I thought it would be funny to see if any of those pregnancy myths or predictors like “you’re having a girl if you crave sweets” were true for you guys. So far, I don’t think they hold much truth for me…
Rumor #1: If you crave sugary foods it’s a girl, and if you crave salty/savory foods, it’s a boy. FALSE FOR ME (I craved salty foods both with Clara and the bun – baked potatoes 4 eva, y’all).
Rumor #2: If the heartbeat of the baby is over 140, it’s a girl. FALSE FOR ME (both the bean and the bun have had high heart rates – in fact the bun’s was higher than the bean’s at 170 in the early months of pregnancy while Clara hung around 160).
Rumor #3: You swell more when you’re pregnant with a girl. TRUE FOR ME (I had swollen ankles and fingers – couldn’t even wear my wedding ring – by 30 weeks with Clara, and I’m four weeks from having this bun without any of that this time… probably should go knock on some wood now, right?).
Rumor #4: You have more morning sickness with a girl. FALSE FOR ME (I had morning sickness with Clara until 18 weeks but I still have it – as well as afternoon and evening sickness with this boy bun).
Rumor #5: If you dream about having a girl or boy, your dream is right. TRUE FOR CLARA, FALSE FOR THE BUN (I just knew by 8 weeks that Clara was a girl after multiple dreams as well as this unshakable feeling that there was a little lady in there – meanwhile I thought this bun was a girl since I had the same cravings and morning sickness in the beginning, and oddly enough I didn’t have any dreams about having a boy or a girl until we knew it was a little man in there).
Rumor #6: You carry higher and wider with a girl, and lower and more in front with a boy. HALF TRUE FOR ME (I’m definitely carrying this boy more out front than I did with Clara, who I would’ve described as giving me a wider belly – but this boy was riding waaay higher than Clara until he dropped a little while ago, so that half of the equation was reversed).
Rumor #7: Girls steal your beauty. TRUE FOR ME (this one always makes me laugh – but I did feel like my pregnancy with Clara was full of a lot more swelling and acne and flat looking hair and skin; this time with the bun I’ve had no swelling, less acne, and shiny hair that I don’t even recognize as my own since I’m used to having a dry mass of brillo on my head – the only downside is that constant cookie-tossing doesn’t exactly cultivate that bombshell momma-to-be vibe).
Pregnancy legends aside, I’m just grateful he’s bouncing around in there and the doc says he’s doing great. We’re so excited to meet this little man in four short weeks (he’s due in mid-April), and I’d love to hear which rumors were right on the money for you – and which ones were so off it’s crazy.
Avery @ Young Aspirations says
How fun! :) Almost all of these were true for me! We’re expecting a girl Mid-may and Rumor #1 was true (sweets all day long), #2 was true (140’s and 150’s), #3 could be true? I have some mild swelling but it’s our first babe so I don’t have anything to compare it to!, #4 I would say was true – I had HORRIBLE all-day morning sickness till 13 weeks and then it vanished.. so it was short but not sweet,#5 was false – actually had a couple BOY dreams!, #6 I really don’t know.. again nothing to compare it to but I’m thinking high and wide so possibly true?, and #7 was definitely true – I had horrible acne up until about my 3rd trimester when I was able to get it under control. My hair has also been dry and flat, not shiny and full at all! I didn’t realize how many of these were true until reading your post. Go figure!
Christa says
So I’ve only been pregnant once so far with a little boy. He’s now three and a half months old :-) and I have to say most of these we’re false for me! I super craved sweet foods (still do…are nursing cravings a real thing?!). His heartbeat was always just over 160, and people thought I always carried high. Hahaha, I just love the sweet, old ladies who come up to you and “know” what you’re having along with some sage advice. Hahaha, and they’re usually right! One old wives take that I’m getting more and more convinced is true though is that the more heartburn you have, the more hair your baby has. I had terrible heartburn from 14 weeks on, and it was like he was wearing a wig when he was born, there was so much hair! What was your experience with that and Clara?
And enjoy these last few weeks…yay!
Young House Life says
Oh I forgot about the heartburn one! Lots of it with Clara… but she was nearly bald at birth (and then didn’t have much hair for years!). This one I have less, so we’ll have to see how it works out!
xo
s
D says
It’s obviously not 100%, but this one actually has some science behind it! A proliferance of hormones that put more hair on your babies head (I want to say estrogen but it’s been a while since I read the study) also relax the sphincter that is supposed to keep gastric juices in your stomach!
Keeli says
Oh, gotta love the tales! I just had my first. I really wanted him to have hair. My sister had 3 all with lots of dark hair and swore by heartburn. I had 0 heartburn and our boy had a full head of long blonde hair! My brother claims he gets the heartburn, instead of his wife. haha
Christine says
Best of luck Sherry! I just had baby #4 a few weeks ago. I now have 2 boys and 2 girls. I found that I craved sweets with the girls; burgers/red meat with the boys. Laughing at the one comment on nursing cravings – still only want to eat ice cream and Lemonheads….yikes….how will I ever get rid of the weight…haha.
Tiffany says
I’m currently 23 weeks pregnant with a little girl.
Almost all of these old wives tales were false for me.
