There are some early signs that can help pregnant parents determine the gender of their unborn baby. But do you really understand how biological sex is identified and which of these indicators is trustworthy? For more information about determining the sex of your unborn child, read this article.

When babies develop their sex

Human sexual differentiation is the process of determining sex, and you probably won’t find out your baby’s sex until a few months after being pregnant.

Genetics determine a baby's sex. All eggs contain an X chromosome, while sperm can contain either an X or a Y chromosome. When an XX embryo is fertilized by an XX sperm cell, the resulting offspring will be female. If the sperm cell contains a Y chromosome, the embryo will have male XY chromosomes.

All embryos look the same at first, regardless of their gender. The "gonadal ridge" (or "genital ridge") will appear on your baby at the end of the fifth week of pregnancy. By week seven, the sex organ precursors will be developed. In the next five weeks, your embryo starts producing hormones that stimulate sex organ development. So, you can reveal your baby's gender between 10 and 20 weeks.

Signs that you’re having a girl

There are many old wives' tales and myths about predicting your baby's sex. Here are five of the most common pregnancy signs for girls:

1. Carrying high

One myth about a baby's gender is that if the bump is higher, then you're having a girl. In fact, this is untrue. There are several factors that determine the way your bump looks. These factors include your physical condition, how many pregnancies you have had, your abdominal muscles, and the total amount of weight you gain during pregnancy.

2. Mood swings

It is believed that the estrogen produced by a female fetus can affect a mother's temperament, causing mood swings. Any pregnant woman can experience mood swings as a result of her own hormonal fluctuations, and these mood swings are not related to the sex of the baby.

3. Sickness in the morning

Another common misconception is that a female fetus' copious hormone production can cause more severe morning sickness. While nausea and vomiting severity can differ from person to person, even the same woman can have different experiences during each pregnancy.

4. Having acne or dull skin

Is it true that a baby girl steals her mother's beauty? Having a girl is believed to cause oily skin or dull skin and acne. This is also a falsehood. During pregnancy, hormones affect skin and hair differently, and they are unpredictable.

Signs that you’re having a boy

1. Craving salty foods

It has been reported that between 50 and 90 percent of pregnant women experience food cravings. According to a common myth, a female fetus causes sweet cravings and a male fetus causes savory and salty cravings.

In reality, cravings are more likely to be influenced by nutrition than by the sex of a baby. It has also been suggested that culture may play a role in determining what food a pregnant woman craves.

2. Carrying low

In the same way that carrying a high signifies that your baby is a girl, a lower bump signifies that your baby is a boy. Although there isn't any evidence to support this theory, other factors determine the shape of your bump. 

3. Having healthier hair and skin

People think that if you carry a boy, you will have healthier skin and thicker, lustrous hair, contrary to the myth that a girl will take her mother's beauty.

There is no doubt that these changes are solely caused by pregnancy hormones. During pregnancy, some people develop skin pigmentation or acne, while others have thicker hair and a "pregnancy glow."

4. You're not moody

Is it true that having a boy will prevent a pregnant woman from experiencing mood swings? Unfortunately, this is not true. Your baby's biological sex will not affect your mood swings. It's very common for pregnant women to experience mood swings.

5. Heart rate

Heart rate is one of the most common myths about gender. Under 140 beats per minute, the baby is expected to be a boy. If it's higher than 140, it's a girl.

While this one sounds more scientific, there's no hard evidence to support it. According to a study published in Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, there's no meaningful difference between the heart rates of boys and girls during early pregnancy.

The chances of these myths being true are almost 50%, so it's no wonder people believe them so much. The most common way to determine a baby's sex is to do an ultrasound, and most low-risk pregnancies determine the baby's sex between the 18th and 22nd weeks. In addition to being accurate, it is completely safe for the baby.

Although it's normal to want to know your baby's sex, being a healthy parent and having a healthy baby are the things that truly matter to you. Stay active, drink plenty of fluids, keep a healthy diet during pregnancy, and when your baby arrives, you will realize that sex isn't important after all!