rib cage, then you are having a boy.
I'll be honest, with both of my girls, I didn't have a Linea Nigra at all. Sporting no line along my bump meant I would have been left in the dark about my girls' gender if this was the only method to predict your baby's sex. So, while this is a cute way to try and predict the gender, it is most certainly not fool proof.
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14 Speed Of The Baby’s Heart Beat
Via Gerd Altmann from Pixabay, Daniel Reche from Pixabay
The theory behind using the fetal heart rate as a way to predict the gender of your baby states that if the heart rate is above 140 beats per minute (BPM) then you are likely to have a girl, according to TODAY. If it's under 140BPM then you're considered to be having a boy. This prediction method is harmless to try and also quite easy. At your next ante-natal appointment, simply count the number of beats or ask your midwife or doctor how many beats per minute they can hear.
There is no existing evidence that proves this method works, however, and I, for one, am a little dubious. Before my first baby was born, I was attached to the trace machine monitoring my baby's heartbeat for quite a few hours. Her heart rate was fairly low, never reaching above the golden line of 140BPM, despite her being in no danger or stress. Take what you will from this one, but I wouldn't use it as a reliable method of prediction since it didn't work for me.
13 Carrying High Or Low?
Mom Raising Awareness About Pregnancy Condition That Forever Changed Her Life
Credit: Pexels/Freestocksorg
This old wives’ tale says that if you're carrying low or down in the front then you are having a boy and if you're carrying high, reports Winchester Hospital, and appear wide in the middle then it's more than likely a girl. Equally, if you're bump is neat, and all of your pregnancy weight is around your waist, then this indicates a girl.
I carried high on both my girls and was relatively neat, so this one worked for me. But is this due to my petite stature and good posture or a genuine way to determine if someone is having a boy or a girl? More often than not, the muscle structure around your waist has a tendency to determine how your bump will look. Pregnancy results in your muscles relaxing as your body expands to accommodate your growing baby. The softer and weaker your muscles are, the more likely your bump is to hang lower. Bear in mind, that the more pregnancies you have, the more elastic your muscles become. So, on your third pregnancy you may notice your bump hangs a little bit lower.
12 Increased Hunger
Mexican food can induce labor with all of the peppers used in the dishes
via Pexels/Chitokan
We all know that during pregnancy we are eating for two, but is it a boy or a girl? They say that if you find yourself reaching into the pantry or raiding the fridge like a teenage boy home from college for the holidays, then you may in fact be expecting a boy. Research suggests that moms-to-be often carrying boys tend to eat more than their counter parts who are carrying girls, according to What to Expect.
This indeed could be related to the level of testosterone which is surging through your pregnant body. Baby boys, even in the womb, may need more energy, resulting in an increased appetite for the mother. As a result, baby boys tend to be heavier at birth than baby girls.
Ordinarily, I eat like a rabbit so any increase in appetite was an oddity to me.
11 Sugar And Spice And All Things Nice
gender reveal dessert ideas
Credit: Instagram/hungerthirstplay
And on that note of increased appetite, just what exactly are you craving? As the old rhyme goes "Snips and snails, and puppy dogs’ tails, That's what little boys are made of. Sugar and spice and all things nice, That's what little girls are made of." Pregnancy cravings can have an indication as to whether you are carrying a boy or girl. They say that if you crave salty foods like potato chips, popcorn, and pretzels then you are carrying a boy. If your sweet tooth has come into full effect, then it's a girl, according to Parents.
Your body has a way of getting you to eat the foods it needs you to eat and more so in pregnancy as your cravings can be completely uncharacteristic to what you would normally eat. Some also say that pregnancy hormones change how certain foods taste and smell to you during pregnancy, meaning something you would never have touched before all of a sudden is very appealing.
I don't have a huge sweet tooth, but with both of my girls, jellies and sugar were my vice!
10 Hormone Levels
Heart Shaped Hands over stomach
Credit: Unsplash
Pregnancy hormones have an awful lot to answer for when it comes to feeling moody during those nine months. Hormones are wreaking absolute havoc with your emotions. One minute you’re laughing, and the next you are crying for absolutely no reason which only makes you cry worse and harder.
Strong emotional mood swings are thought to mean that you're having a girl, reports Medical News Today. In my case, yes, this was another pregnancy symptom that easily predicted my baby's gender. But waiting for your newborn and planning for life ahead with a growing family is a very emotional time in a person’s life. It’s no wonder mood swings are unpredictable.
However, they do say that if you have more mood swings and emotional outbursts during those nine months, then you are more than likely having a baby girl.
9 Increased Breast Size
Via MANOEL M. PEREIRA VALIDO FILHO MVALIDO from Pixabay
Apparently, keeping a close eye on your breasts during pregnancy is a sure-fire way to predict the gender of your baby, according to Healthline Parenthood. Naturally, your breasts will get bigger to some extent during pregnancy as your body prepares for the impending arrival of your baby and gets ready for you to possibly breastfeed. It's claimed that the amount of testosterone released from your growing baby will have an effect on the size of your bosom. The less testosterone, the less your breasts will grow as the hormone will damper your growth. This, of course, indicates that you are more than likely due a baby boy. Additionally, you will more than likely experience sore breasts during pregnancy.
Also, bear in mind that they say if your areola's become darker during pregnancy then you are more than likely carrying a boy.
8 Left Breast Bigger Than The Right
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Credit: Unsplash
And, of course, according to the old wives’ tale, as your breasts change shape due to the natural injection of additional hormones to your body, they say that if one breast grows larger than the other then you are having a girl. But of course, only if it's the left breast, according to TODAY. If the right breast is bigger than the left than it's a boy.
