Can pregnancy symptoms predict the sex of your baby?

Last week, we published an article that lists the benefits of leaving your child's gender a mystery, and now for the less patient people of our readership, we'll be discussing quite the opposite.

Specifically, we'll be looking at whether or not your pregnancy symptoms can accurately predict the sex of your baby. Their handfuls of superstitions and other crafty folklorish ways to tell the gender of your baby without the aid of a sonogram. While some are over the top and completely ridiculous, is there any reason for parents to give credence to these signs?

Well...no. At least that's what experts believe.

Sonya Abdel-Razeq, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Yale University, for example, says, “Although many cultures and societies have defined various methods of predicting fetal gender, there is no scientific evidence."

Recently, Sonya talked with Women's Health Magazine and worked to debunk some of the theories and tactics that claim to be able to predict the sex of your baby. Most of these are based on pregnancy symptoms. For example, cold feet. But can cold feet really determine whether or not you'll be raising a daughter or son? Of course not.

Abdel-Razeq notes that women everywhere experience various pregnancy symptoms for a multitude of reasons. As she says, “Each pregnancy is a unique endeavor that is a reflection of the circumstances that surround conception. With each pregnancy, a woman is a bit older, potentially has more responsibility (to other children, etc.), her body has a memory of past pregnancies, and she may experience symptoms earlier than in prior pregnancies.”

In short, there are simply too many variables associated with each pregnancy. Physical, hormonal, and environmental factors can all create varying pregnancy symptoms, and none of the symptoms can lead to a higher probability of having a boy or girl.

Your body is susceptible to a number of symptoms and changes while pregnant. No matter what, none of these symptoms or changes are a  sign or clear indicator of a particular sex. Unfortunately, moms, your odds are the same as anyone's—50/50.

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