You know the ones...sitting on a cold step gives you piles, don't go outside with wet hair as you'll catch a cold. And a new one I read today: never open the oven door when cooking a soufflé (!) None of which are deemed scientifically true, by the way.
But it's the old wives tales related to pregnancy that really tickle me. Most of them are for working out whether you're having a boy or girl and this is of great interest to me. As the end of my pregnancy is scheduled to the high hills due to my Crohn's, it's unlikely that we'll find out what we're having as that is the only part that will truly be a surprise for us. Of course this can change, so don't hold me to it!
So pass me the ring on a string as I try and work out through some of the more common tales if we're having a Harry or a Harriet...
- Sweet or Salt
- Apparently craving all things sweet is a sign that you're having a girl, salty or protein-rich foods mean it could be a boy.
- I've gone off meat and all I want to eat is pick'n'mix style sweets, so I'm going team girl.
- Morning Sickness
- A general sign of pregnancy, but excessive nausea and morning sickness can mean a baby girl.
- I had a terrible first trimester with nausea and sickness so I would definitely put me in the girls' camp for this one.
- Pregnancy Glow
- Hair worthy of a Herbal Essence advert and a bright complexion could signify a little boy. Whereas bad skin and the missing 'glow' could be a little girl.
- Bit of both here...some people have said that the 'glow' is very much present, although my skin hasn't been great. 50/50.
- Moody or Mellow
- More moody = girl. Chilled out = boy.
- Ha! If I was answering I'd say I've been quite chilled out, but if the other half was answering (and I was being honest with myself) then I'd probably be more moody. So girl.
- Carrying High or Low
- Legend says that if you're carrying high you're carrying a girl and you'll be carrying low if you're carrying a boy.
- From the back I don't look preggers at all, so in that sense I'm bump up front. But its height? I'd have to say low, meaning there's a little boy in there.
- Ring Test
- If the ring swings in a circular motion, 'tis a girl! If it's swinging back and forth/side to side, 'tis a boy.
- Well this was just ridiculous. It didn't really move at all! But when it did it went back and forth (did it though?!) in which case it's the boys' team.
- Heart Rate
- If the baby's heart is beating faster than 140bpm, then there's a wee girl in the bump.
- Next scan isn't until mid-July so I'll have to keep a sneaky eye out. Maybe.
Based on the above, I haven't got a clue?! Out of 7 old wives tales I got 3 for girl, 2 for boy, one 50/50 and one TBC.
All in all we obviously just hope for a happy healthy baby, boy or girl. But it is good fun doing all the silly games to try and guess!
X