You’re standing in your kitchen, staring at a ring tied to a piece of string. Or maybe you’re trying to figure out if your sudden, desperate craving for a giant bowl of salty pickles means you should start buying blue onesies. We’ve all been there. It’s that weird, liminal space of pregnancy where you just want to know. Even though modern ultrasounds are incredibly accurate, there is something deeply human about leaning into old wives tales baby gender predictions while you wait for that 20-week scan.
It’s fun. It’s a bit silly. But honestly, most of these legends have been around longer than the stethoscope.
People have been trying to guess what’s going on inside the womb since, well, forever. Before the advent of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) or high-resolution imaging, these "tests" were the only tools expectant parents had. They aren't just random guesses; they are a reflection of how cultures throughout history tried to make sense of the biological mystery of gestation. But do any of them actually hold water?
The "Carry High or Carry Low" Theory
This is the big one. If you’re carrying that bump out front like a basketball, everyone from your mother-in-law to the lady at the grocery store will tell you it's a boy. If the weight is spread more around your middle—the "carrying high" look—they’ll swear it’s a girl.
It sounds logical, right? Except it’s basically a coin flip.
The way a woman carries a pregnancy has nothing to do with the sex of the baby. Instead, it’s all about muscle tone, uterine shape, and how many babies you've had before. A first-time mom often carries higher because her abdominal muscles are tighter and haven't been stretched out yet. By the second or third kid, those muscles are a bit more relaxed, so the bump might "drop" or spread out earlier. Your height matters too. If you have a short torso, there’s nowhere for the baby to go but out. If you're tall, there’s more vertical room for the baby to tuck away.
A study published in the journal Human Reproduction looked at this specifically. Researchers found no correlation between the shape of the abdomen and the baby’s sex. It’s one of those old wives tales baby gender staples that persists simply because there’s a 50% chance of being right.
Heart Rate: The 140 Beats Per Minute Rule
Many parents wait for that first Doppler reading with bated breath. The rumor goes like this: if the fetal heart rate is over 140 beats per minute (BPM), you’re having a girl. If it’s under 140 BPM, it’s a boy.
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It feels scientific. It involves a medical device and a hard number. But here's the reality: fetal heart rates change constantly.
Early in the first trimester, the heart starts beating slowly, then ramps up to maybe 170 or 180 BPM by week 9 or 10. After that, it settles into a range of 120 to 160 BPM. A study conducted by Dr. Terry J. DuBose at the Austin Radiological Association analyzed over 500 pregnancies and found no statistically significant difference between male and female heart rates in the first trimester. Basically, if the baby is active or moving around during the ultrasound, the heart rate goes up. If they’re sleeping, it goes down. It’s like checking your own pulse after a jog versus right when you wake up.
Morning Sickness and the "Stealing Beauty" Myth
There’s an old saying that girls "steal your beauty," which is a pretty rude way of saying that if you have dull skin, acne, or severe morning sickness, you’re having a girl. The idea is that the extra female hormones from the baby are wreaking havoc on your system.
Surprisingly, there might be a tiny grain of truth here, though not for the reasons people think.
Research published in The Lancet suggested that women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum—an extreme, debilitating form of morning sickness—were slightly more likely to be carrying girls. The theory is that the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is often higher in female pregnancies. Since hCG is linked to nausea, a girl might actually make you feel a bit more green around the gills.
However, "slightly more likely" isn't a guarantee. Plenty of women carrying boys spend their first trimester huddled over the toilet, and plenty of "girl moms" have that legendary pregnancy glow from day one.
The Cravings: Salt vs. Sugar
Are you raiding the pantry for chocolate at 11 PM? Or are you more interested in a bag of potato chips?
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- Sweet Cravings: Traditionally associated with girls.
- Salty/Sour Cravings: Traditionally associated with boys.
There is zero scientific evidence for this. Cravings are usually more about what your body needs or how your blood sugar is fluctuating. If you're craving salty foods, you might just need more electrolytes or be slightly dehydrated. If you're craving sweets, you might be experiencing a drop in energy. It’s an old wives tales baby gender classic that makes for great dinner conversation but poor medical diagnosis.
