When I was expecting my first child five years ago, I was under the impression that somehow it was better not to know the sex of the baby until the day he or she popped out.
“That way it will be a surprise,” I told my friends.
Soon enough I discovered that a first-time mother’s labor day holds more surprises than you can shake forceps at, and so a little certainty in the delivery room is not an unwelcome thing. Plus, not knowing pretty much guarantees that your baby shower gifts will come in two colors only: light green or pale yellow.
So when I went in for my 22-week ultrasound this time around, I made sure the technician knew that I definitely wanted to know; in fact, I badgered her throughout the process to tell me what I was going to have. But after more than 30 minutes of scooting that sensor in the goo on my belly, we were never able to get a conclusive look at the crucial part of my child’s anatomy. Clearly, I was not going to get any answers from modern science. I had no other choice than to turn to voodoo–or at least a few unorthodox methods based more on superstition than hard science.
A quick scan of the Internet and chats with friends turned up dozens of methods that can allegedly point you in the right direction.
So I subjected myself to as many tests and determiners as I could. The answers they produced are at right.
Tests that said `boy’
14 TOTAL
– I had morning sickness.
– Pregnancy has me looking slightly better than before.
– I am carrying the extra weight out front.
– I am carrying low.
– My hair does not have red highlights.
– My hands are very dry.
– No acne during pregnancy.
– My urine is bright yellow.
– I crave salty and sour foods.
– I crave protein like meats and cheeses.
– I don’t crave sweets.
– I gladly eat the heel of a loaf of bread.
– When I hang my wedding ring over my stomach from a strand of hair, it goes in a circle.
– My baby looks like a basketball as opposed to a watermelon.
Tests that said `girl’
10 TOTAL
– I am moodier than usual during pregnancy.
– I rest on my right side.
– I waddle when I walk.
– My feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy.
– The hair on my legs is not growing faster than before pregnancy.
– I crave fruit.
– Adding my age at conception to the month of conception comes up with an odd number.
– Preschool-age boys (i.e. my son and his friends) show interest in me during my pregnancy.
– A golden pendant held over my palm goes in a circle.
– The dad-to-be is not gaining weight with me.
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What did Monica actually deliver? PAGE 2
