Myths & facts about having a girl or a boy

Let’s have some fun but looking at some of the methods that were used generations ago to determine whether a pregnant mother was carrying a boy or a girl.

In the old days, women relied on a diverse array of old wives’ tales to tell them their baby’s gender before birth. Because they were 50% right on guessing the gender, amazingly, some of these myths persist today.

Your bay bump is low

MYTH

If your baby bump is ‘slung low’, even before your baby ‘drops’ into position in your 3rd trimester before labour, then you may be pregnant with a boy.

FACT

While carrying low can help you avoid some pregnancy indigestion symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean your baby is a boy. The appearance of your abdomen largely depends on the position of the baby and the number of children you’ve had before.

You only gain weight around your belly

MYTH

According to the myth, if people can’t tell you’re pregnant when looking at you from behind, and all your weight is around your belly area, then you may be pregnant with a boy. And if your weight is gained around your hips, waist and behind, then this signifies you’re having a girl.

FACT

Not true! The distribution of the weight you gain when pregnant just depends on your own natural size and shape, not the gender of the child you’re carrying.

Your skin is clear and glowing

MYTH

The old wives’ tale says that ‘a girl will steal your beauty’, leaving you with problem skin – usually in the form of pregnancy acne. But if your skin has a healthy glow, it’s a sign you’re having a boy.

FACT

Maybe and maybe not! A healthy glow to your skin is usually related to an increase in blood flow and volume, which is common to all pregnancies.

You only have minimal morning sickness

MYTH

The first trimester of pregnancy can be an uncomfortable physical adjustment for you, regardless of whether or not you have morning sickness. Some amount of nausea is normal during the early weeks, but if your morning sickness is easily manageable for you, it indicates you’re having a boy.

FACT

Afraid not! Research shows that up to 80% of women will contend with some level of queasiness and nausea while carrying their child, regardless of their baby’s gender.

MYTH

You’ll probably hear that amazing beating sound sometime around 8-10 weeks at one of your first doctor’s appointments. Some people used to believe that you could tell the baby’s gender based on listening to the baby’s heartbeat at around 10 weeks. This came from the belief that male foetuses supposedly have a heart rate that’s 140 beats per minute or less, whereas a baby girls’ hearts beat a little faster.

FACT

As you can imagine, this has been studied and the conclusion that this is 100% false!

The colour of your urine

MYTH

This old wives tale is downright silly, but here goes… Some say that all you need to do to determine whether you’re having a girl or a boy is to monitor the colour of your urine. They say that a bright yellow colour indicates a girl, but a dull, dustier shade represents a male baby.

FACT

No, no, no! The colour of your urine during your pregnancy will depend on your diet and levels of hydration – all of which can vary during the day and has nothing to do with whether you will have a boy or a girl!

You have a craving for sweet things

MYTH

The old adage goes that ‘little girls are made of sugar and spice and all things nice’ and if your pregnancy cravings are for these things, the chances are you’re carrying a girl. This was followed up by the assertion that cravings for salty or savoury foods signifies that you’ll deliver a boy.

FACT

Um…not again. The old saying may have its origins in cultures that view little girls as ‘sweeter’ than boys but craving either sweet or savoury foods has no bearing on whether you’re carrying a little miss, or a little mister!

THE GENDER REVEAL…

Somewhere between 18-21 weeks into your pregnancy, your doctor should schedule an ultrasound where you’ll finally find out! It’s an exciting time regardless of whether you keep it a secret for your own gender reveal.