Old Wives’ Tales & The “Art” of Gender Prediction
Originally, today’s post was to be some book reviews of the pregnancy books I read early on. But yesterday, I got into a conversation with these lovely ladies about finding out the baby’s gender and old wives’ tales, and now I just can’t stop thinking about this topic! I started feeling some small baby movements for the first time over the weekend (which was SO. FREAKING. COOL! and EXCITING!), and I am just so excited to know who this little person inside of me is.
We had no plans for this past Sunday, so I decided to look up and test out some of those old wives’ tales for determining baby’s gender! It was a fun little experiment, even though I KNOW that the results don’t really mean anything. (Do they? DO THEY?! Hehe.)
Here were the wives’ tales I tested, and their accompanying results.
Chinese Gender Prediction Chart: GIRL
The Chinese Gender Prediction Chart is apparently over 700 years old and predicts the gender of the child based on the mother’s Chinese lunar age and the lunar month of conception. So you can’t just look at the ol’ chart and figure it out…first you’ve got to know your Chinese age and the lunar month. I found the easiest way to figure this out was to use the handy dandy Babycenter calculator, although there are numerous websites you can go to to learn more.
Carrying: GIRL
I think I am carrying high? Honestly, I have no freakin’ idea how I am carrying. Apparently if you carry high it’s a girl and if you carry low it’s a boy. Given that my bump is still rounding out at the bottom, I figured I was carrying high and chalked this one up to girl.
Ring Test: GIRL
Photo by Sarah Immel Photography
The ring test involves hanging your wedding ring on a string. Then, you lay flat, and have someone dangle the ring over your belly. If it swings back & forth in a straight line, you are having a girl. If it swings in a circle, you are having a boy.
Heart-rate: GIRL
Anything over 140 is considered a girl, anything under 140, boy. This really varies though, so I don’t put much stock in it. At my last appointment, the doctor listened to the heartbeat but didn’t tell me the rate, so I had to go with what I saw at my first ultrasound…164 bpm.
Morning sickness: BOY
I didn’t really have any. Girls are supposed to make you super sick.
Complexion/Hair/Nails: BOY
My complexion is good and my hair & nails are even better than they were pre-pregnancy. (Seriously. My nails grow so fast! I love it!) Apparently, girls are supposed to suck the beauty out of you, so if your hair/skin/nails get worse, it means you’re having a girl.
Baking Soda Test: GIRL
This was a weird one and I almost didn’t do it, but I thought, what the hell. You put a little baking soda in a disposable cup, and then you, uh, pee in said cup. If it fizzes, you’re having a boy, if it doesn’t fizz, girl. No fizz here!
Penny Test: BOY
I only heard about this one from Jessica yesterday. So, you take a penny, and spit on it…give it a lot of spit. Then you press it up to the wall and hold for 30 seconds. If the penny sticks, you’re having a girl…if it doesn’t hold, boy!
I also thought I would include what WE think:
Mom’s Prediction: BOY
Dad’s Prediction: GIRL
If you’re keeping track, that’s 6-4 in favor of a little girl!
So, now it’s your turn to share. I’m dying to know: if you’ve been pregnant before and have tried some of these tests, were they accurate?
Eek! I’m excited to find out the gender FOR REAL!
I was told to hold a baby girl. If the baby girl you are holding in your arms screams you are having a girl. If it doesnt scream its a boy.
Haha that is a random one! I’ve never heard that! I held my best friend’s baby a few weeks ago and she definitely did not scream. So, chalk another one up to boy!
I’ve never heard of some of these — but I remember the heart rate one ringing true for L, as well as the morning sickness one (so, so sick!) and the complexion one (it was like I was pre-pubescent). Can’t wait to find out what yoou’re having (that is, if you’re telling people)!
I think it’s a boy….why? selfishly would like to have a grandson but either way it’s going to be a good time. Between you two a female cat and Mon isn’t it time for a boy?
I broke out like crazy and was generally pale. I had the worst morning sickness, had it until I was around 6 months. However, I had a boy! The chinese prediction chart said I shoulda had a girl as well. They were so wrong!!
So interesting! I really don’t put much stock into them but it is so funny to see the results and how they are different for everyone!
I have no idea, but I’m just excited to find out what you’re having!!!
I think its a boy! I like to root for the other side!
I totally agree about girls sucking the beauty from you. With my daughter I gained a lot of weight in my face and with my boy I only gained weight in my belly.
One of the predictors that worked with me and my friend is how fast your leg hair grows. If it grows slower than it did per-pregnancy, it’s a girl. If it’s the same or faster, it’s a boy.
Hahaha I carried high, baby’s heart rate was higher than 140 and my skin was horrendous — and I had a boy. So much for old wives tales!
I’m going to guess you’re having a girl!
I fall about 50-50 when I do the “old wives tales”, so I’m really curious to find out what our kiddo is.
The Chinese calendar was right on the money for me. Niece didn’t cry when I held her, no morning sickness. My bff told me my butt was getting wide and it’s a girl.
I felt it in my heart though too.
I did a lot of these tests as well with both kids; the chinese calendar, the ring test, and the way I was carrying were accurate but not the heart rate or the morning sickness. I don’t remember if I’ve seen that you posted it but are you going to find out the sex?
Yes, we are definitely finding out the sex. Hence this post! I am scheduling my anatomy scan today.
Chinese gender was right for me for both kids. Heart rate was exactly flipped though… my sweetie Morgan was always down in the 140/150s, and my Mr. Samuel was way up in the 170/180s always. I heard that if you carry high it’s a boy and low it’s a girl, and that was also true for me. I think, from your pictures, that you are carrying low, so that is why I predicted girl for you. I love guessing. I typically am horrible, but I will have you know that I have been correct for my last three pregnant friend guesses… so chalk one more up for GIRL.
LOL, can’t wait to hear the news!!!!
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