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Most common early signs of pregnancy. As we’ve explored, everyone is different, but there are some symptoms that many women experience when pregnant. As well as a missed period, some of the very early signs of pregnancy can include nausea, breast tenderness, and spotting.
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Oct 2, 2024 · Curious about whether pregnancy symptoms can predict your baby's sex? Discover the myths and facts about boy vs. girl pregnancy symptoms, and what science says about gender predictions.
- You're More Squeamish At The Beginning. While you might think that this is specifically linked to morning sickness and feelings of nausea during early pregnancy, it's not, it's actually something different.
- You Gain A Lot Of Weight. The author of a 2014 paper published in PLOS ONE asserted that the more weight you gain during your pregnancy, the higher the chance that you'll give birth to a baby boy, while if you gain less weight during pregnancy, you might have a higher chance of having a baby girl.
- Your Belly Might Look A Certain Way. Though the shape of your bump likely isn't an accurate predictor of if you'll have a boy or girl, a different article from the website for TODAY noted that an old wives' tale says that if your belly is round and looks like a basketball, you might be having a boy, while if it's oval-shaped, your baby might be a little girl.
- Your Immune System Will React Differently To Threats. Interestingly enough, there are also some differences in the way your immune system responds while pregnant if you're having a boy vs a girl.
- Overview
- Proven ways to tell if you’re having a boy
- Six common myths
- Takeaway
Medical tests can tell a pregnant person if they are having a baby boy or a baby girl. Scientific research does not support using symptoms during pregnancy to guess the sex of the fetus.
According to folklore, everything from the position of the bump to the severity of symptoms can indicate the fetus’ sex.
Blood test
Doctors primarily use this test to detect issues with chromosomes. Pregnant women can take this test at 10 weeks, and results are usually available within 7–10 days. The test is typically reserved for pregnant women over the age of 35 years. A doctor may also suggest it if they suspect an issue with the fetus’s chromosomes. Any pregnant woman can request the test, but some insurance plans do not cover the cost.
Amniocentesis
During this procedure, a doctor will insert a thin needle through the skin into the uterus. They will remove some amniotic fluid, which is the fluid that protects the baby during pregnancy. Amniotic fluid contains cells and chemicals that can indicate genetic abnormalities, fetal infection, and the fetus’ sex. An amniocentesis is usually available from week 15 onward, but a doctor will only perform it if there are concerns about the presence of genetic conditions. An amniocentesis carries various risks, including a very slight risk of pregnancy loss.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
Similar to amniocentesis, CVS involves using a needle to retrieve tissue from the placenta. This test can indicate if a fetus has Down syndrome or another chromosome-related condition. It can also determine the fetus’ sex. CVS is available from week 10 of pregnancy, and it carries approximately the same risk of pregnancy loss as amniocentesis. Women should only get CVS tests if there is an increased risk of chromosomal issues.
Morning sickness
More than 50% of pregnant women feel sick during the first trimester. Some people believe that more severe morning sickness indicates that the baby will be born female. The reasoning is that women carrying girls have high hormone levels, which worsens morning sickness, while women carrying boys have less nausea because hormone levels are lower. There is very little research into this theory, and the studies that do exist have reported conflicting findings. For example, an older study from 1999 supported the idea that women carrying female fetuses had more severe morning sickness. However, a 2013 study of 2,450 births suggested a slightly higher rate of nausea and vomiting among women carrying boys compared with those carrying girls. Among the study population, 79.5% of women carrying male fetuses reported nausea and vomiting, while only 72.3% of women carrying female fetuses reported the symptoms.
Salty and savory cravings
A study from 2014 reported that 50–90% of pregnant women in the United States have cravings. The desired foods range widely. One myth claims that women expecting boys crave salty and savory foods, such as potato chips, and those carrying girls prefer sweet foods, such as ice cream and chocolate. However, cravings are more likely to represent a woman’s nutritional needs. Authors of the same study suggest a similarity between the foods a woman craves immediately before a menstrual period and those craved during pregnancy.
Healthy hair and skin
Another misconception is that a female fetus causes dull skin, acne, and limp hair during pregnancy, while a male fetus results in no changes in appearance. Realistically, the extensive hormonal changes that occur throughout pregnancy affect the skin and hair of most women, regardless of the sex of the fetus. One study reported that more than 90% of pregnant women experienced changes in their skin and hair.
While it can be exciting to guess at the fetus’ sex, only medical testing can accurately identify it.
However, these tests are not always entirely accurate, and they are only an option after the 10th week of pregnancy.
Jan 7, 2016 · If you’re expecting and hoping for a boy, there are plenty of old wives’ tales about gender. Here are five of the most popular myths on uncovering the signs you’re having a boy. Myths ...
Sep 7, 2021 · How to tell if it’s a girl on an ultrasound. The absence of the above signs doesn't necessarily guarantee the baby is female. A sonographer's trained eyes will instead watch for these clues that suggest baby is a girl: A genital tubercle angled downwards. If it’s pointed downward, it indicates a girl.
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Symptoms usually start when you’re around 4 to 6 weeks pregnant. If you're being sick all the time and cannot keep anything down, see a GP. You may have hyperemesis gravidarum, a serious condition in pregnancy that causes severe vomiting and needs treatment.