#1 Salty vs sweet cravings: False, I’ve been craving salty foods, which is what I preferred before I was pregnant as well. I’m with you on the baked potatoes! My mother craved them when pregnant with me and my sister and I’ve been eating them a lot too. Typing that actually just made me really want one ha ha.
#2 heartbeat over or under 140: True: heartbeat has consistently been over 140
#3 Swelling with a girl: False, very little swelling.
#4 More morning sickness with a girl: False, I’ve only had morning sickness for the first 13-14 weeks.
#5 Dreams: False, I was certain there was a little boy in there
#6 Carrying high or low: False, from the back you wouldn’t know I was pregnant to look at me, I’m carrying this little girl low and to the front
#7 Stealing beauty: True! Though I don’t have any swelling my skin is definitely taking a hit as well as my hair
The Chinese baby calendar however was right for me. If you’re age and month of conception are both odd or both even then you’re supposedly having a girl. Thanks for sharing!
Tiffany says
I’m currently 23 weeks pregnant with a little girl.
Almost all of these old wives tales were false for me.
#1 Salty vs sweet cravings: False, I’ve been craving salty foods, which is what I preferred before I was pregnant as well. I’m with you on the baked potatoes! My mother craved them when pregnant with me and my sister and I’ve been eating them a lot too. Typing that actually just made me really want one ha ha.
#2 heartbeat over or under 140: True: heartbeat has consistently been over 140
#3 Swelling with a girl: False, very little swelling.
#4 More morning sickness with a girl: False, I’ve only had morning sickness for the first 13-14 weeks.
#5 Dreams: False, I was certain there was a little boy in there
#6 Carrying high or low: False, from the back you wouldn’t know I was pregnant to look at me, I’m carrying this little girl low and to the front
#7 Stealing beauty: True! Though I don’t have any swelling my skin is definitely taking a hit as well as my hair
The Chinese baby calendar however was right for me. If you’re age and month of conception are both odd or both even then you’re supposedly having a girl. Thanks for sharing!
Nichole says
I have sweet little girl (who will be 2 in May) and I’ve got to say, according to these old wives tales I’m not sure my body knew I was pregnant!
No cravings, heartbeat was around 160s, a little heartburn at the beginning and end but nothing too serious (she did have a lot of hair when she was born through), no swelling or morning sickness and no dreams of either a boy or girl – I barely remember my dreams anyway, I believe I carried wider however I used to be told by one lady in particular “you’re still carrying really high” even when I was a few days from having her! As far as the beauty stealing I’d have to let someone else judge that ;) but I never had any acne or crazy hair (although since I’ve had her my hair has gone completely unmanageable and frizzy?)
Sherry you are absolutely stunning! Good luck in the next few weeks :)
CJ says
I guess my body didn’t know what “pregnant” was supposed to feel like either! I’m 33 weeks today, having a girl, and haven’t had any morning sickness, swelling, cravings, or boy/girl dreams either! I did have more acne than I’ve had since I was 15 for my first trimester, and my hair has been an oily mess the whole time. Just started with some heartburn – not fun! My grandma keeps asking if I’m “sure” it’s a girl, since I’m carrying low and straight out in front – and sometimes people don’t realize I’m pregnant until they see me from the side!
Jenn says
I’ve only been pregnant once (girl), so I can’t do a compare, but…
#1: True – Orange juice was my only real craving. I couldn’t get enough.
#2: True – She was in the 150’s the whole time.
#3: True – I was wearing my rings on my necklace by about 28 or 30 weeks.
#4: False – I never had morning sickness (don’t hate me!). I got queasy occasionally if I waited too long to eat. I did however, have mind bending heartburn from about 12 weeks on. Oddly, mine was backwards of “normal” heartburn – spicy food made it better, and mine was much worse during the day than at night. And yes, she was born with a head full of hair. Not the full thick stuff some kids are born with, but coming from a family of bald babies, she had tons of hair.
#5: False – I dreamed about having a boy. I was convinced it was a boy, and so were most of the people who guessed. We were so surprised to hear “girl” at the anatomy scan!
#6: True – I definitely carried high and wide with her. No cute “basketball belly” for me. She stayed high the whole time, too – she never dropped, even after I was induced.
#7: Not sure on that one
Chelsea says
This was such a fun list to read! I know people who totally believe these things and people who don’t…it’s always fun to see who matches up to them!
Nikki says
I have a two year old boy and am ten weeks pregnant with #2, so I can only speak to the boy, so far. #1 true, salty and fried all the way. #2 false-that said he was a girl from the start. #3 I think is true. He was born in March, maybe seasons matter (swell more in the summer?), and I didn’t swell until the week after he was born. #4. I was sick in the mornings from week six to twenty with #1. It started at 6 with #2 and is still going… #5 I either have off the wall dreams or don’t remember them, nothing about gender with either…so far. #6 I’m not sure about height (and I’m short waisted), but my boy was definitely all on front until the last week or two (when I just felt like everything but my fingers swelled). #7. I didn’t have many issues with #1, just exfoliated more. I’m still waiting on my hair to start staying on my head better with this one. For heartburn, about twenty weeks it came to live with me and stayed last time and he had a head full of hair when he was born. I’m so excited for you guys and your growing family! Thank you for sharing!
