Have you ever wondered if there are real signs of having a baby girl or boy, or if it’s just fun folklore? Honestly, when I was expecting, one of the most exciting questions everyone asked (and I secretly kept guessing) was—am I going to have a baby girl or a baby boy?
Sure, there are gender reveal ultrasounds that tell you the truth, but I found myself constantly listening to old wives’ tales that people around me shared. From the way you carry your bump to your food cravings—everyone seemed to have their own prediction formula!
So, I thought of sharing what I’ve heard and what I personally experienced during my pregnancy. While these aren’t scientifically proven, they surely made my pregnancy journey fun and memorable!
Can You Actually Guess the Gender?
According to old wives’ tales, your body gives several signs. The shape of your tummy, the glow on your skin, your cravings, and even your emotions—everything is said to indicate the chances of having a boy or girl.
When I was pregnant, I received mixed reactions. Some people said I was having a boy because my tummy size wasn’t that big, while others said my emotional ups and downs were typical signs of a girl.
But as it turned out—I had a beautiful baby girl!
I’ll take you through what I heard about both sides. But before that, let’s go through the general signs that people usually talk about when it comes to guessing the chances of having a boy or girl.
What Are Some Signs of Having a Baby Girl?
1. Carrying High
Has anybody commented on how you carry your baby? Many believe that if your baby bump is high up, you are going to have a girl. This is a belief that has been handed down from generation to generation. Sure, it’s a fun way to predict, but the shape and height of your bump depend on different factors, such as your body type, your muscle tone, and if you are pregnant for the first time.
First-time mothers are usually higher because of stronger abdominal muscles, while mothers who have given birth before may carry their babies lower because that muscle tone is a little more relaxed. So, while it is fun speculation, do not paint that nursery pink just yet!
2. Severe Morning Sickness
The most difficult aspect of pregnancy for a vast majority of mothers-to-be is morning sickness. In fact, some people say that if someone does experience severe nausea, especially during the first trimester, one might be expecting a girl child. Well, people believe that it is due to high levels of hormone HCG that a women has while having a girl.
While there is some proof that mothers who are expecting girls may have slightly higher-than-normal hormone levels, the real truth is that morning sickness varies widely from individual to individual. If we consider the facts, nausea and vomiting are quite common experiences in pregnancy, impacting 70–80% of all pregnant women.
3. Mood Swings
Feeling like you’re riding an emotional roller coaster? Mood swing is a common phenomenon during pregnancy. Many believe they experience more changes than others if a girl is coming in. The reasoning behind this is that estrogen levels in a baby girl are measured so that they can be expected to increase emotions.
On the contrary, mood swings do not have to belong to any pregnant woman per se in relation to the baby she is carrying. Every mom who is carrying a baby will experience it.
The combination of hormonal changes, the excitement of awaiting a new arrival, and the possible stresses that come with it can leave emotions seeming all but unpredictable. It is perfectly normal, so take your time for self-care- whether it be from a peaceful bath, a talk with a friend, or simply rest.
4. Faster Baby Heart Rate
Another old one: Your baby’s heart rate is said to be above 140 beats per minute, which usually indicates a girl. Like baby girls have a faster heart rate than boys, this notion goes. While this appears just scientific, studies indicate that fetal heart rate is not a reliable tool for gender detection.
Activity, gestational age, and other factors contribute to varying fetal heart rates, as well as the mother’s agitation. So enjoy the sound of your baby’s heartbeat at the ultrasound, but remember that it’s not a gender test.
5. Urine Color
Have you ever heard that your urine color might give you a clue about the sex of your child?
According to folklore, lighter or pale urine implies that you’re carrying a girl, while darker urine indicates that you’re having a boy. Much more than the color of your urine, though, is determined by how well you are consuming fluids, what you are eating, and even specific vitamins or medications that you are taking.
If you find your urine on the other end of the spectrum, that is, unusually dark or smelling more than usual; it may be prudent to intake a bit more fluids and run it by your doctor. While it is a cute myth to play around with, your baby’s sex is not hidden in your bathroom mirror.
6. Oily Skin
Does it feel oilier than your normal skin, or are you having more breakouts these days? Possibly, it means that you are going to have a girl, for she is “stealing your beauty.” Truly melodramatic. In truth, your pregnant hormones are certainly known to increase the oily activity of your glands, triggered by an increase in the androgens, resulting in some form of acne.
