15 Old Wives' Tales for Predicting Baby Gender
Before ultrasounds and blood tests, people relied on old wives' tales to guess whether a baby would be a boy or a girl. These signs come from centuries of observation, folklore, and a healthy dose of wishful thinking. While none are scientifically reliable, they remain a beloved part of pregnancy culture. Here are all 15, what they mean, and what the research actually says.
The Complete List
All 15 Signs Explained
One of the few tales with modest research behind it. Some studies found women carrying girls had slightly higher levels of hCG, which can worsen nausea. The difference, however, is small and inconsistent across studies.
No evidence supports this. Cravings are more likely tied to nutritional needs, hormonal shifts, and cultural expectations than fetal sex.
Belly shape depends on muscle tone, uterine position, and how the baby is positioned. Nothing to do with gender.
The tale says a girl "steals her mother's beauty." In reality, pregnancy hormones affect everyone differently. Acne and the pregnancy glow can happen with either sex.
Circulation changes in pregnancy can cause cold extremities regardless of the baby's sex.
Pregnancy hormones typically make hair thicker and shinier across the board due to reduced shedding. This one has no connection to fetal sex.
Hormonal fluctuations cause mood changes in most pregnancies. No reliable study links mood patterns to fetal sex.
One of the most popular tales, and one of the most thoroughly debunked. A large 2018 study of over 10,000 pregnancies found zero correlation between heart rate and fetal sex.
Sometimes called couvade syndrome. Sympathetic weight gain in partners has been observed anecdotally but has no known link to the baby's sex.
Sleep position preference is about comfort, not fetal sex. Medical advice actually recommends left-side sleeping in late pregnancy for better circulation, regardless.
Pregnancy can cause swelling everywhere, including the nose, due to increased blood volume and fluid retention. Not gender-specific.
Headaches in pregnancy are typically caused by hormonal changes, dehydration, or tension. No gender link found in studies.
Asymmetry is normal and varies widely. No evidence connects breast asymmetry direction to fetal sex.
Urine color reflects hydration, diet, and vitamins. Nothing more.
Adding your age at conception to the month number and checking for even or odd is about as random as it sounds. Pure numerology.
Ready to try them all? Take our interactive old wives' tales quiz and see which side wins. Sixteen questions, one answer, all for fun.
Why We Still Love These Myths
None of these tales hold up to scientific scrutiny. But they serve a real purpose. They give parents something to do during the long, quiet weeks between the first positive test and the anatomy scan. They are conversation starters at baby showers. They are ways to feel connected to generations of parents who came before, asking the same question with the same mix of hope and curiosity.
And every so often, all 15 signs point the same way, and that result lines up with the ultrasound. When that happens, it feels like magic. When it does not, well, it was just for fun.
If you want the real answer, here is exactly when you can find out through medical testing. But while you wait, the old wives are good company.