37 weeks! Term! We made it!!! I've begged our little babe to stay cooking every day for the past three weeks (when early labor signs sent us to the hospital), but anything goes now (that doesn't mean I'm ready, though...)! Brian joked that if we did make it to 37 weeks, I'd get greedy and plead for something new — September, baby! Just make it through Labor Day weekend, baby! So true :) My dad flew to Munich on Saturday, and I'd really appreciate it if Moosh stay put until he's back.
I mentioned in
my third trimester post that we chose to not find out the baby's sex, and it's driving me crazy.
Of course it doesn't matter either way, but I've been on pins and needles wanting to know! I'm an extremely anxious person, not at all patient and a gossip by nature (don't bother telling me a secret), so this is truly torture. So many times Brian told me to find out and end my misery, but each time I'd think "I've made it this far..." and he's stayed firm on not wanting to know. I couldn't possibly keep it in if I did and he didn't!
I feel like I've put every old wives' tale to the test the past nine months, and B's coworkers suggested this blog post so we have the prediction in writing. When the pregnancy test said positive at four weeks, we both instantly thought it was a girl; something in our hearts was just so sure, same with the names we quickly picked. Everything just felt right. Brian has stuck to his prediction since (and a September 8 birthday), but I've switched almost daily. Our families are split down the middle, and at each of our
baby showers, guests were 50/50, too! But strangers on the street (who have loved screaming their predictions for months) and sweet random grandmas who ask a lot of questions and ask for a lot of views always guess boy. What's in there?!?!
According to much research scouted from around the Internet (so they must be true ;) here's what we're having...
1. Sweet versus salty cravings: They say if
you find yourself craving all things sweet, that’s a sign you’re having a girl. Cravings for salty or protein-rich foods mean it might be a boy.
I haven't really had any cravings! In general, I've just wanted light, cold foods (like hard-boiled eggs and blueberries) because anything too rich leaves me feeling even more heavy. But, I have found myself inhaling brownies by the batch on several occasions, so let's say girl.
2. The garlic test: If you’re able to eat a lot of garlic but not smell like it, apparently that means you’re carrying a girl.
Boy, then. Up until recently I was working out often, and I could always smell the garlic oozing out of me after a big Italian dinner. Yep, gross.
3. Morning sickness: If you’re suffering from excessive nausea and morning sickness, it’s said you could be having a girl.
Boy. I've been very, very lucky to have an easy pregnancy in that regard. I didn't experience nausea or vomiting and always had my appetite. I was worried little things like a coworker's lunch or perfume would bother me, but it was smooth sailing.
4. Pregnancy glow, or no: From
the source: if your complexion is bright and your hair resembles that of a Pantene commercial, you could be having a boy. If that much-talked-about “pregnancy glow” is MIA and you’re breaking out, it may just mean you’ve got a girl growing.
While I don't feel like I'm glowing, my skin has cleared up, and my hair has been amazing. I'm scared of what's to come, but for now I've been loving how thick and strong my once thinning, frizzy dry hair is (even Brian has been like "dang, girl!"). So, boy!
5. Partner’s weight gain: If your partner is gaining weight alongside you (also known as “sympathy weight”), that could be a sign that you’re carrying a girl.
Brian just doesn't gain weight. Ugh. Boy.
6. Moody versus mellow: If you’re feeling more moody than mellow, you might be having a girl. If you’re more chilled out, legend has it you should get ready for a boy.
Brian mentioned this in our wedding anniversary post, but I was so calm when I first found out I was pregnant. Strangely so, everyone around us was surprised. As someone who's always worried about something, I was so at ease with everything and just wanted to soak it all in. The tides have definitely changed since, but since I started on such a high note, I'm going to say boy.
7. The eye test: Look in the mirror for about a minute. If your pupils are dilating, it means you’re having a boy.
Umm, girl.
8. Carrying high versus low: According to pregnancy lore, carrying high means you’re having a girl, while carrying low means it’s a boy.
I've thought I've been carrying low from the start, and now that the baby is dropping, I feel like it's super low. I keep asking the doctors if it looks OK to them ("Doesn't it feel like it could be at my knees soon?" was my latest concern), but they seem to think it's right where it should be... boy.
9. The ring test: Tie a ring on a string and hang it over your belly. If it swings in a circular motion, you could be having a girl, but if it’s swinging side to side, it means you’re having a boy.
Brian had our friend Angie do this on me on vacation a few weeks ago and shared it on his Instagram! Consensus: girl.
10. Heart rate:
During your ultrasound, pay attention to baby’s heart rate. If that little ticker is beating faster than 140 beats per minute, get ready for a girl.
This has fluctuated with every appointment (150-135 bpm), but at our hospital stay, it was high, consistently above 150. And the first time we heard it it was 150, too. So, I'm going to go with girl.
11. Chinese gender chart: Place one finger on the age you were when you conceived and another finger on the month of conception. Where your fingers meet in the middle will tell you if you’re expecting a little boy or girl.
Boy!
12. The key test: Ask the pregnant mom to pick up a key. If she picks the key up by the narrow end, it’s a girl. If she picks up the key by the rounded top, it’s a boy.
Someone asked me to do this, and I was so confused at the time. But, girl!
Bonus, a random one I didn't test out: Salt
test: In Romania, they sprinkle salt over a pregnant woman without her
knowledge, and wait to see if she rubs under her nose or her lower lip
first. If she brushes her nose, it’s a girl. If she rubs her lower lip,
it’s a boy.
So, what's our conclusion? 7/12...
boy! We'll see! Stay tuned! Any day now... eek!
P.S. A quick test if you're interested :) This one leads to boy for me, too.
Answer yes or no…
1. Have you been craving sweet (not salty) foods?
2. Did you have lots of morning sickness?
3. Are you extra moody?
4. Is your face rounder than usual?
5. Are your hands soft, versus drier than usual?
6. Did the man initiate sex at the time of conception?
7. Is your right breast larger than your left breast during pregnancy?
8. Are you graceful during pregnancy, versus clumsy?
9. Is your belly low versus high?
More yes answers = It’s a girl!
More no answers = It’s a boy!
