From baking soda tests to ultrasound 'nub' predictions, there is no shortage of old wives tales available for women to turn to early on in hopes they can predict the gender of their baby. For many, it's more of a silly guessing game to pass the time until the gender can be properly determined, and it certainly looks like the world is playing along as they watch Meghan Markle's baby bump grow.

The Duchess of Sussex was recently photographed visiting Royal Variety Charity's residential nursing and care home in Twickenham, her final royal engagement of the year. During her visit - the first without husband Prince Harry by her side - she spoke with one of the residents in the dining room over a cup of tea.

When asked how she was feeling, she replied: "Very good. I'm very pregnant today."

It didn't take long, however, for the internet to become abuzz with chatter about the size - and shape - of her growing belly. Many are taking notice of the fact that Markle, who due to give birth to her first child in Spring 2019, seems to be carrying high. A common old wives tale claims that women who carry higher should expect a girl, while a slightly lower belly indicates that a baby boy is on the way.

Unfortunately, this is a widely-debunked myth. According to experts, there are two main factors that determine how a woman carries - one of them being the size of the baby.

"If the baby is smaller, it is more likely to be lower in the pelvis," said Professor Steve Robson, Vice President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. "So a baby that is larger than average is more likely to be higher, a smaller baby will be lower."

According to Dr. John Thoppil, assistant clinical professor of OB-GYN at Texas A&M University College of Medicine, mom's abdominal muscles can also play a part.

"When a woman carries high, her abdominal muscles are often in good shape, while lax muscles from age, previous pregnancies or decreased fitness can cause her to carry low," he said.

Markle's public appearance comes on the heels of her estranged father Thomas's latest TV interview, in which he pleaded for the Queen to become involved in the family's rift.

"I would appreciate anything she could do. I would think she would want to resolve family problems," he said.

NEXT: Meghan Markle's Birth Plan Might Break Royal Tradition