List of 51 pregnancy old wives tales: Your

baby’s sex revealed!

by JA N E on h tt p: / / w w w. Hi s B oys C a n S wi m.c o m P r eg n a nc y Bl og
in B A B Y, MA T E R NI T Y , MO R N I NG SI C K N E S S, MO T H E R TO B E , PR E G NA N C Y
I NF O , PR E G NA N C Y W E E K -B Y - WE E K

Since a long waiting period is involved before you can find out the sex
of the baby you are carrying, pregnancy old wives tales can provide a
little insight and most of all, they are fun. All pregnancy old wives
tales have a 50/50 chance of being correct, so why not have a little fun
with them.

I know that we can’t wait to find out what we are having. Just a
couple more weeks of waiting and then we’ll know if we are having a
boy or girl, and if any of these pregnancy old wives tales were correct.
Try not to put too much faith in these old wives tales though; they
really won’t be accurate and like I said, they are mostly for fun!

Here’s a list of 51 pregnancy old wives tales:

Old Wives Tale #1: Heartburn

If a pregnant woman experiences heartburn throughout the 9 months

of pregnancy, she’ll have a baby born with a full head of hair.

Old Wives Tale #2: Umbilical Cord

If a pregnant woman lifts her hands above her head or does stretches
above her hand, she will choke the baby because the umbilical cord
will be wrapped around the baby. The truth of this pregnancy wives
tale is that the umbilical cord can wrap around the baby if the baby
moves a lot while in the uterus, but it does not happen if you move a
lot or stretch above your head. The baby gets tangled in the umbilical
cord in about 1/3 of all births, so it’s not so uncommon.

Old Wives Tale #3: Cravings Curse

This old wives tale is fun to hang over Tarzan’s head. Basically if
anyone denies a pregnant woman whatever she is craving, they will
get a sty in his/her eye. Personally, I think all men should read this
and always give into whatever us pregnant women want! For their
own benefit, of course.

Old Wives Tale #4: 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. At our last
appointment, the heart rate was 168 bpm, so maybe we’re having a
little girl?

Old Wives Tale #5: Ugly Baby

This wives tale is weird. If a pregnant woman sees something ugly,

she will have an ugly baby. Um, ok.

Old Wives Tale #6: Coffee

If a baby is born with light-brown birthmarks, it is said that the mom
drank too much coffee or had unfulfilled cravings while she was
pregnant.

Old Wives Tale #7: Sex

This old wives tale is actually not a myth. Sex is healthy for most
pregnant women and is also good in getting the cervix ready for labor.
If you are nearing or have past your due date, your OB might
recommend that you start playing around in the bed.

Old Wives Tale #8: Baths

Anyone who thinks that pregnant women should refrain from taking
baths is crazy. Baths are a-ok and even helpful when it comes to
relaxing and easing some back pain. The only thing that my OB said
was to be careful that I didn’t sit in too hot of water. She said that
anything over 100 degrees was too hot and to be careful that my skin
didn’t turn red.

This old wives tale began because it was thought that water would
seep in to the baby and bring bacteria. It’s been determined that
water does not enter the vag. during a bath.

Old Wives Tale #9: Wearing a Lei

This Hawaiian superstition relates to the lei causing the umbilical

cord to wrap around the baby. Of course, it’s crazy and makes no
sense why you could not wear a lei.
Old Wives Tale #10: Boiling Water

Many people use to believe that boiling water was needed to be

nearby the pregnant woman during labor. There is not a real reason
as to why boiling water played a role in childbirth. Some believe the
water was just a task to get the dad-to-be away from the labor, while
others believed that it was used to sterilize the tools needed to
perform the delivery. No matter what the reason was, this is
definitely just an old wives tale with no truth or importance to it.

Old Wives Tale #11: Full Moon

A full moon was believed to cause a woman to go into labor and give
birth.

Old Wives Tale #12: 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.

Old Wives Tale #13: Ring Test

Using a string, hang your wedding ring over your pregnant belly. You
are having a girl if the ring swings back and forth and it’s a boy if it
swings in a circle.

Old Wives Tale #14: Shape of Mom’s Face

When your face gets fuller and rounder when pregnant, it means
you’re going to have a girl. If your face is long and narrow, it’s a boy.

I think this is b.s. since women all gain weight differently. However,
that being said, my face has gotten rounder, so all signs point to a girl
for this one.

Old Wives Tale #15: Key Test

This test involves a key. If you pick up a key at the top (the roundest
part), you are going to have a boy. If you pick up the key at the
bottom (smallest part), you are going to have a girl. If you happen to
grab the key in the middle, congrats, it’s twins!

Old Wives Tale #16: Mayan Tale

The Mayan tale adds the mothers age at conception and the year of
conception. If the result is a even number then mom is having a girl.
If the result is an odd number then a boy is on the way! According to
this, we are having a girl.

Old Wives Tale #17: Drano Test

The drano test combines a tablespoon of Drano and urine together. If

the mixture turns green, it’s a girl. If it turns blue, it’s a boy.

Old Wives Tale #18: Acne

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

Old Wives Tale #19: 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.

Old Wives Tale #20: Smell of Garlic

If a pregnant woman eats a clove of garlic and the smell does not
come out of her pores, it’s a girl. If the smell seeps out of her pores,
it’s a boy.

