20 Old Wives Tales Put to the Test

Are baby gender predictors and the old wives tales true?

As some of you may already know, I am expecting my second child this coming September.  I am currently 16 weeks along and absolutely dying to know if we are having a little boy or a little girl.  There is a *possibility* that I will know pretty soon, but only if baby decides to cooperate.  If not, I won’t know until the beginning of May.

For some reason, I feel as if I am much more anxious to know this time than I was the first time around.  Maybe it’s because I ran into complications last time during the third trimester that landed me in and out of the hospital, as well as on bedrest, for the final month of my pregnancy.  On top of that, we had to deal with a huge furniture fiasco, and the nursery furniture that we ordered in November didn’t actually arrive until after my daughter was born in February.  

So, this time around, I am anxious to get things done as early as possible.  In the meantime, though, I thought it would be fun to see what all of the old wives tales have to say.

1. Nausea/Morning Sickness

Old wives tale: Yes = Girl, No = Boy

This is a tricky one for me.  For about 5 weeks during first trimester, my stomach was unsettled pretty much every day.  I never actually threw up though and only had a handful of days where I felt like I may.  For the most part, my stomach was just “off,” but it wasn’t bad enough to affect my daily schedule or even my normal eating habits.  So, I’m not sure how to classify this.  This is pretty much exactly what happened during my first pregnancy though, and everyone assumed I was having a boy since I was not hunched over the toilet every day.  So, I’m going to call this no morning sickness.

Result = Boy

2. Heart Rate

Old wives tale: Above 140 = Girl, Below 140 = Boy

The lowest this baby’s heart rate has been is 146.

Result = Girl

3. Cravings

Old wives tale: Sweet = Girl, Sour = Boy

I’ve definitely been craving sweets, but I have a pretty fierce sweet tooth as it is.  So, really, this is nothing new.  I will say, however, that I have also been buying pickles to eat.  (Could it get any more stereotypical?)  I’ve always liked pickles, but I rarely buy them.  

I’m going to go with the sweets on this one, because they far outweigh the pickles.

Result = Girl

4. Skin

Old wives tale: Broken Out = Girl, Clear = Boy

I have definitely been breaking out, although it’s not nearly as bad as it was with my daughter.  My skin was absolutely horrible while pregnant with her.

Result = Girl

5. Hair

Old wives tale: Dull and Stringy = Girl, Thick and Shiny = Boy

This is another tough one.  I have curly hair that is very unpredictable.  One day, my hair will be full and lush and curly, and the next, it will be limp and flat.  

Result = Inconclusive

6. How are you carrying?

Old wives tale: High = Girl, Low = Boy

I’m honestly not really showing much yet.  I didn’t show until pretty late with my first, as well.  If I had to choose though, I would say maybe a bit high?

Result = Girl

7. Chinese Birth Chart

This method uses your age at conception + the month you did the deed.

Result = Boy

8. Mayan Gender Chart

This is similar to the Chinese chart.  It uses your age at conception and the year of conception.

Result = Girl

9. Leg swelling

Old wives tale: Early leg swelling = Girl, No swelling = Boy

I haven’t had any swelling so far.

Result = Boy

10. Headaches

Old wives tale: No (or few) headaches = Girl, Frequent headaches = Boy

I’ve only had two headaches so far this pregnancy.

Result = Girl

11. More about cravings

Old wives tale: Fruit = Girl, Meat = Boy

I love fruit to begin with, but I do think I have been craving it a bit more than normal.  Definitely no meat cravings.

Result = Girl

12. Energy levels

Old wives tale: Low energy = Girl, High energy = Boy

I have definitely had low energy.  Even though I’m past the terrible first trimester fatigue, I still am no where near normal energy levels.

Result = Girl

13. Baking soda test

This test involves peeing on a little baking soda in a cup.  If it fizzes, it means you’re having a boy.  If it is flat, you’ll have a girl.

I tried this, and it didn’t fizz at all.

Result = Girl

14. Sibling predicion

Apparently, if a sibling is rather insistent on the sex of the baby, they are generally right.  My daughter (2 years old) goes back and forth between baby sister and baby brother.  She also sometimes says that she’s getting a baby brother and a baby sister, which is most certainly not true.

Result = Inconclusive

15. Breast size 

Old wives tale: Getting larger quickly = Girl, Slow (or no) growth = Boy

I have started wearing my older, more stretched out bras, lately, but I wouldn’t say I’ve had a significant change.

Result = Boy

16. Husband gaining weight

Old wives tale: Yes = Girl, No = Boy

I haven’t noticed a difference in my husband.  He’s constantly joking, though, about how he’s the one gaining weight and having cravings.

Result = Girl

17. Moody or mellow?

Old wives tale: Moody = Girl, Mellow = Boy

As much as I hate to admit this, I’ve definitely been moody.  I believe it has gotten better since I have hit second trimester, but I do find myself often irritable and just plain moody.

Result = Girl

18. Graceful or clumsy?

Old wives tale: Graceful = Girl, Clumsy = Boy

I haven’t fallen or anything that dramatic (yet), but I do feel as if I have been more clumsy than normal.

Result = Boy

19. Dry skin

Old wives tale: Soft skin = Girl, Dry skin = Boy

My skin is definitely dry and crazy itchy.  I even have patches on my back that are borderline eczema-like.

Result = Boy

20. Gut feeling

Supposedly, a mother’s intuition is often correct.  Unfortunately, I don’t really have a strong feeling one way or the other.

Result = Inconclusive

Final Tally

Drumroll please……

Girl – 11

Boy – 6

Inconclusive – 3

These (very unscientific) results are obviously in favor of a girl.  And I will say, this pregnancy has been incredibly similar to my first pregnancy, which resulted in a girl.

I can’t wait to find out!  And I will, of course, let you all know how accurate these little predictions were.  

How about you?  Were the old wives tales true for you, or not?

 

Update:  We welcomed a little boy into our family this time around!  So, the old wives tales were not accurate for us this time.  They are still fun, though!

 

**If you are expecting be sure to check out my posts 5 Must-Haves for Your New Baby, Little Girl Room Reveal, and Gender Neutral Little Boy Nursery.

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