Kelsey says
Old wives tales are fun, but I don’t put much stock in them. A few of the things up there were true for my first pregnancy (a boy), and I’m due in 4 weeks with baby #2, whose sex is a surprise. This pregnancy has been pretty similar except for less swelling (my first was born in August, and I was miserable). Both my husband and I had a strong feeling from the beginning that this one is a girl, but who knows? We’re excited to find out either way!
Yo says
Old ladies (that I didn’t know previously) stopped me in the street all the time to tell me that I was so beautiful that surely I was carrying a boy. Mind that I am not particularly beautiful, but they were right, it was a boy!
Rachel says
I had a boy in September and mine were definitely mixed:
#1: This one was somewhat false for me. I craved steamed vegetables, smoothies, and hot fudge sundaes.
#2: False for me too. My little guy’s heart rate was always over 160.
#3: Not sure on this one since I’ve only had a boy, but I did get pretty swollen—couldn’t wear my wedding rings for months and, whoa, the cankles!
#4: I had a good bit of nausea and morning sickness, but it ended around 18 weeks. Sorry yours is still going!
#5: I didn’t dream about it but I did have this feeling from pretty early on that he was a boy.
#6: Half true for me too. I carried him high and out in front the whole pregnancy.
#7 True for me.
Cate says
I have a 4 year old boy and am currently 33 weeks pregnant with boy number 2! No real cravings with either…the first I was miserably sick until the end, and there wasn’t a whole lot I wanted to eat. Both boys have had fast heartbeats (early in the 170s and then 150s from there on out). No swelling with either one. Miserably sick with boy #1 and only lasted until about 13 weeks with boy #2, for which I am very grateful!! That was no fun the first time around :). No heartburn with either – boy #1 had a head full of hair and we’ll see about baby brother. And I’ve carried both high – people always say it looks like a girl, but I just think there’s not a whole lot of space for them to be but high…I’m 5’3 and pretty short waisted. And no dreams or gut feelings either way for sex!
stacey says
I can’t comment on cool old pregnancy wives’ tales (having never been pregnant), but I just have to say I chuckled to myself when the pic of Sherry looking morning (all day?) sick popped up with an ad for Prego right next to it. Hee!
Young House Life says
Ha!
xo
s
Christine says
I am currently 35 weeks along and we are going to be surprised for this little ones gender. I am kind of curious once we know to see if any are true. Granted not wanting to know has made everyone an expert on what we are having. Lady at the grocery store, monther-in-laws, etc…. I have also had people comment on this little ones activity level (all-day!) means its a boy. Part of me wonders if that is more gender-typing already. My mom says I was much more active than my brothers, so maybe its just genetics! All we know is we are excited to meet this little surprise!
Sophie says
So exciting! People seem to have such varied experiences with pregnancy. Can’t wait for you little guy to arrive. One of my favourite celebrities just became a father and they named their son Buzz Michelangelo… Not a name you’ll be considering, I’m guessing! ;)
Young House Life says
Clara would like that! Haha!
xo
s
Amanda says
That’s Tom Fletcher from McFly’s little boy right? He’s such an awesome singer. Though his & his wife’s child name is a bit .. weird. Not judging. ;)
Speaking of him, Sherry, you and Clara need to watch his wedding speech. It’s so beautiful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27WufdasQYs
Amanda says
Oh & PS Sherry, that’s the video I posted on your blog a few days ago with the dad singing to the time lapse of the pregnant wife.
Amanda says
Oops. That’s who made the video I posted the other day … not that’s the video. That one is DIFFERENT! Haha!
Young House Life says
Gotcha! Love them both :)
xo
s
Megan says
For reference: My first pregnancy was a girl (now 4) and my second was a boy (now 18 months).
Rumor #1: I craved all things sweet with both pregnancies, though I don’t think that is something I can rightfully blame on either babe – I just have an affinity for sweets.
Rumor #2: Both kids were within the same range but I don’t remember what it was exactly – My son, Sebastian, may have been just slightly higher but not by much.
Rumor #3,6, and 7: I felt like I waddled from the moment I knew I was pregnant with Nora but I felt I looked “movie pregnant” with Sebastian. My was so swollen with Nora that I had to buy a couple pairs of flats TWO sizes up and I got a temporary wedding band because I couldn’t get my regular one on early on. (After Nora I ended up with severe eclampsia so my extra squishiness could have been a result of that instead of the fact I was baking a girl)
Rumor #4: That is just a big fat lie in my experience. I had rough morning sickness with Nora but as soon as I ended the first trimester it vanished. With Sebastian, I had morning, mid-day, evening sickness so bad my co-workers grew unfazed by me huddled on the floor over my trashcan threatening to dress my kid in the ugliest polyester pants suits I could find until he moved out of the house for what he was making me go through. It didn’t end with the first trimester either, I ended up losing almost 15 pounds throughout the pregnancy because I couldn’t keep anything down.
The only comfort I took from the extra sickness was the old wives tale that a sicker pregnancy makes for a healthier (uncomplicated) birth. I was terrified after my experiences with Nora so I clutched onto that and prayed it would be true for me (it was).
Rumor #5: I don’t remember having specific dreams, but I just knew Nora was going to be a girl. Since I didn’t have anything to base it on (other than a feeling) I remember thinking if the ultrasound revealed a boy, I would have been so devastated (momentarily of course), just because I knew I was having a girl.
