Can You Tell You’re Having a Baby Boy by the Shape or Size of Your Belly?

From the moment you announce your pregnancy, people start offering all kinds of commentary about the baby — many of which include predictions about the infant’s sex.

Your mother might be certain it’s a girl because you’ve been craving chocolate. Your closest friend insists it’s a boy because the fetal heartbeat was rapid on the first ultrasound. And while you may not understand why a coworker studies your bump so closely, Linda from Accounting might exclaim that your belly sits low, so you must be carrying a boy!

But can the position or size of your belly, and other pregnancy traits, actually reveal your baby’s sex? Probably not. Keep reading to explore this pregnancy belief and several other common myths.

Does a low belly in pregnancy mean you’re having a boy?

Belly shape is one of the most enduring myths about predicting a baby’s sex. You may have heard that a low bump signals a boy, while a high bump points to a girl.

The tale goes on to claim that boys are more independent and therefore sit lower in the uterus, whereas girls need extra protection so they’re carried higher.

These gender-based assumptions aren’t the only odd part of the myth — you might even hear the opposite version depending on who’s telling the story.

The reality: The way you carry — the size and contour of your belly — stems from several factors, none of which reliably indicate your baby’s sex.

If this is your first pregnancy or if your abdominal muscles are particularly strong, you might carry higher since your abdominal wall hasn’t been stretched as much. Conversely, with subsequent pregnancies your abdominal muscles may have loosened more, making your bump appear lower.

Additionally, the size and orientation of the fetus can influence how your belly looks externally. Late in pregnancy, your baby may drop into the pelvis (engage), which makes your bump appear lower.

Short-term shifts in fetal position can also temporarily alter the shape and prominence of your bump.

Other myths about figuring out your baby’s sex

For centuries, people have traded folklore and old wives’ tales about predicting a baby’s sex. They can be entertaining, but few have any scientific backing.

Below are some popular myths — remember, none are supported by robust research, so you might prefer to wait for an ultrasound or birth to confirm the sex:

• Cravings myth: A craving for salty foods supposedly means a boy; preferring sweets is said to indicate a girl.
• Heart rate myth: A faster fetal heart rate is claimed to mean a boy, while a slower rate supposedly signals a girl. You may also encounter the reverse claim.
• Morning sickness myth: Little morning sickness is linked to a boy, while more severe nausea is thought to indicate a girl. The idea is that higher hormone levels in female pregnancies cause more sickness.
• Skin appearance myth: A pregnancy glow is associated with a boy; acne or skin problems are attributed to a girl.
• Hair appearance myth: Fuller, shinier hair supposedly means a boy; dull or limp hair suggests a girl. The recurring theme is that girls ‘steal’ their mother’s beauty.

When can you find out the gender?

If you want to know your baby’s sex, you don’t necessarily have to wait until the end of pregnancy.

The baby’s sex can often be identified as early as the second trimester, and your provider might be able to reliably determine boy or girl between about 14 and 20 weeks.

There are also cell-free DNA prenatal screening tests available as early as week 10 of pregnancy through your due date. While these are not marketed specifically as gender tests, they assess fetal DNA for chromosomal conditions.

After a blood draw, the lab analyzes circulating DNA fragments. If the Y chromosome is detected among those fragments, it likely indicates a male fetus; if not, a female fetus is more probable.

You can sometimes determine sex before conception if using IVF. Certain genetic tests through fertility clinics can identify sex based on the presence of a Y chromosome, typically when using frozen embryos.

Creative gender reveal ideas

Want to announce the baby’s sex in a memorable way? Move beyond the traditional pink-and-blue cake with a few of these concepts:

• Fill a box with pink or blue balloons, then open it in front of loved ones to release them.
• Pack a piñata full of all-pink or all-blue candy and let guests take turns breaking it open.
• Stage a photoshoot in which you and your partner wear white shirts and paint each other with blue or pink — share black-and-white shots first, then reveal the color ones.
• Hand out cans of Silly String to guests and have everyone spray them simultaneously to unveil the sex.
• Purchase a pink or blue outfit or tiny shoes and use that as your social-media reveal photo.
• Provide pink or blue confetti cannons for friends and family to fire together for the big moment.

Should you announce the sex or keep it private?

You aren’t obliged to disclose the baby’s sex publicly if you prefer not to.

Parents who decide to keep the information private can simply request that friends and relatives respect their decision. Some couples choose “team green” and opt not to learn the sex until delivery.

Tell your clinician, sonographers, and other medical staff about your preference. The baby’s sex can come up later in pregnancy during ultrasounds and other visits, and it’s easy for the information to slip out if you don’t remind people of your wishes.

When assembling registry items, consider neutral colors for clothing and nursery items. You could also do something playful as your due date nears, such as a guessing pool for friends and family to predict the sex.

Takeaway

Until you have an ultrasound or a prenatal blood test, guessing the baby’s sex is mostly for fun — as accurate as flipping a coin.

You have roughly a 50/50 chance of being right, so enjoy the guessing game.

Relish these moments before your provider confirms whether the baby is a boy or girl. Then, when the time arrives, enjoy sharing the news with loved ones or keeping it private for the ultimate surprise at your baby’s birth.