“Is it a boy or a girl?” That’s easily the biggest question we hear from friends and family lately. Everyone is curious to know which team my husband and I are on, and it has become the ultimate conversation-starter at every gathering. While we are definitely curious, our biggest prayer has always been for a healthy baby above everything else (I’m actually preparing a separate post on the Congenital Anomaly Scan, which is what we really care about). That said, I’ve seen so many DIY ways of predicting baby gender online before our OBGYN gives us the prescription to do it the scientific way.
For the sake of experimenting and strictly for fun (I am in no way advocating these as medical facts!)—I decided to put the most famous myths to the test.
10 Old Wives' Tales Put to the Test
1. The Baking Soda Test
The Method: Mix a spoonful of baking soda with your urine. If it fizzes like a soda, it’s a boy; if it stays flat, it’s a girl.
- The Result: I approached this one with a healthy dose of skepticism. After a quick lab session in my bathroom, the result was clear: no fizzle. The mixture stayed completely still. If we’re following the carbonation logic, this is an obvious point for Team Pink.
- Science Says: This test is actually measuring the acidity (pH level) of your urine. Factors like your hydration levels, recent meals (especially if you’ve been leaning into those savory chips!), and even your prenatal vitamins can change your pH. It’s more of a snapshot of your morning nutrition than a gender reveal.
2. The Linea Nigra Length
The Method: That dark line that sometimes appears on your belly? If it stops at your belly button, it’s a girl. If it continues all the way up to your ribs, it’s a boy.
- The Result: Currently, my linea nigra is quite dark up to my belly button, but there’s a subtle color forming already all the way up to the ribs. This means a point goes to Team Blue.
- Science Says: That dark line is just your skin reacting to a surge in pregnancy hormones. How long or dark it gets depends entirely on your own body’s chemistry and skin tone—it’s a reflection of your hormones, not the baby’s gender.
3. The Bump Shape
The Method: Carrying high and wide? Girl. Carrying low and all-in-front? Boy.
- The Result: Now that I’m approaching the third trimester, my silhouette is finally providing some real-time data. Initially, my belly was low and pointed straight in front. This is a classic boy sign. But as it gets bigger, it’s starting to widen out. To make the audit even more confusing, I have a short torso, so there’s really nowhere for the baby to go but out! Despite the mixed signals, I’m giving this point to Team Blue for now.
- Science Says: Your bump shape is actually a reflection of your own anatomy. Your height, torso length, and core muscle strength determine how you carry. Because I have a shorter torso, the baby naturally sits lower and more forward as space runs out. It’s more about physics than gender!
4. The Beauty Thief Theory
The Theory: They say if your skin is glowing, it’s a boy. If you’re dealing with breakouts or dullness, it’s a girl (because the girl steals the mother’s beauty).
- The Audit: This one is a bit of a mixed data set. My face is actually doing okay. I’d even say it’s glowing most days, but the rest of my body has a different say. I’m currently navigating chest acne and hyperpigmentation on my neck and underarms. My skin has become incredibly sensitive, too, so I’m dealing with occasional breakouts on my face and even my tummy. Since my body’s beauty feels like it’s being redirected elsewhere, I’m giving this point to Team Pink.
- Science Says: This is a classic hormonal shift. While we love the idea of a beauty thief, the reality is that increased androgen levels and shifting estrogen are responsible for everything from that facial glow to the sudden body acne and skin sensitivity. It’s a full-body hormonal recalibration, regardless of the baby’s gender.
5. The Sweet vs. Salty Cravings
The Theory: Craving chocolates, fruit, and sweets? It’s a girl. If you’re reaching for potato chips, pickles, or anything salty/savory? It’s a boy.
- The Audit: If I have a choice, I’m almost always leaning toward the salty and savory side. Whether it’s chips, fries, or seasoned baked snacks (salt, pepper, and everything nice), that’s where my palate sits. Even for my main viands, I prefer those savory profiles. I’m not the type to go crazy or cry if I can’t find a bag of chips, but it’s definitely my default. I still have days where I want something sweet just to change things up, but for the most part, the points go to Team Blue.
- Science Says: While the myth is fun, cravings are usually just your body’s way of asking for specific minerals (like sodium) or a result of how your taste buds are reacting to pregnancy hormones. It’s more about your body’s nutritional audit than the baby’s gender!
6. Cold Feet
The Theory: If your feet are suddenly always cold, you’re having a boy. If they stay warm like they were before pregnancy, it’s a girl.
- The Audit: This is where the audit gets tricky. I’ve always had cold feet—it’s just my baseline. Since becoming pregnant, absolutely nothing has changed; they’re just as chilled as they were before. If the myth relies on a change in temperature, then the data is inconclusive. But if we’re following the stayed-the-same rule, I’m giving this point to Team Pink.
- Science Says: Cold feet during pregnancy is usually a circulation thing. As your blood volume increases to support the baby, your body sometimes prioritizes your core and uterus over your extremities. It’s a cardiovascular adjustment, not a gender reveal!