Good luck in your final weeks! I hope everything goes smoothly for you guys!
Katie H says
A lot of the girl rumors are true for me (26 weeks along with our first)…Lots of nausea (morning, noon, and night—needed medication so I could make it to work), heartbeat is always over 140, lots of swelling at the moment (I think I’m retaining 12 gallons of water because I drink >2L a day but I think it just stays in there), the beauty has been sucked right out of me with acne and hair I would like to shave off my head right now (and a lot of my niceness), and I am carrying high and wide. I haven’t really had any dreams about the baby–I did have a dream I gave birth to a lobster, that was about it. Lots of heartburn too!
Aimee says
I dreamt I gave birth to kittens! I thought I was the only that had crazy dreams like that.
Mattie says
I dreamt that they handed me a swaddled opossum in the hospital :)
Young House Life says
No way! With Clara I dreamed that she grabbed my finger through my stomach and held it, like around my skin. So creepy!
xo
s
Leigh says
I have a 2.5 year old boy and am 25 weeks pregnant with boy #2. Heartburn was ridiculous the first time around and he was bald. He got his first haircut at 2 but honestly, we could have waited. I have crazy heartburn this time too, but we’ll have to wait a bit longer to find out about hair.
#1: true and false. I craved salt and sour foods with boy #1 but have craved sugar with boy #2.
#2: false. Both boys have had heartbeats in the 160’s.
#3: i don’t have a girl so I can’t attest to worse swelling but I was SUPER swollen with boy #1. It started around week 30. I wore flip flops to work (a big no-no but I dared someone to say a word!) because my feet wouldn’t fit in anything else except slippers. My toes looked like sausages. I had cankles that connected to what looked like tree stumps of legs (and I’m 5’8″), fingers were awful looking and my nose had spread and taken over half my cheeks. Fingers crossed that doesn’t repeat itself!!!
#4: again I don’t have a girl but I kept morning, afternoon and evening sickness the whole 9 months with boy #1 and at 25 weeks with boy #2, I am holding steady with the same pattern. Maybe if I had a girl I wouldn’t have any???
#5: with boy #1 I dreamed I was having a blonde haired boy and that’s what I had. Boy #2 I didn’t have any dreams but I did have a feeling I was having another boy.
#6: Half true. I have carried high and in front with both boys so far.
#7: well I don’t have a girl, but I will say with boy #1 my skin looked great. My hair was full and shiny. Boy #2 I have been breaking out worse than I did as a teenager and my hair is dull and flat no matter what I do.
It’s so funny to see what holds true and what doesn’t!
Shannon says
Try oil pulling for your morning sickness! Oils in general work wonders, but oil pulling will change your pregnant life!
You take between a teaspoon and a tablespoon (I do closer to a teaspoon) of organic coconut oil and swish it around your mouth for 20 minutes… It melts very quickly and tastes of nothing, so it’s like swishing water. I do it during my morning routine of shower and makeup. It clears out the toxins from your mouth and body (Google the benefits, so I don’t fill up your comments section!). I know you like natural and organic foods, so this is a great additon to clean and healthy living.
This isn’t just for pregnancy either… I hope you give it a shot! Best of luck!
Young House Life says
Thanks Shannon!
xo
s
Anna Kelly says
Poor sweet Sherry. I can’t believe that you’ve had to deal with morning sickness throughout this entire pregnancy – you are such a trooper. “Constant cookie-tossing” reminded me of all the silly throw-up euphemisms my dad would use… I think that “selling Buicks” was one of my favorites. :)
Wishing you much luck in the home stretch and joy on the day you meet this little man! His room looks awesome (that emerald green is my JAM)!
Young House Life says
Selling Buicks = hilarious! Never heard that one!
xo
s
Pamela Bertone says
I carried right out in front for both my boys and seemed all over the place with my daughter. I had terrible heartburn with my daughter, which I never had with my sons, and she came out with tons of hair, unlike both her brothers. I swelled with the first pregnancy (statistically common, actually) but didn’t with the other two. First pregnancy, I craved fruit and found ham sandwiches with fresh tomatoes and mustard irresistible!!! With the second and third pregnancies, I don’t recall any food preferences. I dreamt of having a boy with my first pregnancy, “knew” I was having a boy again the second time, and “knew” again I was having a girl the third time.
It’s been 19 years since my last pregnancy, and 25 since my first….and I’ve got baby fever in the worst way!!! I wonder if it’s mother nature preparing me for being a grandma….it’s not in the cards presently, but perhaps only a couple of years away. You look fabulous Mama Petersik! You’re in the final countdown! Congrats :)
Amy E. says
excuse me while i break into song: THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!! (i actually know zero other words to that song)
Young House Life says
Haha! I only know “the final countdown” and the “duh nuh nuuuuuh nuh, duh na nuh nuh nuh”
xo
s
Andrea says
Well, number one was definitely false for me. I craved sweet (very unusual for me) with a boy. I’m not sure about the heart rate, swelling, or morning sickness as I don’t have anything to compare it to (yet). With only one kid it’s hard to know if it’s because of the gender or just how your body reacts to pregnancy. I totally thought he was a girl though for the first half of the pregnancy (until we found out otherwise). People did tell me I was carrying like I was having a boy, so I guess that one was right. No one thought it looked like I was having a girl! My skin was awesome when I was pregnant, which was nice. And the heartburn one was dead on. I had a lot of heartburn and he was born with a lot of hair. I’ve heard that one has been proven accurate. There’s an actual correlation between heartburn and hair…although it’s obviously not guaranteed!
