How to Tell if a Baby Is a Boy or Girl by the Heartbeat

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Figuring out if your baby is male or female is something that many soon-to-be parents are curious about, and there are plenty of rumored ways to go about doing so. You’ve probably already heard about some of these signs of having a boy or a girl, even if these stories can get a little confusing. We’ll walk you through some of these "old wives' tales" starting with one of the most famous: using your baby’s heartbeat to figure out its sex.

Section 1 of 3:

Can you tell if a baby is male or female by their heartbeat?

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-1.jpg\/aid12940883-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It’s popularly believed that in the womb, boys have a heart rate of 120-140 beats per minute, and girls have a heart rate of 140-160 beats per minute. In reality, a fetus’ heart rate ranges anywhere from 120-160 beats per minute and changes depending on what they’re doing. A baby’s heartbeat slows down when they’re asleep, and gets faster while they’re awake. [1]
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/aid12940883-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    A study of a group of first-trimester babies calculated that the baby boys had an average heart rate of 154.9 beats per minute, and girls had an average heart rate of 151.7 bpm. But since both boys’ and girls’ heart rates could be anywhere within around 23 bpm of that rate, it’s impossible to determine the baby’s sex from only knowing their heart rate. [2]
    • To find out your baby’s heart rate, you can ask your doctor at your next check-up. Measuring your infant’s heart rate is generally one of the first things done at an appointment.
    3. Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:

Old Wives' Tales to Predict the Sex of Your Baby

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-2.jpg\/aid12940883-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    But others insist it means you’re having a girl. This story in particular gets told both ways, and in truth, feeling nauseous or vomiting during pregnancy is normal no matter the sex of your baby. [3]
    • Some studies link hyperemesis gravidarum, or severe vomiting and nausea during pregnancy, with having a girl. Hyperemesis gravidarum goes beyond normal nausea and vomiting, and if you find yourself unable to stand up without feeling faint or dizzy, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-3.jpg\/aid12940883-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    While there’s no evidence that the kinds of cravings you have can predict the sex of your baby, there are some studies that show pregnant moms tend to eat more when they have boys instead of girls. [4]
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0b\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0b\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-4.jpg\/aid12940883-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The story also says that if the weight of the baby is more spread out throughout the abdomen, it means it’s a girl. In reality, the size and shape of the baby bump has more to do with the position of the fetus inside the womb, which doesn’t have any link to sex. [5]
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-5.jpg\/aid12940883-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is a very old method for figuring out if you’re having a boy or a girl. Tie a piece of string to a normal jewelry ring. Then, lay down, and hold the string over your belly so that the ring is a couple of inches away from your stomach. If it moves side-to-side, it means you’re having a girl, and if it moves in a circle, it means it’s a boy. [6]
    • Unsurprisingly, there’s no scientific evidence for this method, but it can be fun. The movement of the ring has to do with the subtle motion of your hand, not the baby’s sex.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2b\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2b\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-6.jpg\/aid12940883-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Although some mothers have a strong intuition about the sex of her baby, studies have shown that these guesses aren’t statistically significant enough to be more right than flipping a coin. [7]
    6. Advertisement
Section 3 of 3:

How to Determine the Sex of Your Baby

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/aid12940883-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Some feelings of anxiety are also typical for expecting mothers and fathers, especially if you’d really hoping for the baby to be a certain gender. Keep in mind, however, that even though many parents are disappointed when their baby isn’t the sex they’d hoped for, over time these feelings will go away as you enjoy the special individual that your child is. [8]
    • If anxiety over your baby’s sex, or disappointment once you find out what your baby’s sex is, turns into something that affects your mental health, talk to a counselor. They can help you work through your feelings so that you can return to feeling excited about parenthood.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-7.jpg\/aid12940883-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    With advances in medical technology, the scans provided during an ultrasound are even more detailed than before, meaning that a doctor or technician can determine the sex of a baby with a very high degree of accuracy. A professional should be able to determine your baby’s sex anytime after the 18th-22nd week of pregnancy. [9]
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1f\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1f\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-8.jpg\/aid12940883-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    NIPTs (Non-invasive prenatal testing) involve nothing more than a simple blood test, and are usually used to determine if a baby is at risk for serious genetic diseases. This kind of testing has a high degree of accuracy for determining sex, especially as the pregnancy progresses. [10]
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-9.jpg\/aid12940883-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Baby-Is-a-Boy-or-Girl-by-the-Heartbeat-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    CVS testing (Chorionic Villus Sampling) is normally only performed for mothers who have a higher risk of having a child with serious health conditions at birth, such as Down syndrome or cystic fibrosis. While CVS testing is not painful, it does involve some discomfort, as a plastic tube is inserted into the cervix through the vagina. [11]
    5. Advertisement

How Can You Tell If Your Baby Is a Boy Or a Girl?


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to Take a Mankind Unwanted Kit
      How to
      Tell if You're Pregnant with a Girl or Boy
      How to
      Tell if Your Baby Bump Is a Boy or Girl
      How to
      Read an Ultrasound Picture
      Which Tarot Cards Represent Pregnancy?
      How to
      Massage Your Pregnant Wife
      How to
      Make Your Water Break
      15 Ways to Tell If You’re Pregnant Before Taking a Test
      How to Interpret Fetal Heart Rate & Contractions on an Electronic Monitor
      How to
      Measure Fundal Height
      How to
      Turn a Breech Baby
      How to
      Tell if Someone is Pregnant
      How to
      Know if Your Girlfriend Is Pregnant
      How to
      Use a Home Pregnancy Test
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6664344/
      2. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16354993/
      3. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33098451/
      4. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC161555/
      5. ↑ https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=0_qtd1io6q
      6. ↑ https://utswmed.org/medblog/gender-prediction/
      7. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6664344/
      8. ↑ https://www.cope.org.au/expecting-a-baby/staying-well/disappointment-about-the-sex-of-your-baby/
      9. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3530251/
      1. ↑ https://www.fhi.no/en/publ/2016/ikke-invasiv-prenatal-testing-nipt-for-kjonnsbestemmelse-av-foster.-metodev/
      2. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4028-chorionic-villus-sampling-for-prenatal-diagnosis

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 351,315 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement