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Is it a boy or a girl? These signs supposedly predict your baby's sex

These fun legends and old wives' tales just may offer insight on gender predictions.
Newborn Baby Sleeping In Hospital Bassinet
Can you predict your baby's sex? Here are some old-fashioned strategies.TODAY Illustration / Getty Images
/ Source: TODAY

As soon as parents-to-be find out they're expecting, they may start to wonder about their baby’s gender: Is it a boy or a girl?

While you can't actually rely on old wives’ tales, it can still be fun to try and guess a baby’s gender based on the so-called signs and clues. (Apparently craving fruit or having dry hands could point you in the right direction.)

And as soon as friends and family are aware, they will share their own gender predictions and myths around them, too.

A friend might tell you that if you’ve been feeling sick, a girl is on the way. Someone at work might guess that it’s a boy if you are carrying low.

These old-school myths are not science-based, but merely guessing methods that prove to be more enjoyable than the medically sound (but ultimately boring) amniocentesis or ultrasound.

Whether new moms and dads can’t wait to find out baby’s sex in order to pick a name, or are just interested in hypothesizing, legend has it these (just for fun) signs can predict gender for the little one on the way.

12 "signs" you're having a boy:

You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy.

While many will confirm that "morning sickness" is a misnomer, as nausea can occur all throughout the day (and sometimes all throughout the pregnancy), being less nauseous is supposedly a sign of Y chromosomes.

Your baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute.

The normal range for fetal heart rate is from 120 to 160 beats per minute, according to the National Library of Medicine.

You are carrying the extra weight out front.

Belly shape is a common theme when it comes to gender prediction guesses.

Your belly looks like a basketball.

Round and sticking out? Many will guess that you're having a boy.

You are carrying low.

Even the height of your belly will be open to predictions.

Your areolas have darkened considerably.

Oh yes, there are other body parts to analyze, too.

You are craving salty or sour foods.

Have you noticed a hankering for salt and vinegar chips? According to myth, that may be a sign.

You are craving protein — meats and cheese.

A steak and mac and cheese are also on the "boy" list, say the old wives.

Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy.

Pack some extra socks, apparently!

The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy.

... in case you were keeping track.

Your hands are very dry.

Somehow, little boys affect your skin dryness, according to these legends.

Pregnancy has you looking better than ever.

If you've got that sought-after glow, people may predict you're having a boy.

12 "signs" you're having a girl:

You had morning sickness early in pregnancy.

One of the first obstacles for a mom-to-be may be morning sickness. About 90% of pregnant people experience it, according to Dr. Daniel F. Roshan, board certified obstetrician-gynecologist at Rosh Maternal and Fetal Medicine in New York City.

Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute.

Does a little girl's heart really beat faster? Ask the old wives.

You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear.

The belly-carrying myths around your baby's sex extend to your whole body.

You are carrying high.

Baby girls are higher up, so goes the popular myth.

Your belly looks like a watermelon.

Get ready for lots of analysis around your bump shape.

You are craving sweets.

Sugar, spice and everything nice is a sign of X chromosomes, apparently.

You are craving fruit.

A hankering for berries and apples is on the "girls" list, so they say.

You crave orange juice.

Your morning OJ is also an indicator, if you believe the old legends.

You don't look quite as good as normal during pregnancy.

Sigh, try to ignore the "stealing your beauty" line from your mother-in-law.

You are moodier than usual during pregnancy.

Or this may just be a sign of pregnancy generally.

Your face breaks out more than usual.

Isn't pregnancy fun?

Your breasts have really blossomed!

And then there are the perks!

Just a reminder, these tricks are not science-based and are just for fun. But go ahead, give 'em a try!