Stacey says
I’ve only had a girl so far, but only #3 was true for me! And even then, the swelling wasn’t thaat bad… but my face and fingers definitely took a hit by the end.
Tina says
Ok, girl, first not to scare ya..but you are never 100% sure of the sex until you hold the sweet, healthy bun in your arms. Lol:) just had to inerject that in there! You knew a story had to be coming…my sister in law was told more than once through various methods( all medical not just folklore that she was having a girl. She had a totally pink shower, all pink nursery, and every pink girl outfit a little princess could have. She was soo sure she even cute all the tags and washed all her clothes. You know the end of this story…delivered sweet bouncing baby boy, who got to home in him pink car seat. Needless to say we were all scrambling to get some “boy”!clothes!
Figured you could use a laugh at the wonderful part of your pregnancy
Also, I too was sick my entire pregnancy, if my doctor had said how lucky I was to be sick because it meant a very healthy pregnancy one more time I might have jumped across his desk! Hahaha
Jaime says
I have to agree! I was told via multiple ultrasounds that we were having a girl despite the blood test indicating boy….from the get-go we had decided to go gender-neutral for the big ticket items (carseat, stroller, swing, etc)since we might want a second kid so that wasn’t an issue. I only cut the tags off of 1-2 items per sex and the rest was neutral clothes for the beginning. Once the baby arrived and we were 100% certain it was a girl the grandmas went nuts making up for lost baby-clothes shopping time. Hahaha!
Leah says
This is part of why we’re not finding out. I’m due in June, and I keep saying we’ll just have to find out. We’ve had friends who have been told the wrong sex before. We’ll just kick it old school :-)
Plus, some colors I absolutely love right now are green, orange, and grey, so we’re just doing a lot of that. This is our first, and we figure anything gender neutral can be reused. Plenty of time for getting dresses when the baby is older if need be.
Laeci says
I have a two year old boy and am 21 weeks pregnant with another boy, and I’m having a completely opposite pregnancy experience. I guess that means the old wives’ tales are not true for me, since you’d think they’d be consistent!
Oh, and I have been craving baked potatoes this entire pregnancy! Now that you mentioned them I have to make them for dinner. :)
Isobelle says
I heard that women tend to carry everywhere with a girl….like a bit of weight gain everywhere where as with a boy you tend to just carry in your belly. That is TRUE for me, i even lost weight everywhere but my belly :-)
Alyssa :) says
So I have to share a story along the lines of a girl baby stealing your beauty… My mom loved to tell us about her pregnancies with us when we were young (age appropriate of course) and always commented that her 2 little girls both “sucked the prettiness out of her”. So one day in the grocery store, an elderly lady asked my 3 year old sister how she got so cute (she honestly looked like a porcelain doll at that age). My sister matter-of-factly replies, “Cuz I sucked the prettiness out of my momma.” The lady was stunned and burst out laughing. My mother was mortified…..out of the mouths of babes :)
Young House Life says
That’s priceless!
xo
s
Janine says
I have a daughter and when I was pregnant my hair was beautiful, I had no acne whatsoever and I was’t swolen! Ahh…to be pregnant and have beautiful hair again…haha… So, #7 is’t always true… :-) Love to read about you’re pregnancy, hope you have a good delivery (this time…). x from Holland!
Nicole says
Fun! First, I am so sorry you are still so sick! I was horrifically sick this time around until about 16 weeks or so and can not imagine still being so sick. Seriously, my mental health would be in the toilet by now. Anyway, my first was a girl and I am due mid-May with my second, but we don’t know what it is so it’s hard to say what is true/not true for me! I really think it’s a boy and I’m carrying way out in front, have horrible heartburn, and just generally feel gross. But not much swelling yet, and I crave salty things just like last time so we’ll see!
Katie says
I think you should start a children’s book series entitled, The Bean and The Barnacle or The Bean and The Bun. :) We were sure we were having a girl but ended up with a wonderful little boy!
Heather says
I have two girls and then my babies a boy (figuratively, he’ll be 3 in August
Angela says
We have three girls and one boy and I don’t think I felt different with any pregnancy. I just felt gross. I know that’s not a clinical term, but I just felt like a beached whale, all swollen, and just awful. However, the more I think about it, the more I think my last and only boy pregnancy was the worst. I had to sleep on the couch, propped up, because of heartburn and this odd thing where my arms would go numb. I would vomit any time I laughed heartily, even the day of his birth. I am so grateful he’s here, but worst nine months ever.
“Cookie tossing” make me laugh. I read it in an announcer’s voice. “And, over here in the corner is five time cookie tossing champ…”
Dude, Sherry. Not to be a creeper (so anything after that is guaranteed to be creepy), you are a babe, ill or not. Just wow. Hang in there! You’re almost there. I’m sorry you are still feeling ill.
Leanne says
21 weeks into my first pregnancy, having a boy :)
Rumor #1: I am 50/50, I just seem to get cravings, it doesn’t matter which way lol Tonight it was green olives and strawberries for dinner?!
