A recent survey of 2,000 parents—comprising 250 currently pregnant and 250 planning to conceive—unveils various myths surrounding pregnancy. For instance, many believe that heartburn indicates a baby will be born with lots of hair (29%) or that consuming spicy foods can trigger labor (21%).
Additionally, the survey uncovered quirky beliefs such as spotting specific animals can predict a baby’s gender and that heavy rock music might negatively affect fetal development.
One participant noted, “If you dream of a fish, someone in our family is pregnant,” while another claimed, “Breaking a mirror will curse my baby with bad skin.”
Some other curious findings included: pregnant women should avoid looking at roadkill, thunderstorms may induce labor, and babies delivered on their sides are destined to be geniuses.
Interestingly, while many of these claims can’t really be substantiated until after the baby arrives, one thing parents can confirm beforehand is the gender of their child. There’s a notion that expecting a girl might lead to “everything being easier, and you looking quite beautiful.”
The survey, carried out by Talker Research for Sneakpeek—a gender detection test for early pregnancy—revealed that 69% of parents would opt to know their baby’s gender before birth. Even 64% attempted to guess the gender ahead of time, with fathers scoring higher in accuracy compared to mothers (70% vs. 63%).
Of the respondents expressing a preference for gender (43%), a majority (59%) favored boys over girls, possibly because 26% believed raising a girl is tougher nowadays.
Interestingly, 16% were mindful of the moon’s phases during conception, showcasing yet another layer of belief during this period.
When it comes to guessing the baby’s gender, 38% felt they could intuitively sense it, while 31% relied on common “symptoms.” However, these supposed indicators seem to lack substance. For example, the idea that craving sweets is linked to having a girl was challenged as mothers of boys reported similar cravings (29% vs. 28%).
Moreover, while many think serious morning sickness means a girl is on the way, it turned out that a quarter of mothers experienced typical morning sickness regardless of the baby’s gender. Some even believed that mothers of girls would have clearer skin, but the difference was marginal (18% vs. 17%).
Compounding on these myths, 14% of mothers with boys felt they were carrying lower, a belief usually tied to expecting a boy, but only slightly more than the 12% of girls’ mothers.
Despite the common belief that a heart rate above 140 bpm predicts a girl, only 10% of girls had such a heart rate.
Melissa Gonzales, president of women’s health at Myriad Genetics, stated, “Pregnancy is filled with uncertainties, and it’s only natural to seek answers. That’s why 76% of parents wanting to learn their baby’s gender do so by 20 weeks. It’s a source of joy and helps alleviate some anxiety.”
Many parents, over half, found it essential to know the baby’s gender early to choose names (53%) and buy clothes or toys (51%). For others, the motivation was more personal: approximately 32% wanted to share the news with family, 22% aimed to feel more connected to their child, and 21% just wanted to heighten the excitement.
Who do parents typically share the news with first? Nearly two-thirds (65%) will inform the grandparents, leaving friends (11%) and siblings (9%) trailing behind. Despite varied preferences, 22% chose to host public gender-reveal parties, while 17% favored intimate gatherings. Generally, parents deemed these parties more enjoyable than traditional ones (47% against 31%).
“More than most pregnant women take steps to feel informed and empowered,” mentioned Dr. Dallas Reed, an Obgyn at Tufts and a Sneakpeek medical advisor. “Still, just 4% utilized blood or DNA tests for home gender verification. Today’s technology allows gender determination as early as six weeks, a remarkable experience that can foster bonding.”
Research Methodology:
This survey was conducted online by Talker Research, focusing on 2,000 parents, including 250 currently pregnant and 250 looking to conceive, from July 29 to August 6, 2025, on behalf of Sneakpeek’s Early Gender Testing.
