Common Myth in Predicting a Baby's Gender

When my wife was pregnant, some people would tell that my baby will be a girl because she's glowing, while others would tell that my baby would be a boy because she's not having a severe morning sickness. There are many myth about how people predict their baby's gender. But i think this myth are slowly fading away since the birth of the Ultrasound, but still there are some people who still believe this common myth.


MYTH 1: If a baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute, it's a boy; if it's over 140 beats per minute, it's a girl.

FACT: Normal fetal heart rate is between 110 and 180 beats per minute. Only one study out of dozens done since the 1990's concluded that the fetal heart rate can predict the gender of the baby. All studies done before and after that showed otherwise. The fetal heart rate can vary and fluctuations are usually associated with fetal movement during different periods of days.


MYTH 2: If the shape of your belly is pointed or if you're carrying your baby low, it's a boy; it it's round and high, it's a girl. According to some, boys are carried lower and more "in front" because they need greater independence, while girls are carried higher and across their mother's body since they need greater protection.

FACT: The belly of a pregnant woman nearing her term is lower than usual. This phenomenon is known as lightening or engagement. It occurs during the eighth to ninth month of the pregnancy, and it happens because the fetus is slowly entering the mother's pelvis in preparation for childbirth. For some women, this may occur until labor starts. If this is not the first pregnancy that the mother has carried to term, the muscles of the abdomen may have become "loose" over time, making it appear lower.


MYTH 3: If you experience severe morning sickness, you're having a girl.

FACT: Nausea and vomiting can occur anytime during the day, whether you're having a boy or a girl, due to the increase in the level of a hormone known as hCG or human chorionic gonadotropin. This hormone is important for maintaining the corpus luteum( the remains of the follicle that contained a woman's egg) in the beginning of pregnancy. The corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which enriches the uterus with a thick lining of blood vessels and capiliaries so that it can sustain the growing fetus.


MYTH 4: If the fetus is very active, it's a boy.

FACT: Good fetal movement is important whether it's a boy or girl. Studies show no correlation between the activity of the fetus and it's gender. A fetal scoring technique known as BPS or Biophysical Scoring, assesses fetal well-being and identifies any potential risk of fetal damage or death. Within 30 minutes of this test, at least two fetal movement should be noted. While the pregnant mother is at home, it is important to notice if no fetal movement is felt throughout the day. This is a sign that the fetus may be in distress and need immediate intervention.


MYTH 5: If you have a craving for sweets, you're having a girl, if you crave salty foods it's a boy.

FACT: Nutritionists believe that the craving is not for the food itself, but for the nutrients it contains that the body may lack or need. Cravings can also be the result of a dietary imbalance. A pregnant woman may have an increase in fluid volume in her system, which may trigger a craving for salt in her diet. Those who maintained a high fiber diet before pregnancy may experience an increased craving for foods rich in sugar.


MYTH 6: If a wedding ring or needle suspended over your belly moves in a circular motion, you're having a girl, if it moves to and fro, it's a boy.

FACT: Hand muscle movement and tremors may influence the movement of the pendulum. There is no gravitational basis to support the myth.


MYTH 7: You can determine the baby's gender by getting the mother's date of birth and the baby's month of conception, converting them into their lunar equivalent's, and comparing them to the lunar calendar chart.

FACT: A study was published in 1999 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The study showed the method to have a positive outcome only half of the time, so it's result really have no predictive value.


MYTH 8: If your skin is glowing or you are blooming, you're having a girl. In the Philippines, they say that you radiate the beauty of the daughter in your womb. In the U.S. they believe the opposite: if a woman is not glowing it is because her daughter in her womb is stealing her beauty.

FACT: The "glow" is mainly due to increased blood volume and circulation because of hormones, which are also responsible for the increased oil or sebum production that makes your skin look more lustrous than usual. Some mothers may experience darkening of the skin, which happens whether your baby is a boy or girl. This is commonly known as "mask of pregnancy" or melasma. It is caused by an increased in melanin and is visible on the forehead and cheeks. It resolves within a few weeks after birth.