Rumor #2: Heartbeat… my baby was lower, around 150 to start with then up around the 160 mark.
Rumor #3: Swelling, nothing too bad right now but I have had a weird reaction to my wedding rings since about 8 weeks… So I have not been wearing them for quite a while now!Hoping I can try them successfully again soon!
Rumor #4: Morning sickness… don’t hate me but I have had the nausea with no vomiting! I get it in waves for a few days and then it will go away for a few days, then back again. Weird, but I am so very thankful that I have not been sick like so many others go through!
Rumor #5: Dreams- I felt I was having a girl right up until the ultrasound tech showed me it was clearly a boy at my 20 week scan…
Rumor #6: My baby moves around a lot, some days way out in front, other days he is tucked right in there and I have hardly any belly. So I am not sure on that one!
Rumor #7: Girls steal your beauty… well, my face and hair are producing crazy amounts of oil but I have not really had much acne, so thats a win I guess!
Overall I think that these old wives tales are fun but I am not sure how much stock we can set by them lol
Diane says
When I was pregnant with my first child the doctor kept telling me based on the heart beat we were having a boy. Well baby turned out to be a little girl! I still laugh when I look over old baby shower cards for her and they say good luck with Eddie!!
Kelly says
I actually posted a blog post similar to this while expecting my little guy (who at the time we didn’t know was a little guy). Most of the old wives’ tales were correct!
Martha says
I am pregnant with girl/baby number one, so I don’t really have anything to compare it too other than my sister’s recent pregnancy with a boy.
#1 I don’t know that I’ve had specific cravings yet other than citrus for a good two months. I just like to snack in general! Sure, I’m “craving” pizza, but I’m definitely just milking this whole creating life thing so I can eat my favorite foods whenever I want :-) My sister did crave pizza like a mad woman, but again, she loves pizza all the time.
#2 Her heartbeat has hovered in the 155 range. So true?
#3 I haven’t swelled up yet, but summer is fast approaching and the little lady won’t arrive until August. My sister swelled in her face pretty early and stopped wearing her rings by month 7, but again, she was also pregnant in the summer time!
#4 Sorry Sherry, no morning sickness here. And my sister didn’t have any either. But heartburn, let me tell you – if this little lady doesn’t come out with a full head of hair . . .
#5 I never really had dreams about the baby, but pregnancy has definitely given me some bizarre dreams.
#6 Being baby number one I don’t have much to compare it too, but I feel like my bump is wider than it juts out
#7 Not yet?
Brittany says
This was such a fun post! I’m expecting my first (a little boy) the first week of June. I don’t have a previous pregnancy to compare to but I feel like my little guy has gone against some of the pregnancy urban legends. Everyone that guesses just by looking at my belly goes with girl since he’s riding so high and he had a higher heartrate in the beginning. I did have lots of dreams in the beginning that it was a boy and I kind of just knew at a certain point that we were going to be having a little mr. Congrats to you all, can’t wait to see the little guy! Also, thanks for the nursery inspiration! I love where you guys are going with it!
Karyn says
I am currently just over 24 weeks pregnant with a baby boy (due mid-July) and have a 3-1/2 year old daughter (October 2010 baby).
Almost all of these old wives tales were false for me.
#1 Salty vs sweet cravings: False, I’ve craved salty (and sour) foods during both my pregnancies.
#2 Heartbeat over or under 140: I guess partly true, both my babies have had high heartrates in utero (this baby boy’s last heartrate was 165 just over a week ago) so it would seem true for my daughter and false for my son.
#3 Swelling with a girl: False, I did have some swelling near the end with my daughter and have it again this time, but nothing major.
#4 More morning sickness with a girl: False, my morning sickness with my daughter was gone by about 20ish weeks, and I’m still battling it with my son.
#5 Dreams: False, have only ever had bizzare baby dreams with both pregnancies (along the lines of a litter of kittens and/or puppies instead of a baby), no “gut” feeling on the sex of either baby before finding out at 20 weeks.
#6 Carrying high or low: I’d say False, but I’m only 4’10” so I don’t even know if it’s possible for me to carry high or low, I just don’t have much torso length at all! For the record, I guess I carried my daughter high (she didn’t drop until 40w3d and I delivered her at 41 weeks) and I’m carrying the same this pregnancy.
#7 Stealing beauty: True. I had more acne when pregnant with my daughter than I do now with my son, but my hair/nails are pretty much the same both times.
#8 Heartburn = lots of hair: I had horrible heartburn when pregnant with my daughter and she was a baldy at birth (still not a ton of hair yet) and I’m having just as much heartburn with this baby but we’ll have to wait until July and see how much hair he has when he’s born to know if it’s true for him.
#9 Chinese & Mayan Calendars: Both False for both pregnancies.
Nikki says
#1: False for me. I have a 3 year old daughter, and am 19 weeks pregnant with another girl. During both pregnancies (so far, at least), I didn’t want sweets at all. Last time, I craved vinegar and this time its lemons!
#2: False again. This bean’s HR has consistently been around 135. My doctor was SURE she was a boy until we saw the ultrasound last week!
#3: Last time I swelled quite a bit, but I was still wearing my wedding rings during delivery, so obviously it wasn’t too bad. This time I haven’t swelled at all (yet), and I’m not even gaining much weight (like I did last time).
