So I've come across about a million old wives' tales, all trying to tell me if my bump is a girl or a boy. I thought it would be fun to put some of these to the test. Here are my results!

Old Wives’ Tale #1 – Key to Pregnancy If you pick up a key by the round end, you're having a boy. If it's by the long end? A girl.
>>> Always the round end. My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #2 – Carrying High or Low?
If you are carrying low, it’s a boy, or if you’re carrying high it’s a girl.
>>> My belly isn't that big yet, but has definitely grown. It seems to be growing over my pants though, so maybe I will carry high? My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #3 – Is Your Skin Dry or Soft?
If your skin is dry, you’re said to be having a boy – and if it’s soft, then a girl is on the way.
>>> Soft as a baby's bottom! (lol) My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #4 – What’s Baby’s Heart rate?
First, to set the record straight, until it’s born, your baby’s heart rate will not be affected by it’s sex. But so they say, if you’re carrying a girl, then baby’s heart rate will be above 140bpm (beats per minute). A boy is said to have a heart rate under 140bpm
>>> Last I remember the heart rate was 167 I think? My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #5 – Mood changes.
If you're experiencing pregnant mood-swings, expect a baby girl to arrive soon.
>>> I've had mood swings since the very beginning. First I was being bratty, but now I'm more apt to burst out crying... My result: Girl 

Old Wives’ Tale #6 – Where Are You Carrying Extra Weight?
Even those extra pregnancy kilos are said to give us an insight into your baby’s sex! If you are carrying extra weight at the front, then you’re having a boy… but if you are carrying extra weight on your bum and hips, then you have been carrying a girl. What about dad-to-be? If he’s gaining weight with you, apparently you’re having a girl. If he’s put on no weight, a boy for you!
>>> Oh, shoot! I don't think my bum's gotten bigger.. But my boobs definitely have! My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #7 – Numbers…
Because if you combine your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived and the resulting number is odd – then it’s a girl on the way. If the resulting number is even, then it’s a boy for you.
>>> 24 + 7 = 31. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #8 – Sweet, Salty or Sour?
Are you craving sweet foods like juice, fruits and chocolate? If so, old wives say that you could be having a girl. But if you’re craving sour or salty foods, then you could be having a boy.
>>> My first cravings were fruit and berries (strawberries, mostly!) but I didn't want chocolate at all. Then I really wanted hot chocolate, but also needed to add salt to my mashed potatoes? Haha, also, I recently snagged some free sour candies from the breakroom. However, my most prominent cravings have definitely been cake and ice cream. I have been saying for weeks that all I want is to mash vanilla ice cream into chocolate cake. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #9 – Wedding Ring Test
Get your wedding ring (or other ring/needle/pin) and attach it with a strand of your hair or some string. Lie down and dangle the ring over your belly. If it starts moving in circles, you are having a boy, or if it moves like a pendulum from side to side, then you are having a girl.
>>> Pendulum, no matter how many times.... My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #10 – Got Morning Sickness?
Did you experience morning sickness in early pregnancy? If you did, then you’re said to be carrying a girl, but if you didn’t have morning sickness, then it’s a boy.
>>> No sickness or nausea at all!! My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #11 – How About Those Cold Feet?
If your feet get colder than they used to pre-pregnancy, it’s a sign you have a boy on the way. If your feet are the same, then it’s a girl!
>>> Same. My result: Girl
 
Old Wives’ Tale #12 – How Do You Look?
Do you look better than ever while pregnant? Or has the pregnancy done your looks no favors? As it goes, if you look great during pregnancy, then you are carrying a boy. If you don’t look too flash, you’re having a girl, because she’s stolen all your good looks!
>>> My acne has been acting up, but I don't think I look terrible.... My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #13 – The Breast Test!
If you look in the mirror at your breasts, which one is larger? If it’s the right one, you’re carrying a boy and for a larger left breast, then it’s a girl.
>>> Left. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #14 – Pimples, Schimiples…
If you get acne during pregnancy, apparently you’re having a girl, and if you don’t, then you’re carrying a boy.
>>> Oh! :( Yes to acne. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #15 – Are You A Lefty or a Righty?
When you sleep, do you sleep on your left? Because if you do, then it’s a boy for you! On your right, a girl is in sight.
>>> Both? I like to fall asleep on my left. I usually wake up on my back. Then I roll over to my right. I will go with left since I choose that side first! My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #16 – Check Out Your Wee!
Okay…. now apparently if you have bright yellow urine, then you’re carrying a boy, but if it’s dull / clear, then you’re carrying a girl.
>>> Lol, I guess dull. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #17 -What Does Your Belly Look Like?
A basketball or a watermelon? Because if it looks more like a basketball, then old wives say boy, but if it more resembles a watermelon then it’s a girl.
>>> So far, basketball. Definitely very round right now lol. My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #18 – Hairy Legs?
Has the hair on your legs grown faster than normal? Or has it grown just like normal? Because if it’s growing faster than it did pre-pregnancy, then you’re said to be having a boy.
>>> Not really. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #19 – Show Me Your Hands!
Palms up, it's a girl. Palms down, it's a boy.
>>> Palms up! My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #20 – Graceful or Clumsy?
If you feel as though you're gliding through the day, you'll have a girl. Stumbling? It's a boy.
>>> I don't know about gliding, but like I've said, I've barely felt pregnant for a couple of weeks now and I'm just merrily strolling along, haha. My result: Girl

Overall Results:
Boy: 6  
Girl: 14

There you have it! 70% chance of having a girl!!

