We’ve believed it to be true for years now because the answer was the same every time.
The ‘Gold Chain Theory’ – where you put a ring or a pendant on a gold chain and lift it off a girl’s palm – according to which, if the pendant turns in circles, it means she’ll have a girl and if it moves like a pendulum, she’ll have a boy.
For me, it’s always turned in a circle the first time and then the second time, nothing.
So for many, many years (my sisters and I have been trying this for over six years now) we’ve always believed that I’d have just one girl and that’d be it. And I’ve been totally fine with that outcome because, well, who doesn’t want a baby girl?
In the beginning of November, my BIL & SIL announced that they were going to have a baby. We were all super excited! In January, we found out we were going to have a baby too. Double excitement!
Of course, the next logical thing for me to do was ask her questions about how things were for her. Not that I wasn’t asking her about her health and other stuff even before I got pregnant, but now it was more about comparing notes. Our husbands are brothers and therefore, the babies will be first cousins. It was fun to see how similar or different our pregnancies were.
For her, morning sickness didn’t start until week 8 or so and even then, it was fairly manageable compared to mine that started the day week 6 began and I was puking around the clock even otherwise. I had a horrible sense of smell (as in, I resented everything I could smell), felt extremely exhausted and was even sick with cough till around week 11 or so. In short, I had a horrible first trimester. But hers was comparatively manageable except for the exhaustion because she managed to go to work (I don’t think I’d have been able to do that had I been working.)
My symptoms were exactly the same as my mom’s were when she was carrying me. And because SIL’s symptoms and mine were so vastly different, we both assumed that we were carrying one of each – she, a boy and me, a girl (because of my mom’s symptoms when she was carrying me and of course, the Gold Chain Theory, duh!)
Then one day, my MIL made Puran Poli – stuffed flatbread with a sweet filling. Apparently, there’s an old wives’ tale that if the dough is leftover, it’ll be a boy and if it’s the filling, a girl. When my MIL made it, it was a perfect mixture and neither was leftover. My husband’s aunt interpreted that to mean that since both the DILs were expecting, my MIL would have a grandson and a granddaughter. That only further affirmed our theory that my SIL was going to have a boy and I, a girl.
Add to that the fact that my SIL herself felt she was having a boy and I couldn’t be more excited about the prospect.
And then she had her baby last week.
And it’s a GIRL!!!
Now don’t get me wrong, I am SUPER excited for them. But does that mean that my MIL’s Puran Poli experiment (or its interpretation) was wrong? Because if it wasn’t and my SIL had a girl, that would mean I would have a boy. Not that I would love the baby any less, but that would mean that the Gold Chain Theory is bogus. That shatters not just my expectations, but both my sisters’ in some way.
My SIL thinks that we’re interpreting my MIL’s theory wrong. It could also mean that both our babies will be the same gender. She feels I’m having a girl too. If that’s true, it’d be awesome. 😀
All of this wouldn’t have been a mystery of we could just find out what we’re having, but NO! We can’t do that here, in India, because it’s against the law. So we have to just wait and see what happens.
But till then, it’s all on me. To prove or disprove the Gold Chain Theory.
I don’t think I can take the pressure. If only there were a way to find out without breaking the law.
Do you know of any tell tale signs of predicting the baby’s gender? What were your symptoms and was your baby a boy or a girl? 🙂
Being Mamma Bear 
Wow, you give me hope, Zara. Not that I won't love a baby boy, but I really want a baby girl and if it works, I guess I'll have my girl. We'll know in a few weeks though 😀 😀
Thank you so much for stopping by! 🙂
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Yeah, that's how it is here, sadly. 😦 As for the pressure, this was supposed to be a humorous post but I guess it didn't come across that way. My pregnancy brain has forgotten how to process sarcasm, I think 😛 LOL!
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Actually, it was supposed to be a funny post! Because there is no way proving any superstition is my responsibility. I think I need to work on my sarcasm and humour skills 😛 because it clearly didn't come off as an exaggeration but more of a serious post LOL! Sorry about that. Of course I am enjoying my pregnancy (at least every bit after the first trimester 😉 ) and of course it doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl! I will love my baby anyway… 🙂 🙂
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The gold chain theory worked for me too – before I had my two, my friend did it on me and it predicted 1st born boy, 2nd born girl and no more – I indeed had a boy then girl and my husband decided on a vasectomy which is really creepy, but cool if you believe in it – don't stress yourself though for me it was a bit of fun which happened to come true, enjoy your pregnancy as it's such a beautiful and amazing journey which passes by very quickly! Wishing you a wonderful pregnancy!
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Interesting to learn that it's against the law to find out the gender in India. Don't put so much pressure on your self though. You will love the baby be it a boy or a girl. Good luck and thanks for sharing on #fortheloveofBLOG
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Wow – you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself – I hope you're finding time to enjoy your pregnancy with all of this ruminating about the gender! I know everyone will have said it already but as long as baby is healthy the gender doesn't matter and I have to say I am very matter of fact and don't believe any of the superstitions about predicting the sex of a baby so who knows…. All I do know is that you will love him or her with all your heart! Good luck. #fortheloveofBLOG
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