#4: Can’t say for this one. I had ZERO morning sickness with my first baby girl, and this time around I was incredibly nauseous until about 11 weeks.
#5: Completely FALSE for me! Both pregnancies, I dreamed several times about a boy baby. Just last week, I dreamed that we had the ultrasound and the tech said “its a boy!” Boy was I wrong!
#6: Not sure about this one either. I carried very in front with my last girl, and this one seems to be the same. But last time, my hips and butt got much bigger, and so far this time they’re not. I’m all belly (and I love it, lol)!
#7: Hmm…I dunno. I felt great last time, but looking back at my pictures, I looked terrible! haha. This time, I feel like I look better. I’m not dealing with horrible acne or anything, so that’s a plus!
I love these gender theories, even though they’re almost always wrong! (:
Candace says
Currently 25 weeks pregnant with a girl – the wives tales are mixed for me!
1) Salty vs sweet cravings: False. I went from cheez-its to bready-bread-bread to dairy (mozzerella!!) Now I jsut can’t wait for spring & summer produce!! Fresh tomatoes GET IN MY BELLY!!!
2) Heartbeat: um, inconclusive? heart rate has been 138-143 this whole time. Nice and ambiguous. Though, I guess TECHNICALLY, only one 138 reading, so all have been 140 and 142ish = over.
3) Swelling: False, very little swelling (my friend just yelled at me for having pretty feet… maybe summer and 3rd trimester will change that?)
4) Morning sickness: None. Slight indigestion/unsettled feeling a handful of times, but no real nausea… don’t hate me.
5) Dreams: False. I’ve been all over. I had more boy dreams in the beginning, but we talked about boy a little more because we’d name a first son after his father, so I think that’s more a dream correlation to what was done/said in waking hours. That being said, mentally I could see a boy more- as we knew name and nursery design early. But there was a more “feeling” when I thought about it being a girl inside. Witchy woman style.
6) Carrying high or low: I think I’m carrying high, but there’s those pesky 10 extra lbs form pre-preg that obscured it in the beginning. Definitely not wide, though. It’s all front and center.
7) Stealing beauty: Kinda true? I tend to have one small zit here and there fairly consistently- as soon as one fades another comes (I get a zit when I PMS too- it’s like a face alarm of what’s to come.) I DO have backne. Which is sexy. No face swelling. Hair is always a bird’s nest of curly something, so who knows. But not shedding as much.
Found these super fun! There was a pee + baking soda test that was true for girl for me, too.
Aimee says
Some of these were true for me with my first baby, a boy. I wanted nothing but veggies and potatoes with him (I gained only 11 pounds because he basically forced me to eat healthy), I had only mild heartburn and he had really wispy hair for ages with a serious old-man hairline, and my belly was definitely in front and humongous. I won’t know what this baby is for a few more weeks (we find out on my sons birthday!), but everyone keeps telling me that because of the sugary cravings and the excessive morning sickness I have had, that it must be a girl. I wouldn’t mind either way, though it would be the first girl in either my family or my husbands this generation.
Lauren Nicole says
I have two girls –
I craved both sugary and salty foods (ice cream! hamburgers!).
Both heartbeats were over 140.
I swelled more with the second one (born in october) than the first one (born in July).
I had the exact same morning sickness with both.
Had dreams about a boy the first pregnancy and dreams about boys and girls the second time.
Carried low and in front for both.
Felt incredibly beautiful during both pregnancies.
Can’t wait to “meet” your Barnacle! Blessings for a peaceful delivery this time.
Lauren Nicole says
Oh, and I had terrible heartburn with both pregnancies (that’s how I knew I was pregnant the second time around) and both of my girls were practically bald the first 6 months of their lives!
Emily says
I am 23 weeks pregnant with a GIIIIIIIRRRRLLLL!!!!!!!! I wanted a girl, but was convinced the baby was a boy, up until we cut a cake that told us differently. I still want to shout it from rooftops :). One of the reasons that I thought it was a boy, was the unending all day sickness that I have experienced. Everyone I know (I included Sherry in this :)) was super sick, even past the first trimester, with boys. I started feeling ill at 5 weeks, and it hasn’t passed. I didn’t dream about the baby being a boy or a girl, but my husband frequently dreamed we were having a girl before we found out. No swelling so far… but I think it is also to early to tell on this one. Also, the thought of sweets makes me ill, but I can’t get enough of Wavy Lays Bar-b-cue chips. I eat a full size bag a day.
Kelly B. says
The ‘ol heartburn = hair was true for me! I have A LOT of hair (like, I wake up in the morning and look like Cousin It), while the Hubs… not so much. So it was really a roll of the dice for my son. I had mad crazy heartburn my entire pregnancy and pretty much took swigs from a Maalox bottle on the regular near the end. Sure enough, my son was born with a FULL head of dark hair, just like his Mama! Funny thing is though that his hair has turned platinum blonde, like my husband’s, but not by falling out and growing back in like it often does with babies. It just started to grow in blonde and when his first hair cut rolled around, it looked like we had dip-dyed his ends dark!
Also, I carried my son much like you’re describing – high and right out in front. Like a basketball tucked under my shirt!
Congrats y’all!
