Though I’ve often heard that every pregnancy is different, I don’t think it was something I ever really believed. I mean, it’s the same body, the same process, the same general development – why wouldn’t the symptoms be the same? When I found out I was pregnant with Baby Oats, I thought I knew what to expect. With Little Oats, the nausea started at six weeks on the dot, the vomiting started shortly after that at eight weeks, and my skin had never looked better. I lost weight in the first trimester, and when my bump finally did show up, it was all bump, not leftover bloat.
This time around, things truly are different. My face broke out something fierce the day I got my positive test, and has remained speckled and spotted ever since. I’m nauseous, yes – but not predictably in the mornings, and it’s not resolved by vomiting. Instead it comes in waves, all throughout the day, and nothing really seems to touch it. And while the last time around, eating usually resolved my tummy troubles, this time, the thought of food repulses me. Well, the thought of anything but very specific foods.
With Little Oats, I hated vegetables. Just the thought of a salad or a stir fry made me gag; except for avocado, which I ate daily. With Baby Oats, vegetables are seemingly fine in small amounts, but don’t you dare come near me with any of those smelly ones (broccoli, I’m looking at you!). I’m not craving gallons of milk or lemon meringue pies this time, but I could do some serious damage to a bowl of pho or a pot of mashed potatoes. And lemonade…I’m drinking it by the gallon.
In looking at these differences in pregnancies so far, I came across a list of old wives tales about gender and figured it would be fun to compare them, while we were still in the dark about Baby Oats’ sex.
1. Cravings: salty or sour cravings equal boy, sweet equals girl: Both with Little Oats (girl), and definitely sour so far with Baby Oats.
2. Skin: Girls ‘steal your beauty’ and clear skin equals boy: Clear skin with Little Oats, terrible skin with Baby Oats.
3. Weight: if you carry all in the belly, it’s a boy; if your weight spreads out, it’s a girl: With Little Oats, this one predicted boy, but with Baby Oats, it’s saying girl so far
4. If your morning sickness lasts all day, you’re said to be having a girl. With Little Oats, this was mostly true. With Baby Oats, this is definitely true.
5. Your face: if your face gets fuller and rounder, you’re having a girl. If it stays the same, its a boy: Both pregnancies would indicate boy on this one.
6. Dry hands – boy: With Little Oats, this one said girl. This time around, it’s resolutely boy…though it is the coldest winter on record in 70+ years.
7. Cold feet: are your feet colder than before? Its’ a boy. And this time…definitely a boy.
8. Heart rate: If baby’s heartrate is over 140bpm, it’s a girl. Under, and it’s a boy. Both pregnancies (at a dating ultrasound) would indicate girl.
Though there are still 6-8 weeks until I can find out the gender of Baby Oats, it’s fun to guess while its still a mystery. These old wives’ tales are split right down the middle; 4 votes boy, 4 votes girl. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!
Did you swear by any old wives’ tales? Were they right?
persimmon / 1165 posts
Idk what the old wives’ tales said for twin pregnancies, but I was carrying two boys and most of these indicated girls! I had terrible skin my whole pregnancy, no morning sickness period, both their heart rates were over 140, I had sweet cravings and no cold feet. The only one that indicated boy was how I gained weight – for the most part it was all belly (minus the bloating ;).
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
Old wives tales were split 50/50 with DS#1. This time around it was mostly pointing to girl and I’m having DS#2!
It’s fun to talk about with DH, but we take no stock in it! 
pomegranate / 3053 posts
So hard to tell! I could have sworn a friend of mine was having a boy. Pretty much everyone told her she was having a boy. Turns out she was a girl! For me, no clue except for the pointy belly. Thought I was having a girl with #2 b/c of heart burn but had a boy. So I guess I don’t believe? Haha!
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
Cravings: salty or sour cravings equal boy, sweet equals girl: Definitely had more salty cravings with DS (and I had a STRONG aversion to chocolate – made me want to gag); Nothing major with DD.
2. Skin: Girls ‘steal your beauty’ and clear skin equals boy: Wasn’t true for me – great skin with DD, some breakouts with DS.
3. Weight: if you carry all in the belly, it’s a boy; if your weight spreads out, it’s a girl: True for me – it was like a basketball with DS, and more spread out like a spare tire with DD.
4. If your morning sickness lasts all day, you’re said to be having a girl. – Not true for me. Didn’t have major morning sickness either time.
5. Your face: if your face gets fuller and rounder, you’re having a girl. If it stays the same, its a boy – Haha, I’d say my face was round both times.
6. Dry hands – boy: I’ve never heard of this one! I can’t remember if my hands were super dry so I guess it wasn’t noticeable for me.
7. Cold feet: are your feet colder than before? Can’t remember.
8. Heart rate: If baby’s heartrate is over 140bpm, it’s a girl. Under, and it’s a boy. Can’t remember.
*The one thing that I think has some accuracy is the nub theory. I can usually guess with decent accuracy if someone is having a boy or girl if they show me a clear ultrasound pic with the nub.
pomelo / 5132 posts
LO #1 is a boy. We don’t know what #2 is, but so far:
1. Cravings: I can’t remember many cravings last time, probably more salty. This time, both sour AND sweet.
2. Skin: I have had bad acne both times.
3. Weight: with DS, I was all belly. Looking pretty much the same this time!
4. I was nauseous 24/7 with DS. This time, I actually vomited many times…it was way worse!
5. Your face: I have a full, round face to begin with, so the jury’s out. I would say it got a little rounder with DS
6. Dry hands: no issues last time. SO DRY this time.
7. Cold feet: My feet are always cold.
8. Heart rate: both say girl.
blogger / coffee bean / 32 posts
Fun post! I had two boys – #1 I couldn’t get enough spicy Indian food. #2 cold cereal. Mmm Samosas
Both cases they were just little basketballs no spread.
blogger / cherry / 247 posts
i think this post is so fun! i have never found out the sex both times i have been pregnant. with first, i would say half of the wives tales were right, half were wrong (rendering them not very reliable) and i have not had my second baby yet so who knows! although i am experiencing some symptoms that indicate boy and some that indicate girl….so there you have it!
fun nonetheless!