I thought this would be fun to take a look at. I know it may be way too soon to tell, for most of these, but I thought it was still fun to try. Pretty cool how I feel like it’s a girl and pretty much all of the Old Wives’ Tales are pointing at one. I’m so interested to know now.
Old Wives’ Tale #1 – Linea Nigra
Latin for ‘black line’, a linea nigra may appear on your belly during pregnancy (some women wont get it – doesn’t mean anything!). 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 linea 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.
ME: I’ve got nothing, yet.
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.
ME: Too soon to tell.
Old Wives’ Tale #3 – The Draino Thingo
There is an old wives tale that involves mixing your urine with Draino but not only is Draino dangerous and bad for you, it’s bad for the environment too.
ME: I’ll pass on this one. Very strange.
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.
ME: Soft = Girl
Old Wives’ Tale #5 – What’s Baby’s Heart rate?
First, to set the record straight, until it’s born, your baby’s heart rate will not be affected by it’s gender. But so they say, if you’re carrying a girl, then baby’s heart rate will be above 140bpm (beats per minute). A boy is said to have a heart rate under 140bpm. A study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine (1996) has dismissed this theory, as has other research. Your baby’s heart rate will change often during a pregnancy, depending on the baby’s age and it’s movement. Anything from 120-160bpm is normal for an unborn baby.
ME: I won’t know the babe’s heart rate until tomorrow, but I’m hoping for higher (because of last weeks news). We will see.
Old Wives’ Tale #6 – Your Flowing Locks
Has your hair become thinner and dull? Or full-bodied and glossy? Thin and dull says girl, gorgeous and glossy says a boy.
ME: Thinner and dull = Girl
Old Wives’ Tale #7 – Where Are You Carrying Extra Weight?
Even those extra pregnancy kilos are said to give us 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!
ME: Too soon to tell.
Old Wives’ Tale #8 – Numbers…
Because 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.
ME: Odd = 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. I have trouble believing this one because I think we’d be overrun by a population of females – we all love chocolate pregnant or not!
ME: Sweets, orange juice, sodas, fruits, chocolate and fruit snacks = Girl
Old Wives’ Tale #10 – Wedding Ring Test
Get your wedding ring (or other ring/needle/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.
ME: We haven’t done this yet. I’m sure we probably won’t either.
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. Oh! That one was actually true for me!
ME: A little bit of nausea, but no vomiting and I think it’s gone. Usually only happens when I wake up with an empty stomach. = 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!
ME: Feet are the same = 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 flash, you’re having a girl, because she’s stolen all your good looks!
ME: My skin is awful = 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. Which only leaves one question… if your breasts are both the same size, does that mean one of each? I’ll leave you with that to ponder!
ME: Breasts look the same (sorry, TMI)
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.
ME: Don’t ask me directions, I have no idea.
Old Wives’ Tale #16 – Pimples, Schimiples…
If you get acne during pregnancy, apparently you’re having a girl, and if you don’t, then you’re carrying a boy. Want to know the real reason you get acne? Check out our article, Acne During Pregnancy.
ME: Pimples galore. I’m 12-years-old all over again = 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.
ME: Right = Girl
Old Wives’ Tale #18 – Check Out Your Wee!
Okay…. now apparently if you have bright yellow urine, then you’re carrying a boy, but if it’s dull / clear, then you’re carrying a girl. On a serious note though, if you have dark urine, up your water intake as you may be dehydrated.
ME: It couldn’t have anything to do with the gobs of water that I’m drinking, would it. Haha = Girl
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.
ME: Still too early to tell
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.
ME: Normal = Girl
I’ve had a gut feeling that it’s a girl. Not that I have a preference. I just want a healthy baby. But I’m feeling girl. We will see!
A Pair of Socks 
Love the list! 🙂
I must warn you – I met almost every criterion for a girl. My doctor and ultrasound techs were even convinced.
Yup, you guessed it, Im having a boy! 🙂
Awww that’s too funny! I really thought it was a girl in the beginning, but I’m feeling more and more like a boy. Congrats on a beautiful baby boy! How exciting! 🙂
Most of these point to girl for me too!!
Woohoo! Are you two hoping for a lil girl? 😉
Either or would fit right into our family perfectly. In my eyes, I already have one of each so I’m just over the moon to be pregnant again. I hope your appointment went well today! You were in my thoughts.
Yes, you’re right. You’ve got that beautiful little girl. Did you adopt her as your own? I’m not quite sure how all that works. She’s very lucky to have you. When do you find out what you’re having? 🙂 😉