Kathryn says
I have a 9 month old girl and I’m pregnant with a boy now. I’ve found that I’m kind of a pregnancy weirdo anyway with basically no symptoms except for some dizziness in the 2nd trimester and so. much. burping. But the thing about dreaming of your baby was so true for me with our second. I had a dream in September, literally the week after he was conceived, that we had a little boy that looked just like my husband. Weird stuff.
Ash says
Not having been pregnant yet, I can’t speak from personal experience (yet!). But I dream about being pregnant ALL THE TIME, like seriously once a week or so. Never any specific gender – although now I’ve now progressed to dreaming about other people (like my BFF who is planning to stay child-free) or my dog (who is both male AND neutured) being pregnant and/or giving birth!
Also, there’s a superstition you can do with a necklace – some variations say it has to be a cross or a saint’s image, but that was coming from my very-traditionally-Roman Catholic sister-in-law from Spain, so ??? – where you touch the pendant to the palm of your hand 3 times then let it dangle. If it swings in a circle, that’s a girl, and in a straight line it’s a boy. You can do this to predict how many/what sex of kids you’ll have and in order. It’s always said I would have just one girl – so we’ll see :)
When I was in utero, the doctor clearly believe in the heartbeat one – they told my parents that based on my heartbeat I’d be a boy or a very mild girl. My parents say he was wrong on both counts! :D
Enjoy your last weeks! Will you and John have a chance for a babymoon, or as I recently heard it called, a “gestation vacation”?
Stephanie @ Whole Health Dork says
I can’t believe some of those are actually true (at least for you). Have you done anything differently that could explain some of these differences? Is your diet different, do you think you’re more active because you’re chasing after a toddler? Sorry–I work in clinical research, so I’m always looking for things that could explain a difference. ;-)
Young House Life says
I have no idea! I feel like I’m pretty much doing the same thing (working from home, eating the same foods since I have the same cravings, wearing the same maternity clothes, etc) although I’m sick more and probably more active just chasing Clara and doing more side jobs these days, so those are two variations from the first round. Most docs will say that every pregnancy is completely different though, so I guess your body can react differently each time (I’ve also hear elevated estrogen or testosterone from carrying a girl or a boy can alter things like making headaches more or less common).
xo
s
Meredith Jones says
SO we’re pretty much due it sounds like the same exact time, and I’m also having a boy, so this was fun to read!
#1 TRUE. In the beginning I def didn’t want sugary foods, I wanted french fries and salty goodness! #2 FALSE. Little man’s heartbeat has stayed around 155 the whole pregnancy. #3 TRUE. I haven’t had any swelling whatsoever. So complaints from this mama! #4 ??. I didn’t have any super bad morning sickness, no throwing up or anything. I sure didn’t feel good at all though! #5 FALSE. I think. I think I had dreams in the beginning about having a baby, but I don’t remember it being a boy or girl! #6. TRUE. With three weeks to go, from behind you wouldn’t even know I’m expecting, but then I turn around and it like BA-BAM!#7 TRUE i guess. I wouldn’t say this boy is stealing my beauty, he’s not making me look any better in the face since he’s not letting me sleep very much though!!
And heartburn to throw that in here, I just started having it about three weeks ago, mainly when I drink water… which is not very helpful when the doc says I need to drink more of it! :)
Nichole C says
I have a little girl (3) and am due with a boy in 1.5 weeks! it’s totally fun to see the difference!
Rumor #1: totally true! I usually crave sweets in general, even when not pregnant but I have been shocked to be craving more salty this time. and now I want a baked potato! yum!
Rumor #2: False, our dude’s heartbeat has been consistently over 140.
Rumor #3: FALSE! I didn’t swell at all with my girl but have this time around. however, last time I was due in early feb. so it was def cooler. I notice I swell mostly when I am getting overheated. so that may have more to do with it.
Rumor #4: FALSE – I had morning sickness (all day, really) until 12 weeks exactly with my girl. I actually took a pregnancy test because I thought I may not be pregnant anymore with the drastic change from one day to the next! this time it last into 17 or 18 weeks I think and I had actual “tossing of the cookies” ;-) this time.
Rumor #5: I don’t really remember dreaming about having either. usually if I see my baby in a dream it is nondescript and looks like it could be either. which is weird.
Rumor #6: half true I guess. I didn’t get nearly as big with my girl but she was posterior. whereas this baby is all out front! I seem to be carrying them at about the same height though when I look back at pics.
Rumor #7: I think this is true for me. this time my nails and hair are growing so fast I need to trim my nails weekly it seems!
oh and I have had major heartburn both pregnancies and my daughter came out with tons of black hair (even though my husband and I have blond/brown hair) so I can’t wait to see what kind of ‘do this little man is gonna have!
best wishes on the rest of your pregnancy!!
Francesca says
I was the total opposite of all the myths, even the chinese birth charts said the opposite gender of my kids. Pregnancy dreams are crazy. The funniest one was with my first baby before we knew it was a girl. In my dream I was showing her to my mom for the first time. I took the blanket off her car seat and she had a full beard. I picked her up and showed her to my mom and said “She’s so beautiful, she looks just like her dad” and rubbed her beard. (my husband has had a huge beard for the whole 13 years we’ve been together). I still crack up thinking about a baby with a beard and that was almost 4 years ago.