Old Wive's Tales and Me

Since before we even started trying to have a baby, my husband, Chris, and I decided that we wanted the baby's gender to be a surprise to us.  That, in essence, we would wait until the baby was born.  It has been one of the best decisions for us.  Our focus has only been on this baby being healthy, not on getting ready for a boy or a girl specifically.  During this time, I've discovered what an emphasis gender has really become in society and in many ways, it frightens me.


That all being said, my mother is going nuts because we are not finding out.  She has tried to persuade us to let her call the doctor to find out.  However, that won't do her any good since even our doctor doesn't know.  (The ultrasound tech does not write down that info and apparently the pictures weren't clear enough for Dr. Quinn to see).  I think even she is excited by the surprise.  She said, "Oh wow.  It has been a long time since we've had a surprise."  


What I am finding to be especially fun about the surprise factor is how my friends and family are reacting to it on Facebook.  I'll give an update or post a picture and suddenly people are guessing the gender of our baby based on old wive's tales.  So, to go along with that, I decided to address each old wive's tale so everyone can see how things are stacking up. :-)


Old Wive's Tale #1--The Heart Rate
Supposedly, if the baby has a heart rate under 140 bpm (beats per minute), then you will have a boy.  If it is over 140 bpm, then you will have a girl.  Baby G's heartbeat has consistently been WAY over 140.  The lowest it has ever been is 160.  So, conclusion---Girl!


Old Wive's Tale #2--Shape of the Belly
If you are carrying low and all out in front, then you will have a boy.  If you are carrying high and have gotten wider with pregnancy, then you will have a girl.  So, conclusion--Boy!


Old Wive's Tale #3--The Ring Test
With this one you are supposed to put your wedding ring on a string and have it hover over the belly.  If it goes in circles, then it will be a girl.  If it goes back and forth, it will be a boy.  I did this and it went in circles.  So, conclusion--Girl!


Old Wive's Tale #4--Mom's Face Shape
This one I don't buy at all for multiple reason, the first being that I've lost a lot of weight since being pregnant, but here it goes.  


You will have a girl if your face gets rounder and fuller while pregnant, and a boy if you face looks long and narrow.  My face has thinned out.  So, conclusion--Boy!


Old Wive's Tale #5--Acne
If you have acne while pregnant, you will have a girl.  If not, a boy.  I have had my share of acne.  So, conclusion--Girl!


Old Wive's Tale #6--Left Eye Test
When you pull down the skin under your left eye, if you see a "V" or "branches" in the white part of the eye, you will have a girl.  If not, a boy.  I have a definite "V".  So, conclusion--Girl!


Old Wive's Tale #7--Your Birth Order and Gender
Supposedly, you can look at your family, when you were born (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and gender to know what you are going to have.  If you are 1st born child (like me), then the 2nd born child will be what you end up having. Since my sister was born next, that means--Girl!


Old Wive's Tale #8--Legs
If your legs stay thin and shapely, you will have a girl.  If they get big while pregnant, it will be a boy.  I wouldn't necessarily call my legs shapely (mainly because of my fasciotomy scar on my right leg), but they have stayed thin.  So, conclusion--Girl!


Additionally, if your leg hair grows faster and you need to shave more, then you will have a boy.  Mine has actually slowed down quite a bit.  So, conclusion--Girl!


Old Wive's Tale #9--Moodiness
If you are moody during the pregnancy, it is because those extra girl hormones inside, so...you will have a girl.  If you are happy most of the time, then it will be a boy because you have a little pecker inside of you. ::shakes head:: LOL!  I would say I haven't been moody.  (You might want to ask Chris though).  So, conclusion--Boy!


Old Wive's Tale #10--Chinese Gender Chart
This lovely tool bases its prediction on the age of the mother and the month the baby was conceived.  Based on this, Girl!


Old Wive's Tale #11--Dreams
Basically, if you dream of your baby and know the gender from the dream, you will have the opposite.  I have had only one dream where I knew the gender, and in the dream the baby was a boy.  So, conclusion--Girl!


Old Wive's Tale #12--Breast Test
If a woman's right breast grows to be larger than her left, then she will have a boy.  If it is her left that grows larger than her right, it will be a girl.  So, conclusion--Girl!


Old Wive's Tale #13--Morning Sickness
If you haven't suffered from much morning sickness, then you will have a boy.  If you not only have it, but have it bad and it continues beyond the first trimester, it will be a girl.  Considering the fact that I'm 25 weeks and just got sick this morning, my conclusion, based on this, is Girl!


Old Wive's Tale #14--Headaches
If you are suffering from more headaches than usual, you will have a boy.  So, conclusion--Boy!  I'm hate headaches, but am thankful I can take Tylenol.