If you are an expectant mum or dad, you might be asking yourself, how do I know if I’m having a boy or a girl?
Many people find out sex of their child at the 20 week scan. Whilst others prefer to wait for one of life’s biggest and best surprises. But, that doesn’t stop them trying to guess the whether their baby is a boy or a girl.
Have you ever wondered how pregnant mums knew whether they were having a girl or a boy before ultrasound scans?
Some of the methods are hard to believe, but pregnant women genuinely used to use these old wives’ tales to try and anticipate their baby’s gender. Some people swear by these methods, but others are more skeptical.
Why not put these gender theories to the test with these fun (but non-scientific) tests.
How do I know if I’m having a boy or a girl: Methods for determining the sex of your bump
Here are various different ways people have answered the question of ‘How do I know if I’m having a boy or a girl?’ through the ages:
Bump Shape
Some people say the position of your bump – whether it is how or low – can tell you the gender of your baby.
You should expect to have a girl if your baby is sat high on your belly, according to this old wives’ tale.
If your baby is resting low, it’s a boy.
The shape of your bump can also apparently help you too.
If it’s round, like a football, traditional stories say your baby is a boy.
If it’s oval, like a watermelon, you’re having a girl, according to well-told stories.
Kankles?
It’s not just the shape of your bump. Inspect your ankles too.
You are having a boy, if your legs or ankles are getting swollen, apparently.
Dark linke on belly?
Does the dark line on my belly mean I’m having a boy or a girl?
The linea nigra – Latin for ‘black line’ – is a darker line many women develop on their belly during pregnancy.
If you have a long line, running both above and below your belly button, people say that means you are having a boy. But if it only runs below your belly button, some mums think that means they are having a girl.
Hairy?
I’ve got really hairy – does that mean I’m having a boy?
Yes! (According to some people!)
Some say you can predict if your baby is a boy or girl by looking at how your body hair is growing.
You are supposedly having a boy if your hair has grown thicker since you got pregnant.
Hot or cold?
Does temperature change mean you are having a boy or a girl?
If you’re getting cold a lot, you might be having a boy. But if you’re feeling hot, your baby is a girl, according to old wives’ tales.
But have you got cold feet? If your feet have been getting cold a lot, it’s supposedly a sign your baby is a boy.
Nipples turned darker?
Does dark nipples mean I’m having a boy or a girl?
Have you noticed a change in colour of your nipples? Supposedly, if your areolas – the area around your nipples – have got darker, it’s a sign you’re having a boy.
Uneven boobs?
Is one boob bigger than the other?
Having one boob bigger than the other is perfectly normal. Particularly during pregnancy.
In pregnancy some people say if the right boob is bigger, it’s a boy. If the left is bigger, it’s a girl.
Growing nails?
Can you tell the sex of your baby by your nails?
If you’re finding your nails have been growing stronger and thicker than normal, you should expect a baby boy, according to traditional tales.
But if your nails have become brittle throughout your pregnancy, it might be a sign you’re having a girl.
Colour of your wee
How can the colour of your pee tell you the sex of your child?
Noticed anything about your pee recently? Have a good loo. It could give you the answer you’re looking for.
According to some old tales, if your pee is bright yellow, it’s a boy. If it’s dull or light yellow in colour, your baby is a girl.
What tests can I do to tell me if I am having a boy or a girl?
Here are various different tests people have used to answer the question of ‘How do I know if I’m having a boy or a girl?’ in past generations:
The baking soda test
Old wives also undertook quick tests using household items to see if their newborn would be a boy or a girl.
Mix your urine with baking soda. It the mixture fizzes, apparently it’s a boy, but if there’s no reaction, it’s a girl.
Garlic test
If you eat loads of garlic and after a while you begin to smell, that’s a sign it’s a boy. However, if you’re lucky enough to stay smell-free, it’s a girl.
Drain cleaner test
Believe it or not, some people believe that mixing your urine with drain cleaner will tell you if your baby is a girl or a boy. If the colour goes a bluish yellow, it’s a boy, but if it goes greenish brown, it’s a girl.
Ring test
How can a wedding ring tell you the sex of your child?
If you hold a wedding ring on a string over your pregnancy bump, old wives believe this can indicate the baby’s gender.
Does it go in circles? Then you’re supposedly having a boy. But if it swings from side to side, that means it’s a girl.
‘How do I know if I’m having a boy or a girl’ tests: Do they work?
Why don’t you have a go at all of these tests and see what they say?
Note down the answers and compare the results once you’ve had your baby.
We’d love to hear how accurate they were, so please let us know!
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