5 Signs You're Having a Boy, If That's Something You Want to Know

Finding out the sex of your baby is often one of the most fun parts of pregnancy (that is, if you want to find out the sex). Although some people prefer the gender reveal to occur during birth, others will want to know sooner so they can make important medical decisions ahead of time. And even those who want to know don't want to wait till the 20-week ultrasound to learn. So, rather than rely on accuracy, they turn to the signs you're having a boy.

If you just can't wait to find out if you're having a boy or a girl through medical tests, there may be some clues to help you figure it out. Here are five signs you may be having a boy, not all of which are scientific, but are simply a lot of fun.

1. You're Carrying Low

The saying goes like this: carrying high means a girl and carrying low means a boy. If you believe in old wives tales then by all means use this sign as a gender indicator for your baby. But according to Healthline, how you carry during your pregnancy has more to do with the shape of your uterus, your unique body type, and your abdominal muscles.

2. Your Morning Sickness Isn't That Bad Or Non-Existent

According to Web MD, a study done by researchers in Sweden found that women suffering from severe morning sickness, including the condition hyperemesis gravidarum, were more likely to be pregnant with girls than with boys. That being said, morning sickness is thought to be caused by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), or the hormone present in pregnancy as further explained by Web MD. Researchers in the study claimed that the hCG levels for a girl fetus versus a boy fetus were different.

3. Your Skin Is Unaffected By Pregnancy

The old wives tale says that if your skin is suffering during pregnancy, it's because a baby girl is stealing your beauty. But, according to the aforementioned Healthline article, how your skin looks is just a matter or hormones in general. You can't blame it on a boy or a girl.

4. You're Craving Salty And Sour Foods

The thought is that pregnant women who crave sweets are having a girl and those wanting salty or sour foods are having a boy. Anecdotally speaking, I have two girls, and while pregnant with them I craved both sweet and sour stuff — sometimes at the same time. "People think their cravings are significant, but studies show no link between cravings and nutritional requirements," Judith Brown, a nutrition author said in a Baby Center article. "If people craved what the body needs, we would all eat more broccoli and less chocolate." Brown said in some cases there may be a biological reason for cravings. For example, if a pregnant woman is having a bizarre craving for laundry starch, dirt, or clay (a condition called pica), this may indicate an iron deficiency. But mostly cravings and aversions seem to be anecdotal.

5. Your Baby's Heartbeat Is Below 140 BPMs

Next time your provider pulls out the fetal Doppler ask what the heartbeat is. According to Parenting, the legend is that if your baby's heartbeat is below 140 beats per minute (BPM) then it's a boy. "I don’t think to my knowledge they’ve proven any of these are accurate signs to determine gender," Ross says. She points to the blood tests and sonograms as the surefire ways to figure out if you're having a boy or a girl. How much weight you give to gender in your planning depends on your personal preferences. In the end, it's a 50-50 chance either way.