B or G? Wait and See!
I thought it might be kind of fun, in this little break between weeks 20-24, to read through a few "gender-predicting" old wives' tales. I know they're not worth too much, but a girl can wonder can't she? Will you guess along with me?!
There are DOZENS of lists online, but I pulled this particular one because I liked the questions the best. I'm of course not superstitious, but those "old wives" have been right before, so let's check it out!
There are DOZENS of lists online, but I pulled this particular one because I liked the questions the best. I'm of course not superstitious, but those "old wives" have been right before, so let's check it out!
Old Wives’ Tale #1 – Linea Nigra
Latin for ‘black line’, a linea nigra may appear on your belly during pregnancy. This is a purple/brownish line which extends down the middle of your belly to your pubic area, about 1cm in width. It’s known that hormones cause the linea nigra pigmentation, but it’s not known why it forms in the vertical line that it does.
The old wives tale is this – if you get a lÃnea nigra and it runs from your pubic area to your belly button only, it’s a girl, and if it goes all the way up from your pubic area to the bottom-most part of you rib cage, then it’s a boy.
Survey says: Could be too early to tell, but right now this tale points to GIRL.
Old Wives’ Tale #2 – Carrying High or Low?
This is a well known old wives tale – so many people will want to look at your belly and think they can guess just from looking! So as the tale goes, if you are carrying low, it’s a boy, or if you’re carrying high it’s a girl.
Survey says: People have told me that I look like I'm carrying low (to me, it just looks like I'm carrying everywhere)! So for now, we will go with BOY.Old Wives’ Tale #3 – The Draino Thingo
There is an old wives tale that involves mixing your urine with Draino resulting in the Draino changing colour. Not only is this false, but Draino is dangerous and very bad for the environment, so we don’t recommend this one.
Survey says: Gross. Next.
Old Wives’ Tale #4 – Is Your Skin Dry or Soft?
If your skin is dry, you’re said to be having a boy – and if it’s soft, then a girl is on the way.
Survey Says: BOY.
Old Wives’ Tale #5 – What’s Baby’s Heart rate?
They say that if you’re carrying a girl, your baby’s heart rate will be above 140bpm (beats per minute). A boy is said to have a heart rate under 140bpm.
Survey Says: GIRL.
Old Wives’ Tale #6 – Your Flowing Locks
Has your hair become thinner and dull? Or full-bodied and glossy? Thin and dull says you’re having a girl, gorgeous and glossy says a boy.
Survey Says: GIRL.
Old Wives’ Tale #7 – Where Are You Carrying Extra Weight?
Even those extra pregnancy pounds are said to provide an insight into your baby’s gender! If you are carrying extra weight at the front, then you’re having a boy… but if you are carrying extra weight on your bum and hips, then you have been carrying a girl. What about dad-to-be? If he’s gaining weight with you, apparently you’re having a girl. If he’s put on no weight, a boy for you!
Survey Says: Haha umm, probably a bit of both. But if I had to pick, I would say GIRL. As for T, BOY. How's that for confusing?!
Old Wives’ Tale #8 – Numbers…
If you combine your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived and the resulting number is odd – then it’s a girl on the way. If the resulting number is even, then it’s a boy for you.
Survey Says: GIRL.
Old Wives’ Tale #9 – Sweet, Salty or Sour?
Another well known old wives tale! Are you craving sweet foods like juice, fruits and chocolate? if so, old wives say that you could be having a girl. But if you’re craving sour or salty foods, then you could be having a boy. It’s also said that if you are having a boy, you will crave protein like meat and dairy.
Survey Says: Again, both, but if I had to choose I would say BOY.
Old Wives’ Tale #10 – Wedding Ring Test (AKA Needle Or Pin Test)
Get your wedding ring (or other ring / a needle / a pin) and attach it with a strand of your hair or some string. Lie down and dangle the ring over your belly. If it starts moving in circles, you are having a boy, or if it moves like a pendulum from side to side, then you are having a girl.
Survey Says: BOY.
Old Wives’ Tale #11 – Got Morning Sickness?
