Do you ever wonder how they used to predict a baby’s gender?
Before modern ultrasounds, expectant mothers who came before us had to get creative – very creative.
We’ve all heard the old wives’ tales of if you roll your eyes the wind will change and they’ll get stuck like that but did you know there are loads of them for testing your baby’s gender?
Whether you know the gender of your little one or not, it might be fun to try some of these out just to see how accurate they are.
Carrying high vs low

This theory is pretty well-known, but if this is your first time seeing it, it’s pretty straightforward.
If you carry high you can expect a girl but if it’s low you’ll have a boy. In reality, where your baby bump sits is based on several factors including, the size and position of your uterus and how big your baby is.
The ring test

You may have even heard your own mother talk about this test – and it’s an easy one to try out if you’re feeling curious.
Take a ring, tie it to a piece of string and dangle it over your belly. If it swings in a circular motion you’re having a girl but if it swings side to side, you could be expecting a boy.
The garlic test

This one is just about as strange as it sounds! If you’re able to eat a lot of garlic but not smell like it, apparently that means you’re carrying a girl.
Of course, there’s one science to say this is a foolproof way to predict gender but one thing is sure, it’ll cause bad breath. However, there is a reason you might smell a bit more garlicky if you decide to try this one out.
During pregnancy, your sweat glands become more active, and even the composition of your sweat changes, so your body odour could dramatically increase.
Sweet or salty cravings

Little girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice, as the old saying goes, so it makes sense that sweet cravings indicate a baby girl is on the way.
On the flip side if you’re craving salty or even protein-rich foods it could mean a boy is on the way.
The eye test

No, you don’t have to book in with your local optician for this one, just stand in front of a mirror.
Stare at your eyes in your reflection for roughly a minute and if your pupils dilate, aka change size, you’re having a baby boy apparently.
Heartburn

Though you may suffer from this symptom throughout your pregnancy, it could hide a deeper meaning.
Girls apparently make it worse and more consistent while boys don’t put their mam through as much pain – though again there’s no science to back this up.
Read more:
- What is eldest daughter syndrome and why is TikTok talking about it?
- Shocking law prevents pregnant women from divorcing in Missouri
- Parents warned ahead of major change to school transport system
- ‘The poor Leaving Cert students’ – Brendan Gleeson reacts to Cáca Milis being removed from Leaving Cert