16 weeks

Old wives tales: Is baby a boy or a girl?

June 16, 2017






Old wives tales, they've been around for centuries. A lot of people swear by them but some just think they're a load of cods wallop. Personally, my own stance on them is that unless it's backed by science I can't really believe it. BUT I have decided to give them a go and see what the outcome is.

On the 17th June we find out the gender of the tiny little human I am growing inside of me. For some knowing the gender isn't something they even think about doing, after all it's just a gender. But for us we want to know, we don't want the surprise we want to be organised with names and such. I'm not so much into gender specific items but still not knowing the gender is surprisingly hard in this day and age!!!

We'll soon find out on the 18th June if these old wives tales have some sort of accuracy behind them?!

So here are the old wives tales....


Heart Rate 
If the baby’s heart rate is above 140 bpm, it is said that the baby will be a girl. If it is under 140 bpm, then it will be a boy.

Prediction outcome: Inconclusive, yet to hear the babys heart rate other than a home doppler!

Acne
If you have acne while pregnant, it’s a girl. It’s thought that acne during pregnancy is caused by the extra hormones.

 Prediction outcome: Inconclusive, mixture of amazing skin days and then covered in spots kinda days!!

Cravings
People believe that if you are craving salty foods while pregnant, you can count on having a boy. If you crave sweets, fruit, and orange juice, you are having a little girl.

 Prediction outcome: Boy! Salt!

Skin under Left Eye
The eye test is when a “V” or “branches” appear when you pull down the skin under your left eye. If you see a “V” or “branches” in the white part, you’re having a girl.

Prediction outcome: Girl

Legs
If your legs get really big, you’re having a boy. If your legs stay in shape and lean, it’s a girl.

Prediction outcome: Girl, but that could change the further on I get.

Shape of belly
If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl. If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, it’s a boy

Prediction outcome: Inconclusive, I'm showing early but bump is not yet a noticeable bump as such!

Moodiness 
If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have another extra girl hormones in you. Your pregnancy will make you smile and be more happy if you are having a boy.

Prediction outcome: Boy

Chinese Gender Chart
The Chinese Gender Chart claims to have an accuracy rate of over 90%. It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month that she conceived.

Prediction outcome: Boy

Mums beauty
Basically you are having a girl if your beauty disappears during pregnancy. It is said that the girl “steals” the mother’s beauty. If you think that pregnancy has never made you look more beautiful, a little boy it is.

Prediction outcome: Girl, family say I have looked glowing and beautiful but I've felt like I've piled on weight and just generally not felt good about myself.

Dream of Sex of Baby
If you have dreams that you are having a boy, you will have a girl. If you dream about having a girl, it will be a boy. Dreams show the opposite of what you are having. (I've only had dreams of it being a boy, even before I ever got pregnant)

Prediction outcome: Girl, although I've dreamt of both sexes at some point in the first trimester. But more so dreams of a boy.

Clumsy vs. Graceful
If the pregnant woman is graceful throughout her pregnancy, she’s having a girl. If she becomes clumsy, she’s having a boy.

Prediction outcome: Boy, I've always been clumsy though.

Side You Most Rest On
If a pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, she’s having a boy. If she prefers resting on her right side, she’s having a girl.

Prediction outcome: Girl

Dad’s Weight Gain
If the dad-to-be gains weight while you are pregnant, it’s a girl. If he doesn’t gain weight, you’re having a boy.

Prediction outcome: Boy, but James hasn't gained weight since we got together!

Breast Test
If a pregnant woman’s left breast is larger than the right breast, she’s having a girl. If the right breast is larger, it’s a boy.

Prediction outcome: Boy

What Do You Think?
71% of the time, the mom-to-be knows what she is having.

Prediction outcome: Boy

Morning Sickness
If you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness, it’s a boy. If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy, count on a girl.

Prediction outcome: Girl

Areola
If your areola (the part around your nips) have darkened, it’s a boy. If they haven't, its a girl.

Prediction outcome: Girl

Protein
When a pregnant woman craves meat and cheese, count on a boy.

Prediction outcome: Boy. Totally went of cheese and milk!

Feet
Are your feet colder now that you are pregnant? If so, you just might be having a boy. If your feet have stayed the same before pregnancy and during, you’re having a little girl.

Prediction outcome: Girl

Headaches
If you are having headaches, you might be carrying a boy.

Prediction outcome: Boy

Baby Names
It is said that when you can only think of specific names for a boy or a girl, you will have that particularly baby.

Prediction outcome: Inconclusive, we have both names chose.

Urine
What color is your pee? If it is bright yellow, you will have a little boy. If your urine is a dull yellow, plan on a girl.

Prediction outcome: Boy

Left or right?
If baby is laid on the left hand side it is said they are meant to be a boy, if they are laid on the right hand side they are a girl.
Prediction outcome: Girl

Hands
When the pregnant woman is asked to show her hands, it's a boy if she keeps her palms down and a girl if she shows her palms up.

Prediction outcome: Girl


Hands are Dry
If your hands are constantly dry, it's a boy.

Prediction outcome: Girl





TOTAL GIRL: 10
TOTAL BOY: 10
TOTAL INCONCLUSIVE: 4

So what do you think the gender of the baby is?
Did you do these old wives tales when you were pregnant? Were they accurate or the opposite?

1st trimester

The honest truth: First trimester.

