Nowadays there are early home pregnancy tests and blood tests that your GP can do, but have you ever wondered how they determined a pregnancy in days of yore?
Well, some of the ‘tests’ were pretty out there. Here are some of the strangest ones:
1. The Onion Test
Be warned, you may never look at an onion in the same way again or add it to any of your recipes. In Greece, women were advised to place an onion in their vagina overnight. If their breath smelled of onions in the morning, it was decided that she wasn’t pregnant based on the idea that the womb was open (it would be closed if she was with child).
2. Wheat And Barley
This method originated in Egypt. Women were told to urinate on wheat and barley seeds – if either of the seeds sprouted, they were deemed to be pregnant (wheat for a girl and barley for a boy). If not…well they just spoiled some food for no reason. Adds a whole new meaning to the phrase “seeds of love”.
3. The Wine Test
During medieval times, women would mix their urine with wine (what a waste!). If the urine remained clear, it was said that they weren’t pregnant. This is similar to the bleach test (if it foams when mixed with urine, you could be a momma-to-be) and the vinegar test (if it changes colour when mixed with urine, you are said to be pregnant).
4. In The Eyes
Back in the day, physician Jacques Guillemeau believed that he could tell if a woman was expecting or not by her eyes alone. He claimed that “a pregnant woman gets deep-set eyes with small pupils, drooping lids and swollen little veins in the corner of the eye.” The accuracy of this theory has been questioned… a LOT.
5. The Frog Test
In the 1940s, scientists claimed that a certain species of frog would produce eggs within 24 hours if it was injected with a pregnant lady’s urine. All we can say is that we’re glad, for both the sake of Kermit and ourselves, that testing has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years (no pun intended).
6. Turning Blue
The cervix and vagina can turn a dark blueish colour in the early days of pregnancy due to the increased blood flow to the area. Okay so it’s not the easiest way to find out, but it is another weird one to throw into the mix.
We reckon you’ll stick to more modern methods but if you do suspect that you are pregnant, maybe skip the onion and just contact your GP.
How did you know you were pregnant? Join the conversation with us in the Facebook comments or on Twitter at @Herfamilydotie
