Boy or Girl? 21 old wives tales that may tell you

Tomorrow is the day I’ve been waiting for: the day of our second ultrasound appointment. I can’t wait to see our little munchkin bopping around on the screen, and I’m so thrilled Mr Fink will be with me this time.

It’s also the day that, if baby cooperates (and if the technician is in a magnanimous mood), we’ll find out if Baby Fink is a boy or a girl!

When we first started talking about finding out the gender, I was honestly 50/50 on it. I could see the advantages of waiting the full 40 weeks (more traditional, extra motivation in the delivery room, super exciting for family and friends when they get the call) and of finding out halfway through (half as many names to choose from, non-yellow/green color choices for clothing and nursery, more accuracy in your daydreams about the future).

There is much more to it than just those little things of course, but the main thing to remember is that one way is not better than the other. In fact, this is my attitude towards most pregnancy-related things because I strongly believe that each couple has to make the decisions that are right for them; since no two couples are alike, there can never be one “best” way. Few things annoy me more than someone playing the superiority card. But I’m going off on a tangent. In case you’re wondering, we decided to find out because Mr Fink suggested he wouldn’t mind knowing (he’s a planner so I imagine knowing just makes him comfortable). And since I was ambivalent (or perhaps just indecisive!), I figured I’d give him this one.

I thought that, being the one carrying this baby, I’d somehow just “know” what it was. I know a lot of other women feel strongly about it though I don’t believe anyone’s ever done a study to determine whether these predictions were accurate (wouldn’t that be cool to see, though?). I’ve tried to pay close attention to my own feelings about it but I went back and forth for a long time; I’ve had dreams of both girl and boy babies and been drawn to both pink and blue baby accessories.  It’s only very recently that for some reason, I’m leaning towards boy. My mom, on the other hand (who’s been known to have almost-psychic feelings about me in the past), is positive it’s a girl.

(Hopefully) we’ll know soon but for those of you who are still waiting, here are some of the ways the women before us have been trying to guess. I’m not sure that any one of these is more ‘accurate’ than the others, but maybe if you answer all of them, it’ll go one way or another?

Boy or Girl? 21 Old Wives’ Tales That May Tell You*

(My answers are in purple)

Sleep Position
Pay attention to which way you lay down in bed tonight. If you prefer sleeping on your left side, you’ll have a boy. Right side? You’re pregnant with a girl.
BOY – but they recommend you sleep on your left side so I bet a lot of women get used to it.

Upset Stomach
Little girls aren’t always sweet. Extreme nausea means you are having a daughter.
BOY

Soft or Dry Hands
If your hands are dry during pregnancy, you are having a boy; soft—expect a girl.
BOY

Food Cravings
Your favorite pregnancy foods may tell you what sex the baby is. If you’re craving citrus while pregnant, you’re having a girl.
BOY – I went through a mandarin orange phase but it was short lived.

Adult Acne
If altering hormones makes your skin break out, expect a girl.
BOY

Graceful or Clumsy Pregnancy
If you feel as though you’re gliding through they day, you’ll have a girl. Stumbling? It’s a boy.
GIRL

Face Weight Gain
If your face gets fuller, it means you’re having a girl.
BOY (so far, anyway).

Sugar and Spice Food Cravings
Craving salt during pregnancy? Potato chips, pretzels, and popcorn means a boy is on the way. Need a little something sweet? Ice cream, chocolate, and candy means you’re having a girl.
BOY

Mood Changes
If you’re experiencing pregnant mood-swings, expect a baby girl to arrive soon.
BOY

High or Low Pregnant Belly
If you’re carrying the baby low on your stomach, expect a boy. If it’s high, you’re having a girl.
Not sure – I think this is for those who are farther along.

Baby Weight
If you’re carrying baby in front, it’s a boy. Is the baby weight spaced all around your middle? It’s a girl.
Also not sure if I’m too early for this one but I think I’d say BOY.

Pendulum Test
Dangle a chain with a charm over your palm. If it swings back and forth: boy. In a circle: girl.
BOY – my BFF Miss P actually did this for me over the holidays!

EDIT: actually, Miss P predicted a girl but when Mr Fink did it himself (what a skeptic!) it said boy.

Model Your Hands
“Show me your hands.” If you would hold your hands palms up it’s a girl. Down? You’re having a boy.
Not sure – since I know the outcome, I can’t be sure I could do it spontaneously.

Toddler Advice
Get baby advice from a nephew or friend’s little boy. If a toddler boy shows interest in your belly, you’ll have a girl. If he ignores you, it’s a boy.
BOY

Eat Garlic
Guess the baby’s sex by eating garlic. If the smell seeps out of your pores it’s a boy. If there’s no scent it’s a little girl.
GIRL (at least… I think)

Key to Pregnancy
If you pick up a key by the round end, you’re having a boy. If it’s by the long end? A girl.
Not sure

Even and Odd Numbers
If your age and year of conception are both even or odd, it’s girl. One even, one odd means a boy.
GIRL

Baby’s Heartbeat
If the baby’s heart beats more than 150 times per minute, you’re pregnant with a girl. Less than 150, it’s a boy.
GIRL

Stress Test
A child tends to be of the same sex as the parent who is less stressed at the time of conception.
Not sure

Dream Meanings
If you dream about having a girl while pregnant, you will wind up having a boy and vice versa.
Not sure – I’ve dreamed of both.

Breast Size
If your right breast is larger than the left while pregnant, you are having a girl. If the left is larger, it’s a baby boy.
Neither.

* Source

My final score:
GIRL = 4
BOY =11

Looks like for me, there’s a definite trend.

There’s also the Chinese Gender Chart which some people swear by, but I’ve seen several different versions of it and I don’t know which version is the real one: this one or this one. They each give me a different result.

Trying to guess baby’s gender has been one of my favorite parts of this experience but I can’t deny that knowing that there’s a good chance we might find out tomorrow (or at least, in the next few days) is super exciting. Though of course, we’ll be happy with either as long as it’s healthy (yadda yadda yadda… which reminds me, have you seen this hilarious video yet? Pregnant women are smug. It’s awesome.).

I’d love to know – did you have a feeling about your baby’s gender and were you right?

And what do you think about Baby Fink… boy or girl?