You can typically find out the sex of your baby through genetic testing or ultrasound. The shape of your bump, your cravings, or morning sickness will not accurately predict the sex.
When you’re pregnant, you’ll probably get a lot of unsolicited opinions about your body and baby.
One of the most popular topics for discussion is whether that little bundle you’re carrying is a boy or a girl. There are lots of old wives’ tales and other folklore about the matter.
Here’s some information to help you separate myths from facts.
Your baby’s sex is set as soon as the sperm meets the egg. It’s at the point of conception when a baby gets 23 chromosomes from each of their parents. Along with the sex, things like eye color, hair color, and even intelligence are already determined.
Your baby’s genitals start to develop around week 11 of pregnancy. Still, you won’t usually be able to learn the sex for several more weeks via ultrasound.
Here are five of the most popular old wives’ tales regarding your baby’s sex. Keep in mind that none of these tales are based on fact. Instead, they’re myths and are simply for fun.
Remember: Even if some of these points run true for you (or have in the past), there’s a 50-50 chance of them being right either way.
1. Morning sickness
You may have heard that the severity of morning sickness is a clue about your baby’s sex.
With girls, the thought is that hormone levels are higher. For that reason, you’ll have more morning sickness. With boys, you should have relatively smooth sailing in the sickness department.
The truth is that morning sickness can vary from pregnancy to pregnancy.
2. Skin condition
Some people believe that a girl baby will steal the mother’s beauty. On the other hand, boys won’t give you as much acne.
A similar tale revolves around hair growth. With a boy, your hair will be longer and have more luster. With a girl, it will be limp and dull.
There’s no truth either way. Hormones affect everyone differently. Washing your face frequently can help with breakouts.
3. Cravings
With boys, you crave salty and savory foods like pickles and potato chips. With girls, it’s all about the sweets and chocolate.
In truth, no conclusive studies have been performed on food cravings as an accurate predictor of sex. Those cravings probably have more to do with your changing nutritional needs.
4. Heart rate
One of the most universal myths about sex revolves around your baby’s heart rate. If the beats per minute are under 140, the baby is supposed to be a boy. Higher than 140, it’s a girl.
Though this one sounds more scientific, there’s no hard truth behind it. Both sexes can have a higher or lower heart rate.
5. Carrying
If you carry low, you might be having a boy. Carry high? It’s likely a girl.
Actually, how you carry during pregnancy has more to do with the shape of your uterus, your unique body type, and your abdominal muscles.
There are a few ways you can find out the sex of your baby earlier, including the following.
Free cell DNA blood tests
You can now take a blood test as early as nine weeks into your pregnancy. This can reveal your baby’s sex.
Cell-free DNA tests like Panorama work in pregnancy because your blood is carrying traces of your baby’s DNA. You give a blood sample, send it to the group’s lab, and get your results in about 7 to 10 days.
But revealing the sex isn’t the main goal of these tests. They’re actually a first line of testing for Down syndrome and other genetically inherited conditions.
Learning the sex is just a bonus. As a result, these tests aren’t necessarily covered under insurance unless you’re over age 35 or have a history that might warrant genetic investigation.
Other genetic testing
You may have an amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling (CVS) during your pregnancy. These tests are similar to the free cell DNA blood test, but they are more invasive. Like the free cell DNA tests, they can tell you your baby’s sex, just not as early.
A CVS is usually performed between weeks 10 and 12. An amniocentesis is performed between weeks 15 and 18.
If all you want to find out is the sex of your baby, healthcare professionals will not recommend these tests. They carry some miscarriage risk, and their primary role is to diagnose certain conditions and identify any chromosomal irregularities.
Ultrasound
You can typically find out the sex of your baby via ultrasound. This will be performed between 18 and 20 weeks.
The ultrasonographer will look at your baby’s image on the screen and examine the genitals for different markers that suggest a boy or a girl. This is part of a larger anatomy scan.
Even when you have an ultrasound, the technician may not be able to determine the sex of your baby due to a number of circumstances.
If your baby isn’t cooperating and in an ideal position, you may need a repeat scan.
Finding out the sex of your baby is exciting. You’ll probably hear about lots of ways to predict this important tidbit. But remember, most of these tales and theories aren’t based on fact. Just be patient, you’ll find out the sex soon!