... Of Advanced Maternal Age

Is it a boy or a girl?

Next Monday, I go in for my ultrasound, which, among other things, will hopefully reveal the sunflower seed’s gender. Lots of old wives tales are supposed to predict, so I thought I’d give it a try. 

Heartbeat. According to legend, 140+ beats per minute indicates a girl, and below 140 a boy. At my last OB appointment, the seed’s heartbeat was exactly 140. Not helpful. 

Cravings. The myth says that if you crave sweet foods, you’re having a girl and sour or salty stuff means a boy is on the way. I mostly like food… but I do crave sweet stuff more often. I have a monster sweet tooth all the time, though. 

Break Outs. The myth says that girls steal a mom’s beauty causing break outs. No breakouts here, so maybe another boy is on the way … but I rarely break out, anyway. 

Mayan Beliefs. Mayans determined a baby’s sex by looking at the mom’s age at conception and the year of conception. If both are even or odd, it’s a girl. If one’s even and one’s odd, it’s a boy. Age: 36, year of conception: 2011. So, the Mayans say it’s a boy. 

Chinese Zodiac. Chinese zodiac looks at mom’s age and the month of conception and uses a complicated chart system. Again… 36 + August conception = a boy (again). For what it’s worth, Bee was supposed to be a girl when I used the Chinese zodiac calendar.  

More morning sickness? I was terribly sick during the first trimester. So that could indicate it’s a girl. Little or no morning sickness points to a boy (I wasn’t very sick with Bee). 

A few other myths involve using Drano or the answers might be a little TMI, so I’ll skip them. 

A recent survey said that 71% of mom’s accurately predicted their baby’s gender. I tend to call the seed “she” when I’m not thinking, but I’m trying really hard not to try to predict one way or the other. 

I guess we’ll know in a week!