The moment you break the news of your pregnancy to the world, everyone will start making guesses about whether you are having a little boy or a little girl. Truth is, gender prediction is something just about everyone feels they are a ‘professional’ at, and many folks will use antiquated methods to try and figure out the gender of your baby.

Funny thing is, that in this situation – everyone who interjects has a 50/50 chance of being right, so the odds are definitely in their favor.

Whether you find out the gender of your baby or not is a personal decision. Most often, the ultrasound tech will be able to decipher the gender of your baby through routine ultrasound after the 16th week of pregnancy. That being said, there are some fun gender prediction methods (also with a 50/50 chance of being right) that are fun to look into.

Of course, there is the Chinese Gender Prediction Method. In this method, the gender is based upon your age and the month of conception. (Personally speaking, it was never right for me). Another fun way to ponder the gender of your baby is to see whether you are carrying your baby high or low. In late pregnancy, many people believe that if you are carrying your baby bump low – then you will be having a boy.  High, and you need to break out the pink bows.

Faster heartbeats heard during a routine Doppler test are also said to indicate that you are having a girl. If the baby’s heart beats more than 140 times per minute, this ‘could’ indicate that a girl is in your near future. Believe it or not, Drano – the popular pipe cleaner has been affiliated with gender prediction for decades as well. The theory goes that if you pee in a cup and then pour 1 tablespoon of Drano in it, it will turn either green or blue. Green equates to a girl while blue, typically – means you will be having a boy.

Yet another way people decide baby gender is based on whether or not the pregnant mama is having pubescent like acne. The old saying goes that a baby girl steals all of her mother’s beauty, and therefore pregnant mom will break out like a teenager.

Of course, there is also the ever popular baby shower trick with your wedding ring. (Any ring will do) Take off your wedding ring, tie it to a string or fishing wire and then hold it over your belly. If the ring goes in a circle then legend has it that you are fit to have a little boy. If it rocks back and forth, a girl.

At the end of the day (and your pregnancy) the big reveal will be the only method that is 100% accurate when it comes to gender prediction. Even so, it can be a lot of fun to sit back and dream during your pregnancy. And if you don’t want to wait – then your best odds at getting it right are to ask your ultrasound tech.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Mom-Spirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

It can sometimes be hard to differentiate fact from fiction. Just because you’ve been told something more times than you can remember doesn’t mean it’s true. In fact, a lot of the popular old wives’ tales about pregnancy are false. Here are five widely believed (but definitely not true) pregnancy myths:

1. Your bump can give clues as to the sex of your baby – if you’ve decided to wait until the birth to discover the sex of your baby, you probably hear this one a lot. Friends, family and strangers will be using the size and position of your bump to guess the sex of your developing baby. According to legend, a high bump indicates you are carrying a girl, while a low bump is a sure sign you’re having a boy. Sadly, there is no truth to this myth, so you can keep the gender a surprise if you wish.

2. If you suffer from heartburn, your baby will be born with a full head of hair – heartburn has little to do with your baby’s ‘do, and more to do with the foods you eat and with your slowing digestive tract. Whether you suffer from heartburn or not is really no indication of how much hair will be atop your baby’s head at the birth.

3. Having sex while pregnant could harm your baby – don’t worry, you can continue to have a sex life during pregnancy. Unless your healthcare provider has advised you to go on ‘pelvic rest’, sex during pregnancy is perfectly safe. Your mucus plug will keep your uterus closed, and your baby safe from infection during pregnancy.

4. You should be eating for two – this is something you have probably heard a lot, but it’s factually incorrect. During the first and second trimester, you shouldn’t need to eat any extra calories. By the third trimester, you will need an extra 200 calories a day, but this amounts to two slices of wholemeal toast with a thin spread of butter. It’s hardly eating for two.

5. You shouldn’t start exercising during pregnancy – this isn’t true at all. Even if you’ve never exercised before, pregnancy is the perfect time to start. It’s more important than ever to look after your body, and keep fit in preparation for the birth. If you are a bit of a couch potato, break yourself in gently with some walking, swimming and prenatal yoga. If you’re a keep-fit fanatic, you can keep up your exercise routine, but be wary of any potentially dangerous activities such as extreme sports.

What pregnancy myths have you heard?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.