If you're trying to guess the gender of your baby, the belly test is one of the many fun ways to figure out whether you're having a boy or a girl. Some people believe the shape and position of a pregnant belly can provide hints. Although it's not always accurate, the shape and position of a pregnant person's belly is a fun way to predict your baby's gender before your doctor orders an ultrasound to confirm it.
How to Use a Belly Test to Predict Gender
Your coworker swears you're having a boy because you're craving salty foods, and your mom is convinced you're having a girl because you had morning sickness. So who is right? The belly test to predict a baby's gender is based on observing the shape and position of your baby bump.
According to certain traditional beliefs, if you're carrying low with a more narrow belly that sticks out, you're pregnant with a boy. If your belly is high and spread around your middle, you're pregnant with a girl.
If you're having trouble deciding if you appear to be carrying high or low, use the images above to find a belly that looks similar to yours.
- Carrying low means that the baby bump - the part of the belly that protrudes the most - is settled close to the hips.
- Carrying high means that the baby bump rests high in the abdominal area. You may be carrying the baby close to the ribs rather than closer to the hips.
- Narrow refers to the shape of the uterus when it protrudes outward toward the front.
- Wide refers to the shape of the uterus when it settles to the sides.
How Accurate Is the Belly Test to Predict Gender?
So, is the belly test accurate? The truth is, the sex of your baby doesn't have anything to do with the appearance of your pregnant belly. The belly test to guess a baby's gender is simply an old wives' tale that has been passed down through the years.
Many factors affect the shape and size of a pregnant belly, including:
- Abdominal muscle tone: Strong muscle tone may make the bump appear smaller.
- Baby's position: How the baby is positioned can affect the shape and size of the belly, which can change as the baby moves around.
- Baby size: The larger the baby, the larger the belly will appear.
- Height: A tall pregnant person may carry more narrow, and a shorter person may carry more wide.
- Number of pregnancies: In a first pregnancy, a pregnant person may carry the baby high because the abdominal muscles are not stretched. Subsequent pregnancies may carry low as the abdominal muscles have been stretched from previous pregnancies.
- Single vs. multiples: If more than one baby is in utero at the same time, this will naturally make the pregnant belly appear larger as it expands to make room for more than one growing baby
- Weight gain: The more weight the pregnant person gains, the larger their belly may appear.
But even knowing the test is a myth, it can still be fun to take a guess about whether your baby is a boy or a girl based on your belly shape. You have a 50% chance of being right, after all!
Other Gender Tests to Try
Have you had fun guessing? Here are some other at-home gender prediction tests you may want to try at home.
Wedding Ring Gender Test
The wedding ring gender test is one of the more popular ways to predict if you're having a boy or a girl. It involves tying a string to your wedding band and watching the motion of the ring. If it swings back and forth, it's a boy. If it swings in a circle, it's a girl. There is no scientific evidence that the wedding ring test works, but it can still be an enjoyable experience to share with loved ones.
Pencil Gender Test
The pencil gender test is a fun method to determine if you're having a boy or girl. This involves using a sharpened pencil and dangling it above the wrist of the pregnant person. If the pencil moves up and down, the baby is said to be a boy. If the pencil moves back and forth, the baby is said to be a girl.
Chinese Gender Prediction Birth Chart
The Chinese gender prediction birth chart is one of the oldest methods used to guess the sex of unborn babies. Using the mother's age and the month the baby was conceived, the chart is said to indicate whether the baby is a boy or a girl. Some people claim that this type of test has a high success rate, and some have even used the chart to try to conceive in a certain month to get pregnant with the gender of their choice.
In addition to these tests, dozens of other gender prediction methods have been passed down through many generations, and people continue to enjoy these tests to this day. Few things are as exciting as welcoming a baby into your life, and guessing the baby's gender until you know for certain can be a fun way to bide the time while you wait for your little one to arrive.
