CLAIM:

A pregnant woman’s facial appearance can indicate the sex of her baby. According to the belief discussed in the reel, glowing skin suggests a boy, while dull skin or facial pigmentation suggests a girl. It also implies that common skin changes during pregnancy are linked to the baby’s gender.

FACT:

Available evidence shows that pregnancy-related skin changes, including the so-called “pregnancy glow”, facial pigmentation, stretch marks and darkening of the linea nigra, are caused by normal hormonal, vascular and metabolic changes during pregnancy. There is no scientific evidence that these changes can predict whether a woman is carrying a boy or a girl, and experts say a baby’s sex is determined genetically, not by the mother’s appearance.

Remember the conversations around Kiara Advani’s pregnancy glow or the speculation that Alia Bhatt’s radiant appearance meant she was expecting a girl? From glowing skin to facial pigmentation, old wives’ tales linking a pregnant woman’s appearance to the sex of her baby continue to circulate widely. But can a “pregnancy glow” really reveal whether the baby is a boy or a girl?

In a viral YouTube Shorts posted by Dr Priyanka Deswal, a gynaecologist and content creator with over 7.7 lakh subscribers, she addresses one such common belief. Referring to the many self-appointed experts who claim to predict a baby’s sex just by looking at the mother’s face, she says, “Looking at the face, I can tell if it’s a boy or a girl. If the face is glowing during pregnancy, then it’s a boy. And if the face is dull and has pigmentation, then it’s a girl.”

She jokingly describes such people as “aunties with sonography machines in their eyes” and points out that these claims have no scientific basis. “The baby’s gender depends on genetics, not on the face,” she says. According to her, skin changes during pregnancy – including glowing skin, pigmentation, darkening of the linea nigra and stretch marks – are normal effects of hormonal changes and are a routine part of pregnancy.

She further advises expectant mothers to focus on hydration, pregnancy-safe skincare, stress management and a healthy diet rather than relying on myths. “Stay away from such aunties,” she quips.

The video has sparked conversations online, but does a pregnancy glow really offer clues about a baby’s sex, or are these changes simply a reflection of normal hormonal shifts during pregnancy?

Does a pregnancy glow mean you’re having a boy or a girl?

Available evidence suggests that skin changes during pregnancy are driven by hormonal, vascular, metabolic and immunological factors, and there is no scientific evidence that they can predict the sex of the baby.

A 2012 review published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of India noted that skin changes occur in about 90 per cent of pregnancies. According to the authors, these changes “can be attributed to the profound hormonal, vascular, metabolic, and immunological changes occurring during pregnancy.” The review added that while most pregnancy-related skin conditions are benign and resolve after childbirth, some require medical attention for the well-being of both the mother and the fetus.

Similar conclusions were reached by a 2021 systematic review which analysed 11 studies involving 14,813 pregnant women from four countries. The researchers found that the most common cutaneous manifestations during pregnancy were physiological skin changes, pregnancy-specific dermatoses and flare-ups of pre-existing skin conditions. They concluded that “pregnant women are more vulnerable to various dermatological conditions during pregnancy” and that these changes were “more commonly physiological such as hyperpigmentations.”

More recently, a 2024 review on cutaneous changes during pregnancy explained the mechanisms behind some of these changes. The authors reported that elevated levels of estrogen, progesterone and melanocyte-stimulating hormone increase melanin production, leading to hyperpigmentation, including facial pigmentation and the appearance of the linea nigra. These hormonal changes are a normal part of pregnancy and have no known relationship with the sex of the baby.

As for the much-talked-about “pregnancy glow”, experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine explain that the radiant appearance often associated with pregnancy results from increased blood volume, enhanced blood flow and increased oil production in the skin. In other words, the glow reflects normal physiological changes – not whether the baby is a boy or a girl.

Do experts agree?

Dr Aditi Godse, Senior Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, said there is no scientific basis for the popular belief that a pregnant woman’s appearance can reveal whether she is carrying a boy or a girl.

“‘Pregnancy glow’ is a common term, but it cannot predict the sex of the baby,” she said. “Many people believe that glowing skin means a baby boy and dull skin or increased pigmentation means a baby girl, but these changes are actually caused by normal hormonal shifts during pregnancy.”

According to Dr Godse, increased blood flow, higher hormone levels, fluid retention and changes in oil production can make the skin appear brighter and fuller in some women, while others may experience acne, pigmentation or uneven skin tone. She noted that stretch marks, darkening of the linea nigra and facial pigmentation are all common changes associated with pregnancy and have no connection with the baby’s sex.

Explaining the causes behind these changes, Dr Godse said elevated levels of estrogen, progesterone and melanocyte-stimulating hormone increase melanin production, which can lead to facial pigmentation, commonly known as melasma, and darkening of the linea nigra. “Stretch marks develop because the skin stretches rapidly as the baby grows, and pregnancy hormones can also affect the skin’s elasticity,” she said, adding that genetics, weight gain and skin type influence how these changes appear.

Dr Godse further explained that the so-called “pregnancy glow” varies from woman to woman. “Increased blood flow, higher hormone levels and greater oil production can make the skin look brighter and more radiant during pregnancy. But hormonal changes affect each woman differently, which is why some women develop pigmentation, acne or uneven skin tone instead,” she said.

She added that genetics, existing skin conditions, stress levels and environmental factors also influence how the skin responds during pregnancy. “These differences are completely normal and vary from person to person. Importantly, there is no scientific evidence that glowing skin means a woman is carrying a boy or that pigmentation and acne mean she is carrying a girl. The appearance of a pregnant woman’s skin reflects her body’s hormonal response to pregnancy, not the sex of the baby,” she said.