Forecasting the Sex of an Unborn Baby

Forecasting the Sex of an Unborn Baby

Discover fun and traditional methods from the past to help forecast your unborn baby's sex, from the Chinese Birth Calendar to old wives' tales.

When you are expecting, determining your unborn child’s sex is an exciting milestone. You want to get a head start on painting the nursery walls, buying clothes, and choosing a name. In today’s modern world, the most accurate way to determine your baby’s sex is by ultrasound. However, before this equipment was invented, our ancestors relied on several methods to help forecast a fetus’s sex. These methods have been passed down from generation to generation, so do not be surprised if strangers predict your baby’s sex just by looking at your belly.
Here are some fun ways to forecast your unborn child’s sex:

• Chinese Birth Calendar. The Chinese Birth Calendar, or Pregnancy Calendar, is based on a 700-year-old document discovered in Beijing. Its claim to fame is a reported 99% accuracy rate in predicting your baby’s sex. You simply look up the mother’s age at conception and the month the fetus was conceived. If the two lines intersect on a blue box or a box labeled with a "B," the baby is a boy. If it lands on a pink box or a box with a "G," the baby is a girl.
• Numerical theories. This is a mathematical equation that uses the same data as the Chinese Pregnancy Calendar. If the sum of the mother’s age at conception and the month of conception (e.g., 5 for May, since it is the 5th month) is even, the baby is a boy; an odd sum indicates a girl.
• Maternal changes. Several predictions can be made from physical changes observed during pregnancy. Among the most popular is the difference in pregnancy cravings. If you are carrying a boy, you may crave salty and sour foods, as well as those rich in protein, such as meats and cheeses. If you are carrying a girl, you might prefer sweets, fruits, and juices. Your appearance also changes depending on the gender of the fetus. Mothers carrying boys tend to have a very round belly, almost like a basketball, with most of the weight gain in the front, and often feel they look better during pregnancy than before. Those carrying girls typically have a more oblong belly, similar to a watermelon, with weight gain concentrated on the hips and rear, and may feel less attractive due to breakouts and dull, thin hair. Lastly, mothers carrying boys experience fewer episodes of morning sickness compared to those carrying girls.
• Fetal heart rate. According to folklore, boys have a heart rate of less than 139 beats per minute, while girls have a heart rate of at least 140 beats per minute.
• Hair/thread/yarn test. This test has been used for several decades, with various revisions regarding the materials. Common to all versions is the use of the mother’s wedding ring. A strand of hair or thread is tied to the ring, which is then suspended over the belly. If the ring swings from side to side, the baby is a girl. If the ring moves in circles, the baby is a boy.

Baby gender predictions should not be taken too seriously, as scientific tests have not proven their accuracy. However, they certainly offer a fun way to pass the time during the nine months of waiting. Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, have fun trying out these activities with your friends or your partner. Above all, make sure you see your obstetrician regularly to ensure both your safety and your baby's.