Not a few pregnant women are curious and want to immediately know the sex of the baby. This makes pregnancy myths about how to guess a baby's gender widely circulated among pregnant women. However, this myth is not necessarily true.
Although now there is technology that can determine the sex of the baby in the womb, many pregnant women still believe in certain pregnancy myths.
One of the pregnancy myths that is widely circulated is the assumption that the sex of the baby can be determined from several signs, such as the position of the stomach of the pregnant woman, the heartbeat of the fetus, certain food cravings during pregnancy, to facial changes. However, so far there has been no scientific evidence that justifies various myths about how to guess the sex of the baby.
Myths in Guessing Baby's Gender
So that pregnant women do not fall into the wrong information, here are some pregnancy myths about how to guess the sex of the baby:
1. The position of the belly down indicates a baby boy
There is a myth that says that the belly of a pregnant woman whose position tends to look a little lower or lower is interpreted as carrying a baby boy. Meanwhile, if the stomach is more inclined at the top, it indicates that you are carrying a baby girl.
This myth is not true. The size and shape of a pregnant woman's stomach is not a benchmark for determining the sex of the baby. In fact, the shape of the abdomen of pregnant women is influenced by the condition of the abdominal muscles and body shape, weight gain during pregnancy, and the position of the fetus in the womb.
2. Faster fetal heart rate means baby girl
Another myth states that if the fetal heart rate is more than 140 per minute, it indicates the baby is a girl. However, if the heart rate is below 140 per minute, the sex of the baby is a boy.
In fact, a normal fetal heart rate is in the range of 120–160 beats per minute. There are no studies that state that the heart rate is a marker of the sex of the fetus.
Moreover, the fetal heart rate can change at each examination, depending on the age of the womb, the health condition of the pregnant mother and fetus, and the activity of the fetus in the stomach.
3. A pregnant woman's face is round and her cheeks are flushed, which means it's a girl
Pregnant women whose faces look round with rosy cheeks are often believed to be a sign that they will give birth to a baby girl. This cannot be confirmed, because every pregnant woman experiences different skin changes accompanied by unequal weight gain.
In addition, almost every pregnant woman will generally experience pregnancy glow, which is a condition when the skin of pregnant women looks cleaner and shiny. This is due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, not the sex of the fetus.
4. Mother wants sweet food signifies baby boy
Pregnant women who often crave sweet or milky foods indicate that they are carrying a baby girl, while those who desire salty, savory, and spicy foods mean that they are carrying a baby boy.
The desire of pregnant women to eat foods with certain tastes or cravings, may be caused by hormonal changes that make pregnant women's sense of smell more sensitive. Cravings for any food have nothing to do with the gender of the baby.
5. Nausea all day is a sign of a baby girl
According to the myth, feeling nauseous pregnant women feel throughout the day may indicate that the sex of the fetus is female. Although in reality, this cannot be used as a definite guide in guessing the sex of the baby.
The reason, nausea itself is a common thing experienced by pregnant women. This condition is caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy. So, it has nothing to do with the gender of the baby.
However, a study shows that pregnant women who experience excessive nausea and vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum) to the point of being hospitalized for the condition are more likely to have a baby girl. However, this research is still not enough to be used as a definite reference.
Is There a Way to Confirm the Gender of the Fetus?
Until now, there are two proven methods for determining the sex of the fetus, namely:
Pregnancy ultrasound examination
Pregnancy ultrasound is usually able to determine the sex of the fetus when the gestational age reaches 18-20 weeks. This examination can detect the sex of the fetus with a high degree of accuracy, which is around 80–90 percent.
Genetic test
To determine the sex of the fetus more accurately, there are other tests that can be done, namely DNA testing or genetic testing. This test is usually done through an amniocentesis examination.
However, this test is generally not routinely carried out because it is quite expensive and not all hospitals have these facilities.
In addition, the main purpose of genetic testing is to determine whether the fetus has a genetic disorder or congenital disease. This test is usually done if the mother or father has a history of hereditary diseases.
Hearing and discussing various pregnancy myths is not prohibited, but pregnant women need to be wise and review the facts behind them.
If there are pregnancy myths that sound unreasonable and confusing, pregnant women can always consult a gynecologist to determine whether it is true or not.