People are always looking for patterns to connect pregnancy symptoms with baby’s gender. And while many such connections are just myth based, there’s hard data to show that the latest pattern to emerge is totally grounded in reality: The more weight you gain during pregnancy, the more likely you are to deliver a boy.
This news comes from a study published in PLOS One, which analyzed data from nearly 70 million births over a close to a quarter century. It determined that increased pregnancy weight correlated with male babies.
When moms-to-be gained about 20 pounds, they delivered about 49 percent male babies—so under half. But when pregnant women gained 40 pounds, they delivered boys about 52.5 percent of the time. And when they gained 60 pounds, they delivered boys a notable 54 percent of the time. (Above 60 pounds, the connection went away.)
Why is this the case? Well, it’s not completely known. But Kristen J. Navara, the doctor who analyzed the data, wrote, “It is possible that this relationship results from the fact that male embryos and fetuses have higher metabolic rates, and likely need more caloric energy to develop successfully.”
Given that I delivered a boy and girl at the same time following my twin pregnancy, I’m never a great test of these theories. But I’d love to know if this jives with your experience—let me know in the comments!
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Boy or Girl: How Genetics Determine Your Baby’s Gender
Alesandra Dubin is a new twin mom, as well as a Los Angeles-based writer and the founder of home and travel blog Homebody in Motion. Follow her on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.
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