Since the day I found out I was pregnant, I have wanted a girl and was expecting a girl. I still would really love a baby girl, but I have been getting weird feelings that it is a boy, and when I imagine telling people, I imagine saying "It's a boy!"

Our anatomy scan is on Wednesday so I hope we can peek at the goods if she is behaving. My next OB appointment is the following Monday so if baby doesn't behave for the anatomy scan, I may just ask my midwife to try on Monday! I'm very hopeful for Wednesday though because baby has been extremely well behaved for our last two ultrasounds. :) We'll see in just a few short days! Then I get to have cake to celebrate. OMG I can't wait!!

We actually got these results back last Friday (11/8), but I sort of forgot all about it after reading the e-mail from my midwife. I read it walking up to Ashton's apartment, showed him the results when I got inside, and said "I'll have to text my mom later" and then completely forgot about it! Pregnancy brain! lol

So anyway, back at our very first appointment (10/4) with Elizabeth she offered us seven options regarding Down Syndrome screening. Amniocentesis, CVS, First trimester screen (ERA), Serial/Sequential testing, Maternal Serum AFP-4, Genetic Ultrasound, or no Down Syndrome testing. Ashton and I talked about it, and decided that we did want to do some type of screening even though given my age, baby already had a low risk for DS. Right away I decided against Amniocentesis and CVS because they are invasive tests that require inserting a needle into the amniotic sac or placenta with risks (1/400 for Amnio and 1/100 for CVS) of miscarriage. (Other people may opt to have these done since they both have a 99% detection rate, which is the highest of any of the tests, and can be done the earliest in pregnancy--CVS can be done at 11 weeks!) We also decided that if we were going to take the time (and $$) to have a screening done, it should be one with a high accuracy rate. So we ruled out the First trimester screen (85% detection rate with 5% false positives) and the Maternal Serum (81% detection rate with 5% false positives).

In the end, we decided (also with Elizabeth's recommendation) to do both the Serial Sequential screening and the Genetic Ultrasound. Our reasoning: Serial/Sequential is a non-invasive test, requiring an ultrasound of the baby's neck (yay another chance to see our peanut!) and two maternal blood tests (I did mine at 12 & 16 weeks), it has the second highest detection rate (95%), and we were comfortable doing the two rounds of labs and waiting five weeks for the results. We also chose the Genetic Ultrasound (yay, yet ANOTHER chance to see our little one, hehe), because it also serves as an anatomy examination where all of the baby's limbs, organs, facial features.... EVERYTHING is measured and observed in detail and the tech can look for other abnormalities as well. They also do a quick check-up on my ovaries, the placenta, and amniotic fluid. :) Even though the Genetic Ultrasound only has a 70% detection rate and an 8-12% rate of false positives for DS, we really wanted the anatomy scan done since it is non-invasive, another opportunity for an ultrasound, and it is covered by all insurance companies!!


Our time table of appointments --> The Serial Sequential ultrasound and first blood test was on 10/10 @ 12 weeks and the second blood test was on 11/7 @ 16 weeks. I got my results from my midwife on the morning of 11/8 (very speedy!). Our Genetic Ultrasound is scheduled for 11/20 @ 18 weeks.

Mine and sprout's risk factors: my age (25), NT* measured during the ultrasound (1.8mm), and the two labs (I didn't see direct results, but were told they were in an excellent range).
*Nuchal translucency = measurement of the fluid developing behind the baby's neck during the first trimester


SPROUT'S RESULTS!::
Risks                          Pre-Test+                  Post-Test++
Down syndrome*            1 in 1,000                  <1 in 10,000
Trisomy 18**                   1 in 10,000                <1 in 10,000
Open NTD***                    1 in 1,000                  1 in 5,400

*Trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome, is caused by a chromosomal defect and often causes physical growth delays and intellectual disability
**Trisomy 18, or Edwards Syndrome, is caused by a chromosomal defect and has a high fatality rate in infancy
***Open NTD, or Open Neural Tube Defect, means the baby has an opening in the spine or head. The most common form is Spina Bifida, which means the spinal cord is exposed and can be easily damaged.
+Pre-test results are estimated results before the second trimester maternal blood test. If these results are in the positive range, the mother will be notified as soon as possible to discuss options for additional screenings.
++Post-test results are the final results of all risk factors combined (maternal age, NT measurement, first and second trimester maternal blood tests)


Lightly put, sprout has a less than 1 in 10,000 chance of having a chromosomal defect, which is really as good as it gets! Now we are patiently waiting for our Genetic Ultrasound next week. I am so excited, mostly because I want to see and hear my baby again, and because I am like 100% confident that they aren't going to find anything wrong with her. Oh yeah, and with the anatomy scan they just might be able to take a peek between baby's legs and give us some more good news! **Fingers crossed!**

How far along? 17 weeks
Total weight gain? 4 pounds
Stretch marks? None :)
Maternity clothes? Not necessary.
Best moment this week? Getting the Serial Sequential labs back. Baby got amazing results!