.day 36: the cabbage test.

Ever heard of those Intelligender tests? Supposedly, you pay around 35 big ones for a test that uses urine to determine the gender of your baby. If the test turns yellow, you're having a girl. If the liquid turns green, a boy is in store. Sounds like neat-o, high-tech science fiction, huh? Well,I found that, unfortunately, it may just be that: fiction.

After doing a bunch of research online, I found loads of people that said this is basically a really expensive pH test. There may be some science to back it up (theoretically, your urine pH - how acidic or basic it is - changes based on whether you're pregnant with a boy or a girl), but it's hardly reliable. The accuracy rating for one of these tests is about 80% according to the company who makes them, which seems high, but hey, they automatically have a 50/50 chance of being right. So that number's not that impressive.

Well, in my online DDC (due date club), a girl posted about doing "the cabbage test." Basically it's a pH test using red cabbage. I figured, "Hey! Why not?"

I went out, snagged a large red cabbage, and headed home to test. To do the test, you chop up the cabbage and boil it for 10 minutes. After it's done boiling, drain out the cabbage and reserve the dark purple cabbage water. Mix this cabbage water with equal parts... er... pee and viola! Instant, cheap-o baby gender predictor. 

Supposedly, if your cabbage/urine concoction turns pink or red, you're having a boy. If it turns purple, it's a girl. I did exactly as the internet told me and what happened...

This:

 

The cup on the left is plain ol' cabbage water (control subject) and the cup on the right is cabbage water and "tinkles" (as Ladybug would say). Ooooo... pretty!

Now my problem is deciding if that's considered pink or purple. Ha, ha!

Any thoughts anyone?