Old Wives Tale #21: Ultrasound

I’m not sure that this falls under ‘old wives tales’, but, as with
anything, ultrasounds may not be accurate all of the time. In fact, one
of my friends was told that she was having a boy. A penis on the
ultrasound. Months later, it was determined that her little boy was
actually a little girl. I would have thought little girls could have
turned out to be boys, but not the other way. I guess there’s always
room for error though.

Old Wives Tale #22: 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. I have a “V”, so one more point for a
girl.

Old Wives Tale #23: Previous Kids

This tale only applies if you have had previous kids. If you have and
that child’s first word was momma, you will have a girl. If your first
child’s first word was dadda, you’ll have a boy. I can’t help you with
this one since I have no previous kiddos.

Old Wives Tale #24: Wooden Spoon, Scissors, and Pink

Bows

Apparently if you put a wooden spoon and a pair of scissors under

your bed and a pink bow under your pillow, you’ll have yourself a
little baby girl. I think this sounds like one of the craziest myths I’ve
ever heard. Anyone try it?

Old Wives Tale #25: History of Parent’s Kids

You can find out the sex by going off of your parent’s kids and the
order. If you are the first born, you will have what your mother had
but starting with her second child. If you are the middle child, you
will have what she said, but starting with the third child. If you are
the last child, you will have what your mother had in the exact order.
I think this tale only works when the parent’s had three kids.

Old Wives Tale #26: Time of Conception

The person that is most aggressive in bed at the time of conception is
the opposite of what the baby will be. In this case, we’ll have a girl.
(I’m not always boring in bed, but I had too much to drink on this
night and I know that I was not very aggressive.)

Old Wives Tale #27: Legs

If your legs get really big, you’re having a boy. If your legs stay in
shape and lean, it’s a girl. I think it’s too early for me to tell on this
one.

Old Wives Tale #28: Moodiness and a Little Pecker

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 because there’s a little penis
inside you. Not sure how true this is, but it sure does make me laugh!

Old Wives Tale #29: Bread

If you eat the ends of bread, it’s a boy. If you eat the middle of the
load, it’s a girl. I’ve never liked the ends of bread and always have
eaten from the middle… Another point for a little girl.

Old Wives Tale #30: 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. This tale tells me that I’ve having a girl.

Old Wives Tale #31: Mom’s 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, you
might just be having a little boy.

Old Wives Tale #32: 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 a dream that I was
having twins, and there’s only one baby in there, so maybe there’s
some truth to this… or maybe it’s just a coincidence!

Old Wives Tale #33: 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.

Old Wives Tale #34: Toddlers

If a toddler boy expresses interest in a pregnant woman, she is having

a girl. If he doesn’t show interest, she’s having a boy.

Old Wives Tale #35: 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. I prefer
my right side lately. Hmm.

Old Wives Tale #36: 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.

Old Wives Tale #37: 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. So far Tarzan has lost a
couple of pounds (while eating ice cream), so maybe a boy is what
we’re having.

Old Wives Tale #38: 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. I just told Tarzan
the other day that my left breast is significantly larger than the right
one. A girl maybe?

Old Wives Tale #39: Necklace Over Hand

Have someone hold a necklace over your hand. If the necklace swings
back and forth, it’s a boy. If it moves in a circle, it’s a girl. Last
summer one of my friends did this test to me at a crawfish boil. It
was done three times and the results were: girl, boy, and girl. She
also did it to other people, some pregnant, some not, and some that
already had kids. This test was right 100% of the time. Pretty
interesting if you ask me.

Old Wives Tale #40: What Do You Think?

71% of the time, the mom-to-be knows what she is having. I might be
falling into the old wives tale trap, or maybe I just want a little girl,
but I feel like it is a girl. I guess we’ll find out in 2.5 weeks!

Old Wives Tale #41: 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. As you know, I have only thrown up once, but I’ve been
extremely nauseous more often than not. Girl again perhaps.

Old Wives Tale #42: Areolae

If your areolae (the part around your nips) have darkened, it’s a boy.
Considering my areolae only look like they’ve eaten my boobs, all
while staying the same color, another sign pointing to a little girl.

Old Wives Tale #43: Protein

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

Old Wives Tale #44: 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.

Old Wives Tale #45: Hair on Legs

If the hair on your legs has been growing at record speeds, you might
be having a boy.

Old Wives Tale #46: Hands are Dry

If your hands are constantly dry, it’s a boy.

Old Wives Tale #47: 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.

Old Wives Tale #48: Nose

Do you feel like your nose is growing and getting wider? If so, you
might be having a boy.

Old Wives Tale #49: Headaches

If you are having headaches, you might be carrying a boy. I’ve

definitely had an increase in headaches, so I wonder…

Old Wives Tale #50: Drinking Water

Drinking water is really important when pregnant. An old wives tale
was that if the mom-to-be wasn’t drinking enough water daily, the
amniotic fluid would be really dirty for the baby. Drinking tons of
water will help you stay hydrated, but has no correlation with how
clean or dirty the amniotic sac is.

Old Wives Tale #51: 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. We can only agree on girls
names, so we’ll see how accurate this one is.

Do You Know Of An Old

Wives Tale Not Listed Above?
Share yours below!

Old Wives Tales