So blogging for me will probably be sparse, random, and of by-chance significance, but that's OK. I accept things for what they are, and I am grateful for this moment in time where I have a moment to share with you what's been on my mind lately. That is, what could be the gender of our sweet second child? I am 20 weeks pregnant, and so it's time to do those non-scientific tests to see what we come up with. Here we go!
The results of those tests are color-coded below. Blue means boy; pink means girl; and, green means the results were inconclusive. . :)
Test #1: The Linea Nigra Test
Latin for ‘black line,' a linea nigra
may appear on a girl's belly during pregnancy. This is a purple/brownish line which extends down the middle
of your belly to your pubic area, about 1 centimeter 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 línea 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. Well, with Liam, I had a line that went from my rib cage all the way down, but with this baby...there's nothing! So this test result says...GIRL! Test #2: The Carrying Test - Version A
They say if a girl carries her baby low, it's a boy. If she carries her baby high, it's a girl. So what determines high or low? Apparently, if your baby bump is up near your breasts, that's considered high. I would say that I am probably carrying low. So this test result is...BOY!
Test #3: The Carrying Test - Version B
They say that 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. I
would say that this time I feel a little meatier in my back and butt. So the test result here is...GIRL!Test #4: The Carrying Test - Version C
If the belly looks more like a basketball, then the old wives say it's a boy; but, if it more resembles a watermelon, then it’s a girl. I would say mine looks like a watermelon that is longer from left to right. So this test result says...GIRL
Test #5: The Dry or Soft Skin Test
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. I would say that
my skin has remained soft. So
I would say the result of this test is...GIRL!
Test #6: The Baby's Heart Rate Test
The
theory goes that if your baby's heart rate is above 140 beats per
minute, it's a girl. If it's below 140, it's a boy. At my 16-week prenatal appointment, I glanced and happened to see "154" on the hand-held Doppler that the doctor used to listen to the baby's heartbeat. So this test points toward...GIRL!
Test #7: The Flowing Locks Test
If a woman's hair has become thinner and dull, they say she's having a
girl. If her hair becomes full-bodied, glossy, and gorgeous, they say
it's a boy. My hair has always had drastic mood swings and changes its
appearance regularly, but--for the most part--I would say that my hair
is BETTER now than it was before I was pregnant. So, this test points
to BOY!
Test #8: The Age and Month Conceived Test
This formula states that if you add your age at the time of conception
(35) with the number of the month you conceived in (05) and the
resulting number is odd -- then a girl is on the way. If the resulting
number is even, then it's a boy. My total was 40, so this test again
says...BOY!
Test #9: The Food Cravings Test
They say if you crave sour or salty
foods, then it's most likely a boy. If you crave sweet foods like
juice, fruits, or chocolate, then it's a girl. Then again, they say if
you crave proteins like meats and dairy,
it's probably a boy. I would say that I have no interest in sour or salty foods and less interest in meats and dairy than I did in my previous pregnancy. Fruits, juice, and even chocolates have been on my desirable list! So this test result points toward...GIRL!
Test #10: The Wedding Band Test
They say if you dangle your wedding band on a string over your belly,
you can identify the gender of your child. If the ring starts moving in
circles, it's a boy. If it moves like a pendulum from side to side,
then it's a girl. But neither Michael nor I want to take off our
wedding bands for any reason, so the results of this test shall have to
be declared as...inconclusive! :)
Test #11: The Morning Sickness Test
They say that if you experience morning sickness, you're carrying a
girl. If not, then it's a boy. In my first pregnancy, I only remember evening sickness, and that resulted in our boy. In this pregnancy, I recall it happening during those first 16 weeks anywhere from 9 AM until 11 PM, with the bulk of it probably happening in the early afternoon. But, since I did have more of a tendency to experience morning sickness in this pregnancy than the last, the results of this test point mostly toward...GIRL!
Test #12: The Cold Feet Test
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! I would say that my feet have experienced cold spells at night that keep me up until I put socks on, so the results of this test are leaning toward...BOY!Test #13: The Attractiveness Test
Do you look better than ever while pregnant? Or has the pregnancy done your looks no favors? 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! Believe it or not, I would say that I look BETTER being pregnant because my cheeks have a rosy hue that they never had before. So, this test results points to BOY.
Then again, I've also heard the opposite. If you feel more beautiful during pregnancy, it could be because you're carrying a girl -- and thus the beauty of TWO women is shining through you! So maybe because of this varied way to interpret the results, I should say that the results of this test are inconclusive. Hmm.
Test #14: Daddy's Weight Test
Apparently, if your husband puts on ‘sympathy’ weight with you during your pregnancy, then you’re supposed to be carrying a girl. If he doesn’t put on any weight, then it’s a boy. I would say that Michael has gained some weight because his jeans ended up being too tight the other day. So this test result points toward...GIRL!
Test #15: The Breast Test
If you look in the mirror and see that your right breast is slightly
larger, they say that you're carrying a boy. If the left is slightly
larger, it's a girl. But what if they're basically the same size? Mine
seem pretty congruent. I guess that means this test is inconclusive.
Test #16: The Pillow Test
They say that when a woman sleeps, if her pillow faces north, then
expect a boy. If it faces south, expect a girl. However, I am
completely befuddled on how to determine the direction that my pillow
faces. The short ends of my pillow run parallel with North and South. The long ends of my pillow run parallel to East and West. But when this child was conceived, my pillow was positioned in the opposite direction. So I am confused and shall say the results of this test are inconclusive.
Test #17: The Acne Test
If you
get acne during pregnancy,
apparently you’re having a girl, and if you don’t, then you’re carrying a
boy. This is so hard for me to determine because I always seem to have imperfections that stay on my face, although I thankfully don't get new pimples very often. However, I must say that I recently experienced a big zit and two days ago noticed two more new imperfections on my forehead, so I guess I must say that I am experiencing acne...which points toward...GIRL!
Test #18: The Sleep Side Test
So
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. Goodness. I normally sleep on my left, since this position
causes the flap in my esophagus to close, making me less prone to
indigestion. But since back sleeping is not an option for pregnant
women, I'm also making use of sleeping on my right side. I alternate
back and forth, since now my hips hurt during the night if I stay on any
one side too long. So, the results of this test are...inconclusive.
Test #19: The Urine Test
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. Although mine is bright shortly after lunch due
to my multi-vitamin, once that is out of my body, my urine is usually
dull or somewhat clear. So, this test says...GIRL!
Test #20: The Hairy Legs Test
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. If not,
then it's a girl. Well, I would say that all of my body hair is
growing LESS QUICKLY...which is very nice! So the result of this test
says GIRL!
Test #21: The Guess Test
Research
has shown that a mother's intuition is often right. When asked to
guess the gender of her unborn child, a woman is usually right 71% of
the time. So what is my guess, you might ask? Well, I have my
hunch...but I'm keeping it a secret for now. So, let's say that the
results of this test are inconclusive. :)The Final Results
Well, according to all these wives tales (and excluding the ones that came up inconclusive), our baby has a 31% chance of being a boy and an 69% chance of being a girl. So we'll just have to see!! So very interesting!! When I was pregnant with Liam, the ratio was 81% boy compared to 19% girl. But, no matter what, our mantra remains the same:
