5 Ways to Predict Your Baby's Gender

Pretty much the first thought I had after getting pregnant was: Is it a boy or a girl? The whole "waiting to find out" thing was the furthest thing from my realm of concept, and at my very first doctor's appointment, before she could even finish the exam, I blurted out: "When can I find out the sex?!"

Turns out, around 18 weeks. To a non-pregnant person, or a pregnant person "waiting to find out," 18 weeks may not seem like a long time. But to a mama-to-be who's dying to know, it can feel like a lifetime.

Enter the "gender games." You know, those silly, little things women do to torture themselves even more about what the sex of their baby is. Not saying they're iron-clad, sooth-saying prophecies, but when you're waiting for week 18, they can be the next best thing. Plus, they're kinda fun.

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The ol' necklace test. Probably the oldest wives' tale in the book, the "necklace test" has someone dangle a pendant over your belly, letting it swing back and forth. Legend has it, if the pendant swings side to side like a pendulum, you're having a boy. If it makes a circle, you're having a girl. Also, it can be done with a ring on a chain. Also, there was zero accuracy between this test and the gender of my child.

Urine luck. Another (really weird) test is the pee test. This one claims that if you take your urine and mix it up with some Draino (yes, Draino), the color will be indicative of your babe's gender. If the concoction turns bluish, you're having a boy. If it's more greenish, or doesn't change at all, then you're having a girl. Side note -- I'd maybe suck it up and hold off 'til week 18 as opposed to doing this one. Draino and pregnancy = no bueno.

How you're carrying. Carrying high? You're having a boy. Carrying low? It's sugar and spice and everything nice.

What you're craving. Supposedly, women who crave chocolate and sweets during pregnancy are growing a little girl inside of them, and women who crave sour things -- think lemon -- are having a boy. Again, I see no merit to this one, as I've craved both during different points of my pregnancy. But it's fun to speculate!

The key test. This one has to be administered to the mother-to-be unbeknownst to her. Have someone hand the preggo a key. If she grabs it by the narrow part, she's supposedly having a girl. If she grabs it by the round pa-- well, you get the rest.

Now. Is there any truth to any of these tests? Doubtful. But, like I said, they're fun, and they're a good way to pass the time until your anatomy screening. Just don't go buying an all-blue wardrobe or anything afterwards.

Did you do any of these things -- or others -- while pregnant?

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