7. The Morning Sickness Index
The Theory: Suffering from extreme nausea (Hyperemesis Gravidarum style) in the first trimester? It’s a girl. If you’re sailing through with minimal “morning” (read: all-day) sickness? It’s a boy.
- The Audit: I’ve had a few nauseous moments, but I’ve never actually thrown up. If I had to count, I think it’s been less than five times throughout this entire journey so far. Compared to the stories of extreme morning sickness, I feel like I’m sailing through relatively smoothly. Based on this, I’m giving this one to Team Blue.
- Science Says: Nausea is usually tied to rising levels of hCG and estrogen. While some studies suggest these levels can be slightly higher when carrying a girl, every body reacts to hormones differently. Whether you’re feeling fine or struggling to keep crackers down, it’s more about your body’s unique sensitivity than the baby’s gender.
8. The Heart Rate Audit
The Theory: Listen closely at your next Doppler appointment. If the fetal heart rate is above 140 bpm, it’s a girl (fast like a gallop). If it’s under 140 bpm, it’s a boy.
- The Audit: As someone who loves a good spreadsheet, I’ve been tracking the bpm trends throughout my checkups. The data has been a bit of a rollercoaster: we started with lower readings in the 129–134 bpm range (very Team Blue), but my most recent scans, including the CAS, have climbed into the 145–149 bpm range. Since the numbers have trended higher as the pregnancy progresses, I’m giving this point to Team Pink
- Science Says: A baby’s heart rate fluctuates constantly based on their activity level. Think of it like their own little workout. While 140 is the mythical cutoff, there is no scientific evidence that a faster or slower beat determines gender.
9. The Graceful vs. Clumsy Metric
The Theory: If you’re gliding through your trimesters with elegance and grace, it’s a girl. If you’re suddenly tripping over your own feet or dropping your favorite coffee mug? It’s a boy.
- The Audit: For the most part, I’ve managed to stay relatively graceful. I like to think my focus on a curated, organized environment helps with that! But I have to be honest: there have been those moments where the clumsiness definitely peaks. Since my baseline is usually steady and the clumsy moments are the exception rather than the rule, I’m giving this point to Team Pink.
- Science Says: This isn’t about gender; it’s about relaxin. This hormone loosens your joints and ligaments to prepare your body for birth, which can occasionally throw off your balance and coordination. Combined with a shifting center of gravity, a few clumsy moments are just part of the physics of pregnancy.
10. The Side Sleeper Test
The Theory: Pay attention to which side you naturally gravity toward when you hit the pillow. Left side for a boy, right side for a girl.
- The Audit: Before pregnancy, my default was always the right side. However, since my OB-GYN emphasized that lying on the left is better for blood flow and nutrient delivery to the baby, I’ve strictly transitioned my sleep routine. To make this test even more lopsided, I’ve been dealing with severe pelvic pain in my right glutes, making it almost unbearable to lie on that side anyway. Since I’ve officially moved into the left-side camp (by both choice and necessity) I’m giving this point to Team Blue.
- Science Says: Sleeping on your left side is the medical gold standard because it keeps the weight of the uterus off your inferior vena cava, ensuring the best circulation. Your preference for one side over the other usually has more to do with your own comfort and anatomy (or that pesky pelvic pain!) than the baby’s gender.
The Scoreboard: It's a Tie!
- Baking Soda: No Fizzle – Team Pink
- Linea Nigra: Extending to ribs – Team Blue
- Bump Shape: Low and in front – Team Blue
- Beauty Thief: Body breakouts/sensitivity. – Team Pink
- Sweet vs. Salty: Savory & seasoned snacks – Team Blue
- Cold Feet: No change (always cold) – Team Pink
- Morning Sickness: Minimal (never threw up) – Team Blue
- Heart Rate: Recent trent (145+bpm) – Team Pink
- Graceful vs. Clumsy: Mostly graceful – Team Pink
- Side sleeper: Switched to left side – Team Blue
After auditing 10 different methods of predicting baby gender, my audit has resulted in a perfect tie. Team Blue and Team Pink are locked at 5–5.
From the evolving shape of my bump to the shifting heart rate trends, it’s clear that there was a lot of interesting variables considered. While these myths offer a fun, aesthetic way to engage with the process, I’m keeping my focus on the logic: my body is doing the incredible work of building a human. Whether we’re predicting baby gender through old wives’ tales or just enjoying the anticipation, I can’t wait to prepare a serene, minimalist home to greet them.
Which of these 10 myths actually held up for you? Did your baking soda test stay silent, or did your savory cravings accurately predict a boy?
I want to hear your results! Drop your scoreboard in the comments below! Let’s see if these popular ways of predicting baby gender are actually as random as they seem.
Thank you for reading this blog post about predicting baby gender! More to come soon. Meanwhile, here are other lifestyle blog posts you might want to check out:
- How to Build a Minimalist Pregnancy-Safe Skincare Routine That Actually Works
- A Breakdown of Our First Trimester Expenses
- How to Master Baby Preparation During Uncertain Times and Global Shifts
- Beyond the Bump: How to Prioritize Your Partner When You’re Exhausted
- Survival Mode: My Honest Guide to First Trimester Symptoms
