During my first trimester of pregnancy, everyone would ask me, “What do you think you’re having?” After answering “I don’t know,” for the fifth time, I started telling people that I thought it was a raptor, but was hoping for kittens.

During my second trimester, everyone would ask, “What are you having?” My favorite answer to this became, “a naked white kid.” Seems that no one really knows you don’t find out gender till around 20 weeks (I don’t blame them, though, I didn’t know that until I was pregnant, either).

Now, in my third trimester, everyone knew I knew what I was having, but found it thoroughly exasperating that I simply refused to share until the gender reveal at our baby shower.

C’est la vie, no?

It seems the second most exciting announcement having to do with your pregnancy is what flavor baby you’re having (the first most exciting announcement is the pregnancy, of course). And I totally agree – once you know your baby’s sex, you can start to create a little person with wants and likes and looks in your head. The pregnancy becomes real.

Baby’s sex is also one of baby’s best kept secrets. Ours hid “the goods” the first time we tried to see them, so we opted in for an elective ultrasound to find out for sure.

Prior to that magical 20 week mark, or at least the possibly-far-enough-along-to-guess 12 week mark, you’re kind of stuck to counting on the tales of yore to try and guess your baby’s sex.

I’m guilty of succumbing to trying to figure out my baby’s sex with old wive’s tales, and I had pretty mixed results. Maybe you’ll have better luck? Here are some of the tales I tried out on my own little one before we knew, and the results we got!

1. High or Low?

This one is easy enough: are you carrying your bump high or low? If it’s low, you’re having a boy, if it’s high, you’re having a girl. (Similarly, if you’re carrying out front, it’s a boy, but if you’re carrying more horizontally, it’s a girl).

Trish’s Verdict: Wrong, all wrong. I was carrying my bump rather low and out front and there’s definitely no baby boy on board here! My cousin couldn’t believe it at the baby shower because my bump is all out front – you can’t tell I’m pregnant from behind at all.

2. Fetal Heart Rate

When you go to your next appointment, have the doc measure baby’s heart rate (if they don’t already). If the heart rate measures over 140 bpm, you’re having a girl. Below 140, you’re having a boy.

Trish’s Verdict: This one was correct, actually. Baby always had a heart rate in the 150-165 range for the first 2/3 of pregnancy. She’s slowed down quite a bit now, but her little thumper was thumping pretty hard in first weeks.

3. Salty or Sweet?

Craving sweets? Break out the pink! Salty or sour more your taste? It’s definitely a boy.

Trish’s Verdict: Wrong, again – other than fruits, all I wanted was salt! Tortilla chips, especially. However, I don’t have a sweet tooth to begin with, so that might be interfering with this one.

4. Chinese Gender Chart

Said to be incredibly accurate by some people, the Chinese birth chart takes into account mom’s age at conception and the month of conception to predict baby’s sex. Check out the chart at The Bump.

Trish’s Verdict: Ah, still wrong. At age 24 with July as my month of conception, I should be expecting a little boy. There’s a caveat here, however – It may only “work” if you calculate your Chinese lunar age. Baby Center’s Chinese gender predictor does this for you, and it was correct for me.

5. Odds and Evens

Look at the year and your age at conception. Are both even or odd? Then you’re having a girl. If one is even and one is odd, you’re having a boy.

Trish’s Verdict: Correct! I was 24 at the age of conception in 2012. I don’t think this is one you should put much stock in, however.

6. The Way the Ring Swings

Pop off your wedding ring and attach it to a string. Hold it over your bump. If it swings back and forth, you’re having a girl. If it swings in a circle, a little boy is in your future.

Trish’s Verdict: This one was wrong, too. My ring made little circles over my belly button.

7. Makes Me Sick

Were you sick all the time through your first trimester? You’re expecting a girl. If you had little or no morning sickness, your baby is a boy!

Trish’s Verdict: Wrong again. I had very little morning sickness, and have yet to throw up throughout this entire pregnancy. According to this, I’ve got a little boy on the way, which is wrong.

8. The Drano Test / Purple Cabbage Test / Baking Soda Test

These three operate on the same premise, but are slightly different. They’re counting on the ph in your pee to be a certain value, which will change the color of the other liquid or make the baking soda fizz.

For the Drano test, pee in a cup and mix in a tablespoon of Drano. Green means girl, blue means boy.

For the cabbage test, chop up two cups of red cabbage and add it to two cups of water. Simmer until the water turns a deep purple. Strain out the cabbage and allow the water to cool completely. Add equal parts urine and cabbage water to a cup. If the liquid is dark purple, it’s a girl, if it’s pink or red, it’s a boy.

For the baking soda test, pee in a cup and add a tablespoon of baking soda. If it fizzes, it’s a boy, if it stays flat, you’re having a girl.

Trish’s Verdict: I chose the baking soda test, since I had baking soda on hand and these are all about the same. My result was flat, so it was correct in predicting a girl.

9. Mother’s Intuition

Mom always knows, right? Its said that moms just “know” what flavor baby they’re having. So, what are you having? Girl or boy?

Trisha’s Verdict: Really wrong! Hubs and I were sure this one was a boy. We had boys names picked out, boys clothes, etc, so imagine our shock when we found out our baby was a girl! That one took some time to sink in. We’re prepared to welcome a little lady into our lives now, but it was definitely an adjustment from the little man we were both expecting.

Overall Verdict

Well, 6/10 were wrong for me, meaning that 4/10 were right (the tenth being the Chinese lunar age). That’s pretty close to a 50/50 split, don’t you think?

As it turns out, the best way to find out what sex baby you’re having is to have it. No ifs, ands, or buts about it, when it comes out, baby’s gender is pretty undeniable. Ultrasounds, amnios, and other medical procedures tend to be very accurate, as well, so I’d say you can pretty well trust your doc on this one.

Did you ever try any of these or a different gender predictor? How accurate were they? Let me know in the comments!