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Left breast bigger than the right? You’re definitely having a girl.  Picked up a key by the long end? Then it’s a boy.

These are just two of the countless old wives’ tales which claim to predict the sex of your baby.

And although these two particular beliefs will probably stretch credulity a little too far for most of us, a recent report discovered that more than two-thirds of mothers and mothers-to-be do have faith in old wives’ tales.

We take a look at some of the most popular myths surrounding predicting the gender of your baby, and whether there's any truth in them.

The way the ring swings

A wedding ring is suspended on a piece of string over your belly. If the ring swings back and forth you’re expecting a girl. If it swings in a circle then it’s a boy.

Any truth in it?

Hang a ring on a piece of string over anything – your partner, a computer, the family cat – and minute vibrations in your hand are going to cause it to swing. Definitely not a guaranteed way to guarantee the sex of your baby!

Could this be the key?

The way an expectant mum picks up a key can reveal whether she's going to have a son or daughter. If she grabs it by the round end, a girl is on the way; if she picks it up by the long end, it’s going to be a boy; and if she takes it by the middle, it’s twins!

Any truth in it?

Hmm, what do you think?

Bumps-a-Daisy (or a David)

If there was a prize for the most widely believed old wives’ tale, this would win hands down. If you carry all your baby weight out front, so the saying goes, it’s a boy; if you put on extra weight around your hips and bottom and have a wide bump, it’s a girl.

Any truth in it?

Unlikely. The way your bump grows has more to do with your body shape than anything else. If you have a short torso there’s nowhere for the baby to grow but out. If you have a long torso there’s more space in which to accommodate the baby. Also, a wide bump might simply mean your baby is lying sideways!

Sugar, spice and all things nice

Craving sweet things such as cake? You’re having a daughter. Can’t resist meat or cheese? A boy is on the way.

Any truth in it?

Cravings are generally thought to be your body's way of telling you where you might be lacking nutritionally and, as such, are not linked to your baby's sex

Face the facts

If your face becomes rounder in pregnancy then you’re having a girl; if it gets noticeably thinner, then it’s a boy.

Any truth in it?

Where a woman stores fat and water during pregnancy has nothing to do with the sex of her baby. Women naturally put on weight in pregnancy, and for many people weight gain shows up first in their faces, while for others it goes straight to the hips and thighs.

Unfeasibly queasy?

If you're suffering from severe morning sickness you're having a girl.

Any truth in it?

Possibly... a study of pregnant women by scientists at the renowned Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that of the mums suffering from bad morning sickness, 56 per cent gave birth to girls. This might be because women carrying girls produce a higher level of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, which could trigger morning sickness.

The heart of the matter

This very popular theory asserts that a baby is more likely to be a boy if its heart-rate is lower than 140 beats per minute. Anything higher indicates a girl.

Any truth in it?

There's only been one study that has supported this theory: a 1993 investigation at the University of Kentucky correctly predicted the sex of 91 per cent of male babies and 74 per cent of female babies by monitoring the heart rate. However, no study conducted before or since has reached the same conclusion.

More gender predicting theories:

It's a boy if:

• Your nipples have darkened considerably
• The hair on your legs has been growing faster
• Your baby's dad is gaining weight
• Your urine is bright yellow
• You look better than ever
• You get a lot of headaches
• You get an even number when you add your age at the time of conception to the number of the month you conceived in

It's a girl if:

• Your hair gets red highlights
• You crave fruit
• You are moodier than usual
• You don't look as good as you usually do
• You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread
• Your urine is dull yellow in colour
• You get an odd number when you add your age at the time of conception to the number of the month you conceived in

Conclusion

While attempting to predict the sex of your baby using old wives' tales can be fun, hold off going on a pink or blue shopping spree until an ultrasound scan gives you a more reliable answer - or you could just wait until your baby is born.

This article was brought to you in association with Gurgle.com