Baby Bingo!

Well, at 37 weeks, we have now made it to full term and Peapod could arrive at any time. So, let's have some fun and gamble a bit. I borrowed this idea from a good friend of mine who just had a baby. She set up a baby bingo board that included birth week, sex, and weight. I figured I would simplify a bit a just include birth date and sex. So, here it is. You get to pick a square, any square. When do you think Peapod will arrive and will kiddo be a boy or a girl? The winner of bingo will receive a bona fide prize, so wager carefully! Statistically (see below) most babies are born in the week before or the week after the estimated due date, so I have included specific days for those weeks. But, babies born anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks are considered full term, thus I have included those weeks as well. To place your guess, you must put a comment in this blog post. I know lots of you read the blog, but never comment, so to do so, just click on the comment link at the bottom of the post. Put in your guess, and enter the word verification. You then have to choose an identity. If you don't have a google account, just choose "anonymous" and make sure you include your name in the comment. I will update in a week with everyone's guesses. Only one guess per square, first comment gets the square!


To make sure you have all the information when guessing, here are some statistics and some old wives tales to determine sex. All very scientific!

The Calculating Due Dates page shows a bar graph with these percentages of babies born over the last weeks of pregnancy:

37 weeks: 5%
38-39 weeks: 10%
39-40 weeks: 20%
40-41 weeks: 35%
41-42 weeks: 20%
Over 42 weeks: 10%

For what its worth, Finn was born at 40 weeks, 3 days. Sean is pretty sure we are having a girl and that I will go into labor before my due date. I am of the opposite mind thinking it is a boy and we will go past the due date! Finn alternates between saying he will have a brother or a sister!

Here’s a list of pregnancy old wives tales I found online:

Old Wives Tale #1: Heart Rate

If the baby’s heart rate is above 140 bpm, it is said that the baby will be a girl. If it is under 140 bpm, then it will be a boy. Peapod has consistently been above 140 = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #2: Shape of Belly

If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl. If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, it’s a boy. I guess you can decide, but I think it is big and round = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #3: Ring Test

Using a string, hang your wedding ring over your pregnant belly. You are having a girl if the ring swings back and forth and it’s a boy if it swings in a circle. Circle = BOY

Old Wives Tale #4: Shape of Mom’s Face

When your face gets fuller and rounder when pregnant, it means you’re going to have a girl. If your face is long and narrow, it’s a boy. Sadly, in the last few weeks, my face has definitely gotten rounder with some lovely last minute weight gain = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #5: Key Test

This test involves a key. If you pick up a key at the top (the roundest part), you are going to have a boy. If you pick up the key at the bottom (smallest part), you are going to have a girl. If you happen to grab the key in the middle, congrats, it’s twins! I always pick up keys from the top = BOY

Old Wives Tale #6: Mayan Tale

The Mayan tale adds the mothers age at conception and the year of conception. If the result is a even number then mom is having a girl. If the result is an odd number then a boy is on the way! According to this, we are having a girl. For us, the number is even = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #7: Acne

If you have acne while pregnant, it’s a girl. It’s thought that acne during pregnancy is caused by the extra hormones. For the most part, I have had nice clear skin = BOY

Old Wives Tale #8: Cravings

People believe that if you are craving salty foods while pregnant, you can count on having a boy. If you crave sweets, fruit, and orange juice, you are having a little girl. Overall, the navel oranges have been my most prevalent and consistent craving = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #9: Smell of Garlic

If a pregnant woman eats a clove of garlic and the smell does not come out of her pores, it’s a girl. If the smell seeps out of her pores, it’s a boy. I haven't actually eaten a raw clove of garlic, but when I do have it in food, I don't think I smell like it! = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #10: Skin under Left Eye

The eye test is when a “V” or “branches” appear when you pull down the skin under your left eye. If you see a “V” or “branches” in the white part, you’re having a girl. This is weird, but I don't think I have this = BOY

