Predicting a baby’s sex in utero has always fascinated people. Before modern medicine ushered in blood tests and ultrasound to decisively determine a baby’s sex, people had many interesting myths and beliefs that they called upon. Here are just some of the baby prediction myths from around the world.
Chinese gender chart
The Chinese have an ancient chart dating about 700 years old that is said to predict the sex of a baby. It does this based on the mother’s age at conception and the month of conception. According to the chart, if both the mother’s age and the month of conception align with the box marked ‘boy’, the baby will be a boy. If the box is marked ‘girl’, the baby will be a girl.
Wedding ring test
According to this old wives’ tale, if a woman ties her wedding ring to a string and holds it over her belly, the way the ring swings is an accurate prediction of sex. If it swings in a circular motion, the baby is a girl, if it swings from side to side, it’s a boy. The reasoning behind it is that the movement of the ring is influenced by the baby’s sex and energy.
How you carry the pregnancy
According to English folklore, you can tell the baby’s sex by the appearance of the pregnancy. If you’re carrying it high, it’s a girl and low it’s a boy. The floated reason is that girls need more protection, so they are carried high while boys stay low in the abdomen. In other cultures, the belief is the opposite that boys are carried high and girls low. Another related myth is that if you carry the weight all out front, it’s a boy and if the weight is evenly distributed all around, it’s a girl.
The severity of morning sickness
Some people believe that if the morning sickness is severe, it’s a girl and if it’s mild, it’s a boy. The belief is based on the idea that higher levels of hormones are present if it’s a girl so which leads to more intense morning sickness.
Baking soda test
In this one, the woman mixes her urine with baking soda and observes the reaction. If it fizzes, it’s a boy and if it remains still it’s a girl. Apparently, the male hormones in the urine react with baking soda causing it to fizz.
Heart rate
Heart rate has also been used as a predictor of gender. Some people believe that if the baby’s heart rate is above 140 beats per minute, it’s a girl and if it’s below that, a boy.
The good news is, we no longer have to rely on these sometimes hilarious myths to determine a baby’s gender before delivery. There are blood tests which can be administered by your doctor. This test can be done in about 11 weeks. You can also take an ultrasound which can be administered from about week 18.
Who you hate
Some pregnant women, for reasons that as yet remain unknown, strongly dislike certain demographics. Some find they can’t stand women and others men. One Kenyan myth has it that if you hate men and like women, you’re carrying a girl and if you hate women and like men, you’re carrying a boy.
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