The Drano Test and Other "Chemistry" Experiments
We have to talk about the weird ones. People have tried mixing urine with Drano (don't do this—the fumes are toxic), baking soda, or even red cabbage juice. The baking soda test is a favorite on TikTok: you pee in a cup, add baking soda, and if it fizzes (like beer), it’s a boy. If it stays flat, it’s a girl.
What’s actually happening? It’s a pH test. The acidity of your urine changes based on your diet, your hydration levels, and even whether you’ve had a UTI recently. It has nothing to do with the baby's chromosomes.
The Linear Nigra and the Wedding Ring Swing
The linea nigra is that dark line that sometimes appears running down your belly during pregnancy. Some say if it stops at your belly button, it’s a girl, and if it continues up to your ribs, it’s a boy. In reality, it’s just hyperpigmentation caused by shifting hormones. It happens to almost everyone to some degree, regardless of the baby's sex.
Then there’s the wedding ring test. You tie a ring to a string and hold it over your belly. If it swings in a circle, it’s one gender; if it swings back and forth like a pendulum, it’s the other. (Depending on who you ask, the directions for which is which actually flip-flop). This is a classic example of the ideomotor effect. Your hand makes tiny, subconscious movements that move the string based on what you expect to see. It’s the same mechanism that makes a Ouija board "work."
Why We Still Use These Tales in 2026
We live in an era of 4D ultrasounds and blood tests that can tell you the sex of your baby as early as 7 weeks with 99% accuracy. So why are we still talking about old wives tales baby gender myths?
Psychology.
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Pregnancy is a long period of waiting and lack of control. These myths provide a way to bond with the baby before they arrive. They turn a clinical medical process into a narrative. When a stranger at the park tells you that your "pointy" belly means you're having a son, they aren't giving you medical advice—they're participating in a social ritual that has connected parents for millennia.
It’s about the "maybe."
The Only Methods That Actually Work
If you actually need to know the sex for medical reasons or because you’re a planner, you have to stick to the science.
- NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing): This is a simple blood test that looks for fragments of fetal DNA in the mother's blood. It's usually done around 10 weeks. If the lab finds a Y chromosome, you’re having a boy. If they don't, it's a girl.
- Amniocentesis or CVS: These are more invasive tests usually reserved for checking for genetic abnormalities. They are 100% accurate for sex because they look directly at the chromosomes.
- The Anatomy Scan: Usually done between 18 and 22 weeks. The technician looks for physical markers. While very accurate, it can be wrong if the baby is "modest" and has their legs crossed.
Final Practical Steps for Expectant Parents
Don't base your nursery colors on the "baking soda fizz" or how much you love pickles. If you're looking for fun ways to engage with your pregnancy while staying grounded in reality, here is how to handle the "guessing game":
- Track your symptoms for your own health. Keep a log of your heart rate and cravings, not for gender guessing, but to discuss with your OB-GYN or midwife. Significant shifts in cravings or extreme nausea are worth mentioning during your check-ups.
- Take the "tests" with a grain of salt. Go ahead and do the ring swing or the Chinese Gender Chart. Just don't go out and buy a wardrobe of pink clothes based on a swinging piece of jewelry.
- Wait for the NIPT results. If you're anxious to know, ask your provider about the Cell-Free DNA test. It’s the earliest and most reliable way to get an answer without waiting for the mid-pregnancy ultrasound.
- Focus on the "Glow." Whether your skin is breaking out or you look like a goddess, remember that your body is doing something monumental. Focus on nutrition, hydration, and rest.
Ultimately, whether it's a boy or a girl, the result is the same: a massive life change and a lot of sleepless nights. The myths are just a way to pass the time until the real work begins.
Next Steps for Your Pregnancy Journey:
Verify your baby's sex through a clinical NIPT or an anatomy ultrasound. Discuss any severe symptoms like extreme nausea with your healthcare provider to rule out Hyperemesis Gravidarum.