Whether you prefer not to know or can't wait to find out, it can be fun to play a guessing game first and see if you can predict your baby’s gender. Try these ancient methods and see for yourself.

by Theresa Nguyen

This is a special time for me because I’m fulfilling my sisterly duties of becoming an aunt for the ninth time. One of the joys leading up to my nieces’ and nephews’ births has been the many guessing games my family plays to predict the baby’s gender.

Boy or girl?

The suspense was driving my sister nuts. She was expecting her fourth child and hoping this time it would be a boy. With a home full of three little princesses, a new prince charming would be a wonderful addition to the family. (And so he is!)

The only true way of learning the gender of a baby is through a medical test like an ultrasound. These tests, however, require a wait of at least 20 weeks into pregnancy. During this waiting time of your child parenting adventure, why not try some entertaining methods of guessing that expectant mothers have used for centuries? I wouldn’t make any important decisions based on old wives’ tales or Chinese birth charts, but they are an exciting way to guess whether you should break out the pink or the blue!

1. Position of your bump. One of the most common notions is that the position of your bump says something about your baby. If your baby is riding high, then expect a little girl. If you’re carrying low, it’s a boy.

2. Craving sweet or sour. There’s a belief that that the gender of your baby gives you cravings. If you’re craving chocolate and ice cream, blame it on your girl. If salty crackers and sour lemons sound more appetizing, it’s a boy.

3. Skin changes. People are telling you that you’re glowing and your complexion is more beautiful than ever. There’s a possibility that you can thank your little boy later. Oops, you look in the mirror and notice that you have zits popping up everywhere. That’s an indication that you could be having a girl. The old wives’ tale is that the mother’s beauty is stolen by her girl.

4. Heartbeats per minute. The next time you visit the doctor, find out your baby’s heartbeat. The belief is that if the baby’s heartbeat is below 140 beats per minute, it’s a boy. If it’s above 140, then it’s a girl.

5. Morning sickness. Your first trimester wasn’t pleasant at all. You have morning sickness and you feel uneasy all time. Then this little one could be a girl. If you’re feeling fine with no sickness at all, that could indicate a boy.

6. Extra weight. You look at your husband and notice that he’s gaining weight. This indicates that you’re having a girl. If your husband doesn’t put on extra pounds, then you’re having a boy.

7. Home experiment. Mix a sample of your urine with a tablespoon of Drano. You then wait a few seconds to see what color it turns. If your urine is a greenish color, your baby’s a girl. However, if the urine turns blue, it’s a boy. Be careful because there may be strong fumes from this experiment!

8. Different sizes. The next time you step out of the shower, look in the mirror. If your right breast is larger than your left, your baby’s a boy. A larger left breast means that you’re having a girl. If there’s no difference, could you be having twins?

9. Motion of your wedding ring. Tie a long string through your wedding ring and let it hang around your belly. If your ring swings in a circular motion, it’s a boy. If the ring moves back and forth, a girl is on the way.

10. Ancient birth chart. A very popular method is the Chinese Birth Chart. I’ve known friends who tried this method and came up with accurate predictions about their babies’ genders. It’s based on your age and the month of conception. The story has it that the chart was buried in an ancient tomb over 700 years ago. It’s become so popular that you can even download the chart onto your computer and see if the ultrasound is accurate.  

Theresa Nguyen is completing her Master of Science in nonprofit management. She has volunteered with many nonprofit organizations in the Chicago area, including the DePaul University St. Vincent de Paul Center, YMCA, Lincoln Park Zoo, and One Brick of Chicago.