Is it true that when mommies develop dark underarms during pregnancy, their baby will most likely be a boy? Does a pointed baby bump mean the baby is a girl? In this article, we’ll debunk the myths about baby sex prediction.
Knowing Baby’s Sex, a Personal Choice
Knowing your baby’s sex before birth is a personal choice: there’s no right or wrong choice in this matter.
If you want your baby’s sex to be a surprise, that’s good! If you’re curious about having a boy or girl and want to find out right away, that’s also great.
Additionally, let’s not forget that knowing the baby’s gender in advance also has some practical advantages. These benefits include:
- Deciding on baby names; remember that in some families, the relatives (especially grandparents) also want to partake in naming.
- Shopping; baby gender prediction helps you decide on shopping for baby clothes and designing the nursery.
- Party planning for gender reveal, baby shower, or baptism.
Sex Prediction Myths, Debunked
Are you currently expecting and want to know your baby’s gender right away? If you are, don’t fall for these baby sex prediction myths.
Myth #1: The bump says it all
When it comes to baby sex prediction, myths have it that if the baby bump is high, it’s a girl; if it’s low, then you’ll have a boy!
But, here’s the fact: the shape or size of your baby bump doesn’t reveal your baby’s sex or gender; in fact, it doesn’t even predict your baby’s size!
Bump size and shape depends on several factors, like the mom’s body type, weight gain, and core muscle strength.
Myth #2: Baby’s sex dictates cravings
Here’s another popular baby sex prediction misconception: if the mom craves sweets, she’s carrying a baby girl; if she craves salty, savory foods, like cheese sticks and potato chips, it’s probably a boy.
The truth is that cravings are so common in pregnancy, and they do not provide hints about the baby’s sex. If any, cravings result from hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, or even heightened sense of smell and taste.
Myth #3: Skin changes reveal baby gender
Myths say that clues to the baby’s gender hide behind pregnancy skin changes. Case in point: some people believe that having darker underarms means you’re having a baby boy. Others think that acne breakouts reveal a baby girl.
But the truth is skin changes during pregnancy occur due to several factors. For instance, developing oily skin could be the result of changes in diet and hormonal levels.
Myth #4: Stronger morning sickness means it’s a girl!
Some say that if it’s a girl, then you’re in for more morning sickness. This baby sex prediction myth has been around for years!.
This claim is not yet scientifically-proven, but interestingly, one study1 revealed that indeed, pregnant mommies carrying a baby girl reported more significant morning sickness.
Still, please keep in mind that morning sickness is common among pregnant women, and experience with it is often subjective.
What About Baby Sex Prediction Calculators?
If you’re pregnant and curious about your baby’s sex, you might come across some free baby sex or gender predictor calculators online.
Typically, these free predictor sites “calculate’ the probability of having a baby boy or girl based on Chinese astrology; that’s why you have to input your age at the time you conceived and your baby’s due date.
Please note that these calculators are not scientifically proven. You can try them for fun, but avoid using the results for any form of baby planning.
Baby Sex Prediction: How to Determine Baby’s Sex Accurately
The most common option for an accurate sex prediction is via an ultrasound, where you can visually check the baby’s genital organs.
Please note that while ultrasound is highly accurate in most cases, gender misidentification is still possible, especially when you take the ultrasound during the first trimester.
For this reason, it’s best to wait until you’re on your 12th week of pregnancy before undergoing this screening procedure.
Besides ultrasounds, parents can also have baby sex prediction through amniocentesis and chorionic villi sampling. In amniocentesis, the doctor takes amniotic fluid samples, and in CVS, they extract placental tissues.
The accuracy of these two procedures in predicting sex is nearly 100%. However, they are invasive and may pose some risks; that’s why doctors don’t recommend them solely for baby gender prediction.
Key Takeaways
Predicting a baby’s sex is a personal choice, but parents should be careful and know how to spot myths that may potentially cause them unnecessary stress or disappointment. If you want to know your baby’s sex, talk to your doctor about the best time to have an ultrasound.
Learn more about Pregnancy here.
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