{Pregnancy Update} 20 Weeks & Predictions

(Photos: Neil and I as toddlers)

How far along are you: 20 Weeks

How big is the baby: About the size of an cantaloupe!

Baby’s Gender: See Below.

Baby’s Name: Status is still the same- 5 boy names and 5 girls

Weight Gained: 10-12 lbs.

Clothes:  I picked up two new tops for our upcoming vacation but I really need to get myself a dress or some capris as well so I’m hoping that when we are in Boston I’ll find a few things to take on our trip.

How are you feeling: I’m feeling good. I have been a little tired out at nights and have been going to bed early which isn’t always fun since Neil has been working late; when I go to bed early that means we hardly see each other during the week. I finally took a real nap yesterday and I ended up staying up until 10pm and getting a bunch of things done, so I think more frequent naps might be in order.

What do you miss: Wearing normal clothes. Wine. Running.

Symptoms: Sore legs in the morning. Heartburn. Shortness of Breath <– I feel so embarrassed about this however it’s a normal symptom because as your uterus expands, it pushes against your lungs.

Cravings: Coconut ice cream. Thai. Lemon Water. Pears. Veggie Burgers.

How are you sleeping: I have actual been sleeping better, I found a position that is somewhat comfortable and I allow myself to sleep on my right side for short periods-about 15 minutes.

Other:  We go in for our anatomical ultrasound on March 2nd and I am nervous, this is normal right? We still won’t be finding out what we are having but the anatomical ultrasound but it will check:

baby’s growing and developing properly. This generally includes taking baby’s heartbeat, checking for physical abnormalities, confirming any suspicions of twins or other multiples, measuring the amount of amniotic fluid (to much or too little could signal a problem), checking the location of your placenta to be sure it isn’t covering the cervix, and taking lots of measurements to make sure baby is the right size for his gestational age. (If your babe measures very large or very small, you may be given a new due date! (source)

Neil and I have decided that we want to keep the sex of our baby a surprise until the birth. This doesn’t mean we aren’t curious as to what we are having so this week I decided to look at some of the ways people attempt to predict the sex of their baby without the use of an ultrasound. I was inspired by these two blogs: here and here.

The Predictions Based on Gender Prediction Charts and Old Wives Tales:

Time of Conception: GIRL
I think we conceived on the day before I ovulated. I have read that male sperm swim faster but die out sooner and girl sperm swim slower but hang out longer, so if we didn’t conceive on the day of ovulation I guess girl? All of this is a bit confusing. 

Cravings: GIRL
It is said that if you crave sweet it’s a girl and if you crave salt you’re having a boy.  I have been craving lots of fruit and coconut ice cream lately which is really abnormal for me.  I honestly have had more coconut ice cream in the last 20 weeks than I have had in the last few years.

Dreams: ??
I haven’t had any dreams (that I remember) that have been about the baby- I feel like this is really weird. 

Sleeping Preference: GIRL
I have read that you prefer sleeping on your left side, you’ll have a boy and if you prefer your right side a girl. Well if you have been following my past pregnancy updates I really can’t stop talking about how much I hate sleeping on my left side.

Morning Sickness Severity: GIRL
Apparently extreme nausea or nausea that lingers all day means you are having a girl. Well I had 12 weeks of all-day sickness.

Mathematical Formula: GIRL
You add your age (2 + 6) to your due date month (7) to your conception month (1+0). Odd equals boy, even equals girl. Mine adds up to 16. 

Chinese Gender Predictor: BOY
I used the chart on The Bump.

Mayan Table: BOY
Seems to be basically the same as the Chinese Gender Predictor.

Wedding Ring: BOY
Hang your wedding ring from a strand of the father’s hair over your belly. If the ring circles, it’s girl; if it swings back and forth, it’s a boy. (source)  We didn’t use a strand of Neil’s hair (that is too precious to remove and it’s not long enough) instead I used a string.

Hands- Soft or Dry?: BOY
If your hands are dry-boy. If your hands soft-girl. Well my hands have been dry lately…however we are having a cold dry winter in Vermont so I blame it on the weather.

Citrus: GIRL
Apparently if you’re craving citrus, you’re having a girl. Well let me tell you for the first 16 weeks of my pregnancy I couldn’t get enough citrus and although my cravings have calmed down I still love me some citrus.

Skin: GIRL
Apparently if your skin breaks out, expect a girl and my skin has been awful!

High or Low?: BOY
If baby is low, expect a boy. High, it’s a girl.–Well I am carrying low. However I have also read that where you carry is based on your body type and whether you have a good set of abs before conception.

Nature’s language:  GIRL
It is believed that nature communicates with humans through forms. In this case, if the mother’s womb is round, it is a girl. If it is pointed, it is a boy (source). I am feeling like I look pretty round so I guess girl?

Heart Beat: GIRL
Is Baby’s heart beat faster than 140 beats per minute (bpm)? It’s a girl. Less than 130 bpm? It’s a boy (source). At our 12 week appointment the heart rate was high 160’s and at our 16 week appointment the heart rate was in the 150’s.

Gut Feeling: BOY er GIRL….um BOY?
For a most of the pregnancy I have thought boy but now after all these predictors I don’t know maybe girl? I guess we’ll find out in 20 or so weeks!

TOTALS: 9 Girl and 6 Boy.

What do you predict we will have? 

 

Sources:

• http://www.home-remedies-site.com/boy-or-girl.htm
• http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/photos_popular_pregnancy_myths
• http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-baby/gender-prediction/old-wives-tales/
• http://content.thebump.com/sitelets/chinese-gender-chart/