Changes in skin will be normal with pregnancy, and no two moms will have the same experience. A good skincare regime and hydration would help contain these changes but don’t worry. Your pregnancy glow wouldn’t be too far away.
7. Breast Size
It’s one of the most captivating theories regarding the indications of your child’s gender through breast sizes. The more the left breast gets larger than the right, it is said, the more the chances are for the delivery of a girl. But, though this quaint little saying has been carried forward through the ages, there is no scientific basis for it.
The hormonal alterations create changes in breasts during pregnancy as bodily preparations go forward toward breastfeeding; every woman’s experience may significantly vary. A good-quality, well-fitted maternity bra can keep you comfortable under such conditions of breast change.
8. Changes in Skin and Hair
There are skin and hair changes brought about during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester of pregnancy, and, according to some, the changes indicate a female baby. If the hair feels thinner or less shiny, it often indicates a girl is coming. That again has to do with that old adage that girls “steal their mother’s beauty.”
This is, however, false; your body has redirected most nutrients to create a growing baby, and this has actually had a temporary effect on both texture and shine, which explains the drastic changes in hairstyles.
Mostly, these changes do not last long; in fact, hollowness and fullness are quite frequently seen again in hairstyles when delivery is done.
9. Thinner and Dull Hair
You aren’t alone in finding your hair to feel thinner or not quite as shiny as it used to be. Pregnancy causes many mothers-to-be to see some hair changes during this period, but some assert that this occurs even more when it is a baby girl.
The idea is that little girls take so much nutrition from their mothers, depriving mothers of good health. It sounds really good, but, in reality, this reason has to do with the hormones of pregnancy.
They can change your hair’s growth cycle. Of course, these changes are going to appear normal and temporary, so don’t worry; your hair will probably bounce back after your baby comes.
10. Weight Gain
During pregnancy, weight gain happens naturally, and some people say that weight gain can tell the sex of your baby. If weight gain is more in the hips and thigh areas, it is believed that the baby is a girl. If the weight gain is centralized around the belly, it is assumed that the child is a boy.
The real truth, however, is that genetics, type of body, and the way it is adapting to pregnancy determine how and where weight is placed on the body and not on how gender-specific any gain is. Really healthy and active in a way that best fits your body.
What Are Some Signs of Having a Baby Boy?
1. Carrying Low
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding pregnancy is that carrying low implies a boy has come. This position places the baby weight closer to its pelvis. However, it’s all about body type, muscle tone, and baby position, rather than gender. It’s a fun notion; however, it’s not scientifically proven to predict your baby sex.
2. Gaining Weight All Over the Belly
Most weight gained during pregnancy happens in your belly and not in your hips or thighs, which some claim is a sign of a boy. But actually, it’s more about how the body distributes weight. This really depends on many factors, such as genetics, muscle tone, and where your baby is growing. Flat out a myth.
3. The Partner Doesn’t Gain Weight
It’s a preconception that if your partner doesn’t gain weight while you are pregnant, then it means you are carrying a boy. This is fun but not scientific. The weight of the partner could increase or remain unchanged depending on the lifestyle, stress, or diet- the “non-gain” with your partner is not in any way related to the sex of the baby.
4. Bright Clear Skin
Glowing skin is an effect of pregnancy hormones that makes you shine with “glow.” Some see this as a possible sign that you are carrying a boy. It is thought that boys do not as frequently cause skin issues for mothers as girls do. However, glowing skin has more to do with increased blood flow and hormones readjusting because of the pregnancy and not anything to do with gender.
5. Mild Morning Sickness
Some people claim mild morning sickness, or even none at all, is associated with carrying a boy. The myth goes that higher hormone levels result in worse nausea, which is thought to happen more with girls. However, the grades of morning sickness do vary widely from woman to woman, and it does not correlate with the sex of the baby.
6. Dull Yellow Urine
Some say dull-colored urine really goes with the idea that you’re having a boy. The truth is that the color of urine is varied due to hydration, diet, and vitamins. Your intake of water also changes the color of urine, so it doesn’t say much at all about the sex of your baby.