Did you experience morning sickness in early pregnancy? If you did, then you’re said to be carrying a girl, but if you didn’t have morning sickness, then it’s a boy.
Survey Says: No puking, but I will still say GIRL.
Old Wives’ Tale #12 – How About Those Cold Feet?
If your feet get colder than they used to pre-pregnancy, it’s a sign you have a boy on the way. If your feet are the same, then it’s a girl!
Survey Says: GIRL.
Old Wives’ Tale #13 – How Do You Look?
Do you look better than ever while pregnant? Or has the pregnancy done your looks no favours? As it goes, if you look great during pregnancy, then you are carrying a boy. If you don’t look too flashy, you’re having a girl, because she’s stolen all your good looks!
Survey Says: Haha well this is my opinion, but I'm going to say GIRL.
Old Wives’ Tale #14 – The Breast Test!
If you look in the mirror at your breasts, which one is larger? If it’s the right one, you’re carrying a boy and for a larger left breast, then it’s a girl.
Survey Says: Totally undecided.
Old Wives’ Tale #15 – North or South?
When you sleep, is your pillow north or south? If it’s north, then expect a boy, or south means a girl is on the way.
Survey Says: This questions is extremely confusing, but I think GIRL.
Old Wives’ Tale #16 – Pimples, Schmiples…
If you get acne during pregnancy, apparently you’re having a girl, and if you don’t, then you’re carrying a boy.
Survey Says: GIRL.
Old Wives’ Tale #17 – Are You A Lefty or a Righty?
When you sleep, do you sleep on your left? Because if you do, then it’s a boy for you! On your right, a girl is in sight.
Survey Says: BOY.
Old Wives’ Tale #18 – Check Out Your Wee!
If you have bright yellow urine, then you’re carrying a boy, but if it’s dull / clear, then you’re carrying a girl.
Survey Says: My apologies (kinda gross!!!) but GIRL. I also just drink a ton of water?
Old Wives’ Tale #19 -What Does Your Belly Look Like?
A basketball or a watermelon? Because if it looks more like a basketball, then old wives say boy, but if it more resembles a watermelon then it’s a girl.
Survey Says: If I had to make the call, I'd say BOY.
Old Wives’ Tale #20 – Hairy Legs?
Has the hair on your legs grown faster than normal? Or has it grown just like normal? Because if it’s growing faster than it did pre-pregnancy, then you’re said to be having a boy. If not, girl.
Survey Says: GIRL.
Let's total it all up, shall we?!
GIRL= 12/20
BOY= 7/20
Could a mother's intuition actually be right?! Or is all of this malarkey just confusing me more?!?! Any guesses?!?!?!?!?
Thanks for humoring me!
Don't have time to go through all these, but I just wanted to say, my first was a girl and I carried her so high she was practically kicking my heart, and my belly was oround like a beach ball. I had awful morning sickness, no linea nigra, and her heart rate was always in the 150s. When I was in labor a very kind nurse told me she does the gender prediction thing with her Miraculous Medal. She did it, and told my mom her result because she didn't want to tell me. She was right, so that was kind of cool.
ReplyDeleteI haven't paid a whole lot of attention to gender things with my other kids, but I do know this: I am often fooled by my intuition being covered by my desires. I *want* one gender or the other, so I am convinced it is that gender. Usually in the last few weeks intuition wins out and I've been right 4 out of 5. Even with my twins, I knew which one was the boy and which was the girl from pretty early on, and was correct.
Bottom line is you just can't predict, intuition might come the closest, and there is NOTHING that compares with the amazing surprise when Baby is born. It's the best and that's why I've never found out gender.
This is such great insight, thank you for sharing!! How cool that a nurse used a Miraculous Medal for the gender predictor...gosh, I would've loved that. I have also heard that you "want" what you tend to predict, and maybe that is true on some level! Though I would also be THRILLED with a boy, and actually always thought that I "wanted' a boy first! Funny how we play games with ourselves ;) How amazing that you have 5 little ones...God bless you and your family!
DeleteWow, I didn't realize there were so many of these different tales/predictors!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it crazy?! My own mom read this list and said "oh, there's way more than that!" HUH?!?!
Delete