Old Wives Tale #11: Previous Kids

This tale only applies if you have had previous kids. If you have and that child’s first word was momma, you will have a girl. If your first child’s first word was dadda, you’ll have a boy. I am pretty sure Finn said a variation of Daddy first = BOY

Old Wives Tale #12: Legs

If your legs get really big, you’re having a boy. If your legs stay in shape and lean, it’s a girl. I think it’s too early for me to tell on this one. As much as I want to say they are in shape, I fear the tree trunks of thighs I have developed = BOY

Old Wives Tale #13: Moodiness and a Little Pecker

If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have another extra girl hormones in you. Your pregnancy will make you smile and be more happy if you are having a boy because there’s a little penis inside you. Moody! = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #14: Bread

If you eat the ends of bread, it’s a boy. If you eat the middle of the load, it’s a girl. I have actually been cutting from the middle of bread = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #15: Chinese Gender Chart

The Chinese Gender Chart claims to have an accuracy rate of over 90%. It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month that she conceived. For me, Chinese Gender Chart = BOY

Old Wives Tale #16: Mom’s Beauty

Basically you are having a girl if your beauty disappears during pregnancy. It is said that the girl “steals” the mother’s beauty. If you think that pregnancy has never made you look more beautiful, you might just be having a little boy. Another tough one, you can decide for yourselves, but never tell me if you think "girl" for this one :) For me, I am going to say BOY

Old Wives Tale #17: Dream of Sex of Baby

If you have dreams that you are having a boy, you will have a girl. If you dream about having a girl, it will be a boy. Dreams show the opposite of what you are having. All my dreams have been boy = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #18: Clumsy vs. Graceful

If the pregnant woman is graceful throughout her pregnancy, she’s having a girl. If she becomes clumsy, she’s having a boy. Definitely clumsy = BOY

Old Wives Tale #19: Side You Most Rest On

If a pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, she’s having a boy. If she prefers resting on her right side, she’s having a girl. I prefer my right side lately = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #20: Hands

When the pregnant woman is asked to show her hands, it’s a boy if she keeps her palms down and a girl if she shows her palms up. I go palms up = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #21: Dad’s Weight Gain

If the dad-to-be gains weight while you are pregnant, it’s a girl. If he doesn’t gain weight, you’re having a boy. Sean is as trim as ever = BOY

Old Wives Tale #22: What Do You Think?

71% of the time, the mom-to-be knows what she is having. I think BOY!

Old Wives Tale #23: Morning Sickness

If you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness, it’s a boy. If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy, count on a girl. Easy pregnancy with no sickness = BOY

Old Wives Tale #24: Protein

When a pregnant woman craves meat and cheese, count on a boy. I have definitely been eating more meat than typical = BOY

Old Wives Tale #25: Feet

Are your feet colder now that you are pregnant? If so, you just might be having a boy. If your feet have stayed the same before pregnancy and during, you’re having a little girl. Considering I was pregnant throughout a chilly winter, I don't know how accurate this can be, but my feet have been cold = BOY

Old Wives Tale #26: Hair on Legs

If the hair on your legs has been growing at record speeds, you might be having a boy. Nope = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #27: Hands are Dry

If your hands are constantly dry, it’s a boy. Yes = BOY

Old Wives Tale #28: Nose

Do you feel like your nose is growing and getting wider? If so, you might be having a boy. Please say no = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #29: Headaches

If you are having headaches, you might be carrying a boy. Nope = GIRL

Old Wives Tale #30: Baby Names

It is said that when you can only think of specific names for a boy or a girl, you will have that particularly baby. We agreed on our girl name first, but I have been dead set on a boy name so this one is a toss up. I guess we will say GIRL.

So, that gives us 15 for boy and 15 for girl on the Old Wives Tales. Hmm, that is what? 50/50? Pretty close to biological odds of having either sex :)

Good luck in guessing!