7. Cold Feet
Does it seem like your feet are perpetually cold? Well, some superstition has it that if your feet are cold during your pregnancy, it is indicative of having a boy. That is just because of the pregnancy hormones in the body that affect blood circulation. It is not exactly something that would be associated with gender incidence. Cold feet are common during this time due to such a natural physical change.
8. Craving Salty and Savor
Craving salty or savory foods like chips, pickles, and pretzels means, according to some people, that you are having a boy. This idea is that boys tend to crave saltier flavors while girls tend to crave sweets. However, pregnancy cravings differ from person to person and cannot be said to be a good, dependable indicator of what you are expecting in terms of gender.
9. Low Baby’s Heart Rate
If your baby’s heartbeat falls consistently below 140 beats per minute, it is thought to indicate that you might be carrying a boy. However, in reality, the fetal heart rate fluctuates during pregnancy and is affected by many factors, such as gestational age, activity levels, and even the baby’s position. Alone, a low heart rate can’t predict gender.
10. Dry Hands
Some people have this belief that dry or cracked hands during pregnancy say you’re carrying a baby boy. This has to do with hormonal changes or the weather and is not really due to the gender of the baby. Skin changes, such as dryness, are common during pregnancy because of increased blood flow and changes in the body’s hydration.
My Experience of Having a Baby Girl
Now that we’ve talked about all the popular old wives’ tales, let me share my own experience of having a baby girl — what I actually went through and what people told me during my pregnancy.
When I was expecting, I used to hear all kinds of predictions about whether it would be a boy or a girl. Some said, “You’re carrying small, so it must be a boy,” while others insisted my emotional nature was a clear sign of a girl. The truth? I had a mix of almost every symptom — and in the end, I welcomed a beautiful baby girl!
1. Severe Morning Sickness
Nausea was my constant companion during pregnancy. It started early and lasted for almost four months. I tried everything to ease it, but nothing really worked. Many people told me that severe morning sickness usually means a girl, and surprisingly, that one did turn out to be true for me.
2. Unusual Food Cravings
I didn’t crave sweets at all during pregnancy. Instead, I was obsessed with sour and spicy food — especially lemons and Pahadi nimbus. I could eat them any time of the day! People often joked that meant I was having a boy, but that theory didn’t quite fit either.
3. Carrying Small but Staying Active
Throughout my pregnancy, my tummy wasn’t very big, and I stayed quite active despite the vomiting. I didn’t feel much back pain, which everyone said was unusual. As my due date came closer, I noticed I had become more emotional — crying over the smallest things. Looking back now, it feels funny, but at the time, those emotions felt very real!
4. Skin and Glow Changes
Some relatives commented that my skin looked pretty normal — not oily or dry. Many say your skin can reveal whether it’s a boy or a girl, but in my case, there was no major change at all. My skin behaved just like it always did, which again proves that these signs aren’t always accurate.
5. What I Learned About Gender Myths
During my pregnancy, I also heard a lot of myths about what influences a baby’s gender. It made me realize how many old beliefs still exist. In reality, science tells us that the baby’s gender is determined by the father’s chromosome — but people love guessing anyway!
6. Funny Conversations Along the Way
I also remember some light-hearted conversations about how to plan for a boy or a girl. While they were fun to listen to, I honestly don’t think there’s any guaranteed way to control it. What truly matters is staying healthy, happy, and positive throughout the journey.
So, Who Does the Gender of the Baby Depend On?
While all these tales make pregnancy feel magical and full of suspense, the truth is much simpler. Scientifically, who does the gender of the baby depend on?
It actually depends on the father’s sperm! The sperm carries either an X or a Y chromosome—if an X meets your egg, you’ll have a girl; if a Y does, you’ll have a boy. So, all those cravings, mood swings, and glow theories are just for fun!
Final Thoughts
These old wives’ tales about signs of having a baby girl or boy are interesting and entertaining to talk about. But remember—they’re not scientific.
In my case, I had severe nausea, loved spicy and sour food, stayed active, and was emotional—and yes, I had a girl! But I’ve seen friends have completely opposite experiences and still have the same gender baby.
At the end of the day, the difference between boy and girl pregnancy might not be as clear as the stories say. Every pregnancy is unique. Whether you want to have one child or two, the most important thing is the happiness and love that comes with expanding your family.
