Pregnancy Myths – Determining Baby Gender
Old Wives Tales on How to Predict if it's a Boy or Girl
Determining the sex of a baby is perhaps one of the most exciting points in a pregnancy. Many pregnant mothers experience intense curiosity as they anxiously await the ultrasound to determine the gender of the unborn baby.
Before technology advanced to the point where a sonogram could be used to determine baby gender, pregnant parents had to wait out the 40 weeks gestation period before they could learn the answer to the pressing question: "Is it a boy or a girl?" This gave rise to an array of old wives tales on how to determine baby gender. These baby gender myths persist today.
When is Baby Gender Determined?
Baby gender is determined at the moment of conception, depending upon the sperm's sex chromosome ("Y" for a boy, "X" for a girl.) But in terms of physical appearance, all embryos start out the same and it's not until the end of the eighth week of pregnancy (the sixth week of gestation – there is a two week difference due to the time it takes for the zygote to implant in the uterine wall) that a baby's gender becomes apparent in a physical sense.
According to DrSpock.com, it's at the eighth week of pregnancy that the embryo's gonads will evolve. They will either remain inside the body and evolve into ovaries in the case of a girl baby, or they will descend and turn into testicles in the case of a boy baby.
Myths and Old Wives Tales on Determining Baby Gender
There are many old wives tales and myths about how to tell if a woman is pregnant with a boy or a girl. Although none of these methods are regarded as a truly effective way to determine baby sex at home, many pregnant women can't help but try at least a couple "tests" for baby gender.
- Baby Gender and Heart Rate – This baby gender myth says that boys will have a heart rate under 140; girls have a heart rate over 140.
- The Ring Pendulum Gender Test – Thread a ring on a necklace or string to create a pendulum and hold it over the pregnant woman's belly. If the pendulum swings in a side-to-side motion, it's a girl; if the ring moves in a circular motion, it's a boy.
- The Belly Shape Myth – This pregnancy myth holds that if a mother's baby bump is low, it's a boy; if the baby is carried high, it's a girl.
- Cravings and Baby Gender – This old wives tale says that if a pregnant woman craves sweets, she's having a girl. But if the woman is craving salty foods, she's having a boy.
- The Father's Weight Gain Myth – According to this myth, if the father gains weight during the pregnancy, it's a girl; if the father's weight remains stable or decreases, it's a baby boy.
- The Key Test for Baby Sex – Place a key in front of the pregnant woman. If she picks up the key from the thin end, it's a girl; if the woman picks up the key from the base, it's a baby boy.
- Myths on Acne in Pregnancy – If the woman develops acne during pregnancy, she is expecting a baby girl. If her skin remains clear, she will have a boy.
Some believe that dreams can predict baby gender. Dream symbols are said to predict whether a woman is pregnant with a boy or a girl. In the case of a boy, the pregnant woman's dreams may be dominated by male-related imagery like cars and trucks, the color blue, linear objects and phallic symbols. In the case of a girl, the mother is said to dream of feminine images like flowers and dolls, cosmetics, the color pink, and rounded objects.
Myths on predicting baby gender can vary dramatically based on culture. According to IntelliGender.com, the Chinese use the ancient Chinese calendar to predict baby gender using the date of the baby's conception and the mother's age.
At What Week Can You Determine Baby Gender by Ultrasound?
A baby's gender can be determined by ultrasound at 12 weeks of pregnancy. But most pregnant women will not learn a baby's gender by ultrasound until some time after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
At 12 weeks of pregnancy, the sex of a baby can only be determined using a level three ultrasound, which is only performed in cases where birth defects or other health problems are suspected. For a healthy pregnancy, mothers must wait until 15 weeks to find out if it's a baby girl or a baby boy via a level one ultrasound.
Baby gender can also be determined by amniocentesis between weeks 15 and 18 of pregnancy. For baby gender prediction, amniocentesis carries a 99% accuracy rate, but like level three ultrasounds, this procedure is only performed in cases of advanced maternal age or when genetic abnormalities or other health problems are suspected.
Are Home Baby Gender Prediction Tests Accurate?
Pregnant mothers may be tempted to perform a home test to predict baby gender. These baby gender prediction tests are moderately to highly accurate, depending upon the testing method.
The Pink or Blue baby gender prediction test uses DNA to determine baby sex. The mother must provide a blood sample for baby gender testing and if "Y" chromosomes are present, the woman is expecting a baby boy; if only X chromosomes are present, then the mother is expecting a baby girl. The Pink or Blue DNA test for baby gender boasts a 95% accuracy rate.
There are also urine tests for baby gender, like the IntelliGender prediction test. According to the IntelliGender website, this method of testing for gender is 90% accurate in the lab, and 82% accurate in "real life."
Wondering if you can choose the sex of a baby? To find out, read Can You Choose Baby Gender?
Readers may also enjoy learning about myths and old wives tales on How to Choose Baby Gender at Conception.
Predicting Baby Gender With Myths, Old Wives Tales
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