ANY parent-to-be will know that when you're expecting a baby, you toy with finding out whether you're having a girl or a boy.
But did you know there's a theory that says mum's and dad's can accurately guess their unborn child's sex before they have their 20-week scan?
According to Netmums, there's a simple test that can be carried out and all you need is your baby's 12-week scan.
And many have sung the praises of the supposed fool-proof method, with different sources claiming they found it be around 92% effective. But others remain skeptical.
Dubbed the "skull theory", it's the idea that you can tell your baby's sex from the shape of their skull in the black and white picture you're handed at the hospital or clinic.
To test it out for yourself, all you need is:
- your 12-week scan picture
- a magnifying glass
- the below information on skull shape and size
What is skull theory?
Skull theory is essentially looking at which shapes tend to belong to boys and girls:
Skull theory for boys
- male foreheads are lower and more sloping
- the top of the head is more blocky and big
- jawbone is squared
- cheekbones are more pronounced
Skull theory for girls
- the top of the head is rounder and tapers at the top
- cheekbones are less pronounced
- jawbone is more rounded
- forehead is higher and less sloping
According to Netmums, their members have found the method to be very accurate, reporting that boys do tend to have bigger heads and that their little girls really did have round heads in their scan pictures.
But is there really any truth to the test?
Not according to many experts.
Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Shazia Malik told The Sun that there was "no meaningful scientific evidence of it being meaningfully accurate".
While skull theory this is not something recommended by midwives or the NHS, as they say you can only rely on the second ultra-sound.
What other signs are there of having a girl or boy?
1. Severe morning sickness
If a woman is experiencing bad morning sickness, it's often thought to be a sign of carrying girls.
However, there is very little research to back this up.
A 2017 study found that women carrying girls experienced more inflammation when their immune systems were exposed to bacteria compared to those carrying boys, which may in turn induce them to feel worse when carrying girls.
But way more research is needed to be able to come to any concrete solution.
2. Placement of the baby
Many people believe that you can tell the gender of a baby by where it sits in your body.
Carrying a baby high is often reported to be a sign of having a girl.
However, experts say that baby placement is actually down to a woman's body type, weight gain, fitness level and muscular strength.
3. Stress levels
A 2012 study found that there may be a link between a mum-to-be's stress levels and the sex of her baby.
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Women with higher stress levels were found to have more girls in comparison to boys.
A study released the following year also unearthed that following an earthquake on the Greek island of Zakynthos, the male birth rate dipped – suggesting that an increase of stress affected the sex ratio.
But, as we know, the only genuinely accurate way of finding out the sex of your baby is to wait for your 20-week anomaly scan – and even that isn't 100 per cent guaranteed.
How to predict your baby’s gender at home
-Use skull theory, which claims you can tell whether you’re having a girl or a boy from the shape of their head
-Try a traditional Chinese gender predictor chart
-Do the ring gender test
-Give the baking soda gender test a go
-Learn more about nub theory which lets you predict your baby’s gender from their 12 week scan
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