May 28, 2017


It all happened so fast, so suddenly and a little unexpected. 'Surely I couldn't be ?' I thought, 'I haven't have had any symptoms, my period isn't due for another 4 days'. But there was no way I could dismiss that there was a kind of faint line on the HCG strip I had tested with. 'But maybe it's indentation?' I thought, 'Surely I wouldn't get a line this late in the day, after drinking my body weight in cups of tea?'  These things are common. So I got myself a first response, downed loads more water and there it was again. Another line, but this time very very clear. We both were in shock. I always expected to sit there crying and being over emotional but I felt numb, I was so overwhelmed. 'We're going to have a baby', I told James. The day after which ironically was mother's day we did a clear blue digital which made it feel a hell of a lot more real. We just hugged each other tight and let the feeling sink in.




Did it sink in? Not really. Not even now.
 But it was soon going to become obvious that it was real when the pregnancy symptoms hit me like a ton of bricks. Even myself as a woman presume that the first trimester can often bring morning sickness and that's about it. A very naive way of thinking. The first trimester is lonely, it's terrifying and i'm going to be honest, for me it wasn't a walk in the park. But we were pregnant and it was exciting. So, the morning sickness... Let's just get one thing straight, morning sickness isn't just in the morning. It doesn't mean you throw up. I never did I just couldn't eat any of the foods I like. The apps told me 'eat more fibre' and 'eat more fish, veg and nuts'. I became increasingly worried as I binged on salt and vinegar rice cakes, hash browns and fish fingers. There's no chance I was eating any veg without wanting to throw it back up. I spent the whole 2 weeks of the school holidays laid up on the sofa feeling like I was going to throw up. The fatigue hit me so hard, I was napping 5-6 times a day. I spent 2 weeks constantly sleeping and ignoring any social obligations. Not telling everyone made life so hard and I kind of alienated myself and made myself feel alone. I felt like those who did know wouldn't understand how I was feeling. Would think I'm just making excuses, 'I'm not even that pregnant I thought'. Luckily, I found a great support system and realized how I was feeling was completely normal. Speaking to women who were going through what I was going through at the moment of time really helped. It sounds over dramatic but imagine you get the flu, combined with boobs that even the slightest touch made you wince in pain, combined with not being able to go to the toilet. Not glamorous, not ideal. Then dizzy spells, getting out of breathe easily and the weight gain combined with bloating..... then mix in the fantastic pregnancy hormones where you cry over being told you can't just have a hash brown sandwich for your tea. It was a nightmare and I'm not ungrateful because we're so lucky to have such good news when we were going through something difficult.


My advice to those women who are going through the first trimester would be. 

Tell people when you want to tell them!! 
Everyone's so 'traditional' and against not telling people before even their 20 week scan. For us it's different. We knew there was more chance of us having a miscarriage in the first trimester but for us we just couldn't contain ourselves, plus if anything did happen I know I'd have a great support system. So do what you feels best. We told family, close friends and I told my work colleagues (due to the nature of my job) straight away because we agreed we both didn't mind.

Don't worry about not eating the right things
The apps I downloaded all told me off. Eat more fibre, eat more veg, eat more red meat and drink more milk! There was no way with my nausea could I stomach any of these things, it just wasn't going to happen. To me the most important thing is just giving baby any food in the first trimester even on those days you just wanna chuck your guts up. Surely that was better than absolutely nothing?! So don't worry, you've got the second trimester to improve on that. Just make sure you're taking your folic acid and drinking plenty of water! Also make yourself aware of the things you can't eat during early pregnancy. But don't read into everything and let it completely stop you from living!

Exercise, exercise, exercise...
Another thing the pregnancy apps drilled into me. 'Exercise for an healthier labour' and 'exercise for an healthier baby'. Honestly, I would if I could've. But it'd be a good day if I could even manage to wash the pots. My whole house was a shit tip, covered in dust. I'd be lucky if I could walk to the toilet without having a dizzy spell and needing to sit back down.

Plan how you want to plan!!!!!
Everyone will suddenly have something to say about the way you're gonna do things, about the products you need for baby, when you should start telling people etc. But it's your baby, you both decide. There is no wrong or right way of doing things. If you want to tell people before or after the scan, then you have the right to do so. If you want to know the gender, then you have the right to do so. If you want to avoid the nuchal screening then you also have the right to do so. Do not let people get into your head. Make your own plans, sit down with your partner and talk about what you want to do. If it's just you, then buggar everyone else and get on with it. It's not their baby, it's yours.

'I'm getting fat'
Do not feel guilty or let anyone let you feel guilty for complaining about putting on weight. The whole trimester you will probably feel the size of a house, you will be bloated, you will gain weight super fast. You'll feel like an alien in your own body. Do not let people make you feel guilty for feeling this way for saying things like 'you shouldn't complain you're pregnant' because you have all the rights in the world to feel terrified about how your bodies feeling. Doesn't help that everyone keeps telling you 'you're showing already!' when you know it's just trapped wind....

CRAMPS!!!!!!
Oh lord, the first trimester cramps are terrifying. They're basically period cramps. For me this was combined with a wave of extreme nausea and the only cure was lying on my side in a ball. Try not to worry about the cramping. Baby is implanting and your body is preparing. The constant thoughts of miscarriage will haunt you but unless you are really concerned and getting bleeding then try not to worry!! 


The first trimester was very tough. But happens so very fast and before you know it you see this tiny little wriggly body on your ultrasound. In that instance you fall in love with. But still that overwhelming feeling of 'is it a dream?' does not leave.

 Be patient and kind with yourself and try and look forward to the rest of your adventure.
This is the most terrifying, yet exciting adventures I've been on and I can't wait for the rest of it! Just to see that tiny little human that we made and that I've grown is such an overwhelming achievement. Already that little baby bean is more loved than you could ever imagine.



 Keep growing baby bean!

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