ON THE HEAD
Skull theory: How accurate is it and can it tell if you are having a boy or a girl?
WHEN finding out you're expecting a baby, you may want to also know whether you're having a girl or a boy.
There are several methods out there, with some more scientific than others. One method is the skull theory - here's everything you need to know.
1
What is the skull theory and how accurate is it?
According to , Skull Theory is a test that can be carried out after you've had your 12-week scan. This will then determine the sex of your baby
The site states that many parents swear by skull theory but that there is no scientific evidence to back it up.
The theory is that you can tell your baby's sex from the shape of their skull from the black and white scans you're given at the hospital or clinic.
If you want to test the theory out yourself all you need is
- your 12-week scan picture
- a magnifying glass
- the below information on skull shape and size
According to Netmums, parents-to-be have had various results on the accuracy of the test.
However, they noted that one tip they had was that a boy's forehead slopes and a girl's head is more rounded.
But is there really any truth to the test?
Experts state that overall there isn't.
Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist told The Sun that there was "no meaningful scientific evidence of it being meaningfully accurate".
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The skull theory is not something recommended by midwives or the NHS, as they say you can only rely on the second ultra-sound.
So, as accurate as some may say it is, skull theory is nothing more than a bit of fun, similar to one of the many old wives' tales.
Of course, provided you know that – and won't be too disappointed if it's wrong – there's no harm in giving it a go.
What other signs are there of having a girl or boy?
Severe morning sickness
If you're experiencing bad morning sickness, it's believed you could be carrying a girl.
However, there is little research to state this is true.
A study conducted in 2017 found women carrying girls experienced more inflammation with their immune systems when exposed to bacteria, compared to those who were pregnant with boys.
This could mean they feel worse when carrying girls.
However, more research is needed to establish this as a concrete fact as not everyone will experience this.
But way more research is needed to be able to come to any concrete solution.
Placement of the baby
It's often been stated that where the baby sits in your body as an indicator of their gender.
If your carrying a baby high then it's often rumoured to be a sign of having a girl.
However, experts state that baby placement is down to a woman's body type, weight gain, fitness level and muscular strength and does not determine the baby's sex.
Stress levels
A study conducted in 2012 found there may be a link between a mum-to-be's stress level and the sex of her baby.
Women with higher stress levels were found to have more girls than boys.
A study released in 2013 also found that following an earthquake at Zakynthos the male birth rate dipped.
This suggested that the increase in stress affected the ratio between the two sexes.
However, the most accurate way of finding out your baby's gender is the 20-week anomaly scan - but that also isn't 100 per cent accurate.
High or low bump
One way to find out the biological sex of your baby is to take a look at where your bump is positioned.
A spread-out bump that sits high is supposed to indicate that you are carrying a girl, and a lower, more compact bump is said to show you are having a boy.
While many people will give you their girl/boy predictions on this one, there is no scientific basis for it.
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