PREGNANCY

21 ways to tell you’re definitely (maybe) having a boy

Last modified on Monday 17 April 2023

One of the most exciting parts of pregnancy has to be speculating about whether you're having a boy or a girl.

And while the only way to know for (almost) certain is to have a scan, there are lots of theories about how you can tell the gender long before your baby's born.

OK, so most of these are old wives' tales, rather than science, but do they hold true for you?

Also – discover Skull theory, another fun way to predict your baby's sex using your ultrasound scan picture ...

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1 You were the more dominant partner during sex

Apparently if you took the – ahem – driving seat when you and your partner conceived, you're more likely to have a boy.

You go, girl!.

2 You had sex close to ovulation

The theory says that male sperm are faster but don't live as long, while female sperm are slower but more resilient. That means that if you have sex around the time the egg is released, it's more likely to be the guys who get there first.

It’s called the Shettles method, and although it's unproven, plenty of women reckon it worked for them.

3 You've got that pregnancy glow

Some say that you bloom if you're pregnant with a boy, whereas carrying a girl makes you look washed out and knackered, hence the saying that 'girls steal your looks.'

Frankly, we think ALL babies steal our looks – especially when they're stretching our skin to bursting point and waking us up with 3am attacks of heartburn.

4 Your skin gets dryer

Itchy and scratchy? You're having a boy. Perhaps.

5 You haven't felt icky

There’s some sketchy evidence to suggest that girls produce more hCG (the pregnancy hormone that causes morning sickness), so if you've managed to bypass the pukey stage, it could mean you're having a boy.

We're not sure that Princess Kate – hospitalised in her boy and girl pregnancies with severe sickness – would agree with that, mind.

6 You're crazy for crisps

And cheese, and olives ... Apparently if your cravings are for salty, savoury foods, you're expecting a boy, while if it's all about the Dairy Milk, it's more likely to be a girl.

We're not sure what it means if you're craving everything, though.

7 You stink of garlic

If you're preggers with a boy and eat garlic, the theory is that the smell will come out of your pores, if you’re expecting a girl, you’ll remain fresh and fragrant.

OK, then!

8 You're all even

If you add your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived in (for example, November would be 11) and the result is an even number, you're having a boy. Allegedly.

9 The hair on your legs grows faster than usual

That said, pregnancy does have a way of turning even the smoothest skinned among us into Hairy Marys ...

10 Your bum doesn't look pregnant

Can people tell you’re pregnant from behind? The old wives' tale says that if they'd never guess, you're having a boy, but if your behind looks like the back of a bus and you've got that pregnancy waddle, it's going to be a girl.

11 You're hanging low

Apparently low slung bumps are more likely to be boys, but high ones that start somewhere beneath your boobs suggest it's a girl.

12 The Chinese birth chart says so

Many mums swear that this ancient method of predicting the sex is uncannily accurate.

13 And so does your scan

Have a close look at the ultrasound picture from your 12- to 14-week scan. If your baby has a sloping forehead with a squared lower jaw, it's more likely to be a boy, according to the skull theory.

14 He's got a pointy nub

While you're looking at your scan pic, check the bits between your baby's legs.

Both boys and girls will have a penis-like 'nub,’ and if it points upwards, at an angle of more than 30 degrees to the spine, it’s more likely to be a boy.

Downwards, straight out or only slightly upwards? The chances are you're having a girl.

It might not be strictly accurate, but hey, it's fun to speculate.

15 You're all wide-eyed

If your pupils dilate when you stare at yourself in the mirror, you've got a boy bun in the oven. Or you need to switch the lights on.

16 You've done the ring test

Get a ring – ideally your wedding ring – and tie it on a piece of thread. Hold it above your bump, and if it swings from side to side, you’re having a boy. If it moves in a circle, it’s a girl.

We wouldn't recommend maxing the credit card on blue babygros yet, though.

17 It's all in the hands

Apparently, if someone asks you to show you their hands and you present them with your palms down, it’s a boy. Palms up, it’s a girl. But don't take our word for it, OK?

18 He's a mega mover

Some people reckon that if you're getting tons of kicks and wriggles, you're probably carrying a boy, while a more chilled-out bump is probably a girl. Or just lazy.

19 The heart rate is slower

It's a long-held belief that if your baby's heartbeat in pregnancy is under 140 beats per minute, it’s a boy, while faster heart rates indicate a girl.

Doctors say this isn't a reliable way to tell the sex, but could it hold true for you?

20 Your boobs are wonky

We all know that pregnancy does weird stuff to your boobs, but apparently if your right boob is bigger than the left, it’s a boy. Who knew?

21 And the key to your baby's sex ...

Some people reckon that if you pick up a single key with the top part, it’s a boy, whereas if you hold the stem of the key, it’s a girl.

That's if you can find your keys in the first place ... Damn that pregnancy brain!

Did you guess what you were having long before you found out for sure? What gave it away?