Back before sonograms were available mothers-to-be had very interesting and creative methods of determining their child's sex. Old wives tales are generally regarded as fun but not true. Here are a few to enjoy.
Old Wives' Tales
by Sharon Jacobsen; reprinted with permission.
Mums have always been curious about the sex of the child they are carrying. In the days before scans were available, women used all kinds of weird and wonderful methods of defining the sex of their child.
Here are a few Old Wives' Tales that I heard during my 26 months of pregnancy (no, I didn't have a very long pregnancy, I've got 3 kids). Remember though, that they are only for fun:
- If your left breast is bigger than the right during pregnancy, you're having a girl. If the right is bigger, it'll be a boy. If they are the same size, you're in for a surprise!
- If you get moody during pregnancy you are more likely to have a girl. This is because all women are moody, and when carrying a girl you become doubly so.
- If you carry the baby out front (others can't see your pregnancy from behind) then you will have a boy. If others can tell that you are pregnant when looking at you from behind, then you will have a girl.
- Have the mum-to-be pick up a key. If she picks it up by the round end, it will be a boy. If she picks it up by the long end, it will be a girl. Should she pick it up at the middle, twins are on the way.
- If the mother's age at conception and the year of conception are both even or both odd, the baby is a girl. If one is even and one is odd, the baby is a boy.
- Ask the mum-to-be to pick a number. Match the number with the corresponding letter of the alphabet (A=1, B=2 etc). Then ask her to choose a name beginning with that letter. If she chooses a boys name, it will be a boy. If she chooses a girls name, it will be a girl.