How to Identify a Boy or a Girl in Pregnancy

Your skin could tell you whether it's a boy or girl.

While a sonogram is accurate in determining the sex of a baby, you may want to find out if you're having a boy or girl before you get this test. There are several ways to determine whether you're carrying a boy or a girl that don't require a machine. While some of the methods are folklore, and may not be accurate, it's fun to try to determine the sex of your baby.

Instructions

1. Count the baby's heartbeat. If you don't have a baby heart monitor, ask your obstetrician what number she recorded at your last visit. Beats under 140 per minute indicate a boy. A higher heartbeat indicates a girl.

2. Look in the mirror. If your hair appears dull and your skin isn't clear, you may be carrying a girl. If your skin is radiant and your hair is shiny, you're probably carrying a boy.

3. Pay attention to your cravings. If you crave salty and sour foods, expect a boy. If you crave sweets, it may be a girl.

4. Notice when you get nauseous. If it's within the first 12 weeks, it's a girl. If you get sick later in the pregnancy, you're probably carrying a boy.

5. Look at the way you're carrying the baby. If your belly is high and wide, it's a girl. If your stomach is low and round, it's probably a boy.

6. Observe the movement in the womb. Boys tend to be more active in the womb than girls. Girls tend to move less, or less intensely, than boys.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase neutral colors such as yellow and green if you want to shop for the baby before knowing whether it's a boy or a girl.

• Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling can determine whether you are having a boy or a girl, but these procedures carry risks.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Read this Article in Spanish
• iVillage: Guess the Sex of Your Baby
• NetMums: Boy or Girl?