It's unknown where this pregnancy prediction method came from, but I think it's safe to say that we can all be a little dubious about this one. Besides that, it's often quite common for women to have one breast larger than the other. As your breasts prepare themselves for lactation and go up a cup size or two then it's only natural for them to change based on the size and shape of your breasts before pregnancy.
7 Acne Development
UPDATED 16 Ways Pregnancy Symptoms Predict Gender
Credit: Pexels/RodnaeProductions
Are you suffering from more acne than normal? Apparently, acne during pregnancy can indicate that you are carrying a girl, reports Belly Belly. On occasion, acne can occur during the first trimester as your body is flushed with extra hormones which take over. These extra hormones do our skin no good and it's relatively common for pregnant women to feel like they are reliving their teenage years, reaching for the concealer to cover up those flaring spots.
In comparison, if you have a perfect complexion with glowing skin, then this could indicate that you are having a boy.
With both of my girls, I suffered frustrating acne on my face, neck, and back which cleared up in the second trimester and brought me back to that glowing pregnancy state with strong hair, nails, and beautiful skin. I'll admit - I was glad this pregnancy symptom didn't last too long as it was worse than when I was in my teens and early twenties! But it also rightly predicted that I was carrying girls.
6 Hairy Legs
Woman holding her baby bump
Via Negative Space on Pexels
According to TODAY, if your body hair is growing quicker than normal then you are more than likely carrying a boy. So, if you have to shave more often, which let's face it, is a nightmare and almost impossible to do the further along in your pregnancy you get, then start hunting for all things blue. If your hair growth is lower or hasn't changed at all, then it's possible that a girl is coming your way.
The same can be said if your hair becomes thick and glossy and the envy of every other woman in the office, then it's a boy. This also includes if your nails are thick and strong. The reason behind using this method of predicting gender comes from the fact that pregnant women carry more estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone during pregnancy than they normally would and so the result often appears in hair growth or lack thereof. The extra testosterone, influencing hair and nail growth, can indicate that you are carrying a boy due to the male hormone. Or, so they say.
I can't say if I can recall quicker or slower hair growth with my two girls. I will definitely keep an eye out for this symptom on my next one!
5 Clumsier Than Normal
body positive quotes to help you love your pregnant body
Credit: Pexels/ThiagoBorges
Becoming clumsier in pregnancy is often a give-in because our center of balance is thrown off along with our burgeoning belly bump. I, for one, have dropped, tripped, and slipped so often during my pregnancies that I stopped making excuses or apologizing for it. Throw pregnancy exhaustion, hormonal changes, and baby brain into the mix and clumsiness can become your new best friend.
They say that a heightened level of clumsiness, however, can also be an indicator that you are having a boy, according to Birth Center Stone Oak. The explanation and reasoning behind this one is very unclear and I'll be honest, I'm not too sure how they came up with this one!
I am clumsy by nature so I really couldn't use this one as a valid gender prediction test on my two!
4 Dry Skin Like The Sahara Desert
UPDATED 16 Ways Pregnancy Symptoms Predict Gender
Credit: Pexels/MoosePhotos
Dry skin, like dry hands or dry lips, during pregnancy is a common complaint and pregnancy symptom. But did you know that this can also be an indicator as to whether you are carrying a boy or a girl. The effect pregnancy has on your skin occurs due to our old friend, hormonal changes. In addition, the changes to your eating habits can also have an effect on your skin changes.
Throughout pregnancy your body goes through incredible changes as your skin stretches to accommodate your growing baby. Some say that dry skin can indicate that you are having a boy, reports TODAY,. Whereas soft and supple skin could mean you are having a girl.
Admittedly, for me, I suffered dry skin with both of my girls so this one didn't ring true for me. On the other hand, perhaps I was simply dehydrated!
3 Cold, Cold Feet
Via Pixabay
While many of us suffer with dreaded cold feet even on the sunniest of days, if you find that your feet are more insufferably colder now during pregnancy, then it may suggest that you are having a boy, according to Parents. If your feet are lovely, toasty, and as warm as ever, then you may be having a girl.
It's completely unknown how this method of predicting gender in pregnancy started doing the rounds. Like all gender predicting methods, it has its followers, and some swear by its accuracy.
I have cold feet all year round, but I did notice that I uncharacteristically enjoyed wearing flip flips and sandals in the summer months when pregnant with both of my girls.
2 More Toilet Time
Having to go to the toilet frequently sign of pregnancy
Credit: Pexels/AnnaShvets
Many believe that the color of a pregnant woman's urine can correctly predict the gender of her child. According to Belly Belly, dull-colored urine predicts a boy while a bright color indicates a baby girl. Generally, the color of a person’s urine is determined by how much liquid they drink throughout the day. The more liquid they drink, the lighter the color. I think it's safe to assume that this method of predicting gender is one for the comic books. Let's move on!
1 Throbbing Temples
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via Pikist
Headaches in pregnancy are an unfortunate side effect of pregnancy which, if you never suffered headaches on a routine basis before, can be very difficult to deal with. They say that headaches can also accurately predict the gender of your baby. If you suffer headaches during pregnancy, according to TODAY,, then you are likely to be carrying a boy. Headache and throbbing temples free? Then it very well could be a girl.
Headaches can be a result of surging pregnancy hormones and an increase in blood volume. They can especially be more common in the first trimester.
As a longtime migraine sufferer, I was over the moon when my migraines and headaches completely stopped as soon as I became pregnant with my first baby girl. However, with my second daughter, the headaches came back with a vengeance. So, this prediction method was literally 50/50 for me.
dry lips during pregnancy gender?
