Baby Humble: Old Wives Tales

Since finding out we were pregnant I have been so anxious to find out the gender! Mainly so we can settle on a name, and I can start buying baby items and decorating the nursery. While Robbie hopes for a boy and me for a girl--we are both happy with either gender and very excited to add this little one into our family. I decided early on that I was going to do all the Old Wives Tales I could just for fun until we could find out the gender. I thought it would be fun to do and compare the results with our ultrasound reveal. I have done as many of the Old Wives Tales as I can, but there have been a few that I wasn't able to do because I didn't have an answer and/or both answers are equal for my pregnancy. Here is the complete breakdown of the tests, results and final tally.

Baby's Heart Rate

The tale is that is the Baby's heart rate is above 140 it is a girl and if it is below 140 it is a boy. So far Baby Humble's heart rate has been: 170 at 9 1/2 weeks; 165 at 11 1/2 weeks; and high 140s/low 150s at 15 1/2 weeks.

Result: Girl

Morning Sickness

The tale is that if you have morning sickness during pregnancy it is a girl and if you don't have any it is a boy. I had morning sickness for a week and got sick twice. So while it was pretty minimal for me I still did experience it.

Result: Girl

Daddy's Weight

The tale is that if daddy gains weight while you're pregnant it means a girl and if he maintains the same weight or loses weight it means a boy. So far during my pregnancy Robbie has maintained/lost weight.

Result: Boy

Mommy's Skin

The tale is that if mommy's skin is worse/breaking out more then usual it means a girl and if it stays the same or gets better it means a boy. So far I have been breaking out on my forehead quite a bit since becoming pregnant when I rarely did before.

Result: Girl

Balance

The tale is that if mommy's balance is graceful/stable it means a girl and if she is more clumsy it means a boy. My balance has been stable so far during pregnancy.

Result: Girl

Chinese Calendar

This one is a calendar by the Chinese that you put the mothers age of conception and the month of conception to determine gender. 

Result:  Girl

(Here is the calendar for fun if you'd like to see for yourself)

Mayan Calendar

This one is similar to the Chinese calendar but different. You take the mothers age at conception and the year of conception. If both numbers are even or both are odd it means a girl and if they are one even and one odd it means a boy.

Result: Girl

Baking Soda Test

For the test you mix 2 tbsp of baking soda in a cup with your urine and watch the result. If it does nothing it means a girl and if the mixture bubbles or fizzes like a soda/beer it means a boy. I did this test twice (once at about 10 weeks and again at about 14 weeks) and had the same result both times: nothing happened.

Result: Girl

Red Cabbage Test

For the test you cut up about 2 cups of red cabbage and put it in a bowl. You boil water. Once the water is boiled you pour the water over the cabbage in the bowl and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. After the time is up you toss out the cabbage and put the cabbage water into a cup. You then mix equal amounts of urine and cabbage water together and watch the result. If the color of the mixture is purple or blue it means girl and if it turns red or pink it means boy. The cabbage water started off at a bluish/purple color and I let the mixture sit for about a minute. It stayed blue/purple.

Result: Girl

Drano Test

For the test you mix Drano with urine and watch the result. If it does nothing or the color stays the same after 10-15 seconds it means girl and if the color darkens or turns brown after 10 seconds it means boy. My mixture didn't change color. I used regular liquid Drano for my test but in looking it up later I've seen others that say to use the crystal Drano. Not sure which way it is supposed to be done or if it matters.

Result: Girl

Wedding Ring Test

For the test you put your wedding ring on a string and hold it above your baby bump. You hold it still from moving and then let it go to move on its own. Once it starts moving if it moves in a circle motion it means girl and if it moves back and forth in a line it means boy. I had Robbie hold the string so it was more accurate. I also didn't tell him which movement meant what gender until after the test because I didn't want him to influence the movement at all. I did this test twice (once with my wedding band and once with my engagement ring). Each time Robbie held the string for about 1-2 minutes over my belly. The ring moved back and forth for a short time each test but moved in a circle for a majority of the time on both. We concluded it must mean circle. 

Result: Girl

Final Tally 

GIRL: 10 > BOY: 1
While I know all these old wives tales are just for fun and realistically have a 50/50% chance of being right--I was very surprised with all the results. I thought it would be pretty evenly numbered between girl and boy. I am so curious to see what Baby's gender is! Either all these old wives tales will be almost perfectly accurate or completely way off LOL