OT- Gender Selection?

[VeroBeachGirl]

After having 2 girls, we are ready to try for number 3. We would really like to have a son. We will be happy with a healthy child of any gender, but it would be fun to experience parenting both genders. I know Shettles is a popular method and there are a number of wives tales. Has anyone tried any gender selection methods? Have they worked? Any tips on conceiving a boy?

 

[Svhadden]

My daughter was compulsively planned, even down to her gender .

TMI alert, but you asked haha! My cycle is VERY predictable, and for the method I used, that's crucial. I have always been able to map my cycle, down to the hour sometimes, and I know exactly when I ovulate. Again, my method won't work if you don't have this info.

So, when we decided to try to conceive, I mapped out my cycle for the next couple of months, looking at the days I would O. I also had to educate myself about, ahem, my husbands swimmers. Boy swimmers are faster, but die off quicker due to the pH of the ******, etc. Girl swimmers are slower, but hardier, and not as likely to die off.

So, knowing that, we planned to, uhhh, you know, about 48 hrs before O. This would give the boy swimmers the chance to die off, and the slower girl swimmers plenty of time to get there, and be waiting when I O'd. That's the goal...that the swimmers are there waiting for the egg when it's released.

Long story short, we conceived the FIRST month we tried, and today my girl is 11 1/2 yrs old, and more wonderful than we could even imagine. I call her my Burger King baby...I got it my way .

So, to conceive a boy, logic indicates that you would do the deed very close to O, so that the quick boy swimmers get there first, and don't have time to die off before grabbing up that egg. I would plan intercourse no more than 24-36 hours before you O. Actually, prolly more like 24 hrs.

Oh, btw, the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" helped me IMMENSELY in this process, and I recommend it to every one with a uterus .

 

[Missy13d69]

The ONLY things that you can do to up your chances of having a boy, is to have a very healthy diet, and the Shettles method has merit. For some reason, boys have a slightly higher conception rate in women who eat healthy. Every single other method is bull hockey. There is no scientific evidence supporting any of them.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The ONLY things that you can do to up your chances of having a boy, is to have a very healthy diet, and the Shettles method has merit. For some reason, boys have a slightly higher conception rate in women who eat healthy. Every single other method is bull hockey. There is no scientific evidence supporting any of them.

This isn't true at all. There are proven scientific methods for sex selection; you just have to be willing to pay for them.

Good discussion here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_selection

http://www.geneticsandsociety.org/section.php?id=29

 

[hgeisler]

My daughter was compulsively planned, even down to her gender .

TMI alert, but you asked haha! My cycle is VERY predictable, and for the method I used, that's crucial. I have always been able to map my cycle, down to the hour sometimes, and I know exactly when I ovulate. Again, my method won't work if you don't have this info.

So, when we decided to try to conceive, I mapped out my cycle for the next couple of months, looking at the days I would O. I also had to educate myself about, ahem, my husbands swimmers. Boy swimmers are faster, but die off quicker due to the pH of the ******, etc. Girl swimmers are slower, but hardier, and not as likely to die off.

So, knowing that, we planned to, uhhh, you know, about 48 hrs before O. This would give the boy swimmers the chance to die off, and the slower girl swimmers plenty of time to get there, and be waiting when I O'd. That's the goal...that the swimmers are there waiting for the egg when it's released.

Long story short, we conceived the FIRST month we tried, and today my girl is 11 1/2 yrs old, and more wonderful than we could even imagine. I call her my Burger King baby...I got it my way .

So, to conceive a boy, logic indicates that you would do the deed very close to O, so that the quick boy swimmers get there first, and don't have time to die off before grabbing up that egg. I would plan intercourse no more than 24-36 hours before you O. Actually, prolly more like 24 hrs.

Oh, btw, the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" helped me IMMENSELY in this process, and I recommend it to every one with a uterus .

This! With my daughter,we conceived 3 days prior to ovulation,with my sons,it was the day before and the same day of.

 

[dragonfly08]

and the Shettles method has merit.

In theory, maybe. In practice, I didn't specifically try to use the Shettles method but as it turned out, both times I conceived the timing ended up being perfect for a boy.

I have two beautiful daughters.

So it's certainly doesn't hurt to try, as long as the OP is fine with the outcome not being what she planned/hoped for.

 

[Pesky]

agree that the idea has some merit but at the end, 50/50. Like pp said, as long as you are happy with the outcome either way, you're golden.

 

[Missy13d69]

This isn't true at all. There are proven scientific methods for sex selection; you just have to be willing to pay for them.

Good discussion here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_selection

http://www.geneticsandsociety.org/section.php?id=29

Seeing as how we are talking about HOME SPUN methods, what I said is absolutely true...

 

[DawnM]

I feel like I could have 42 more babies and they would all be boys.

However, I like having boys. My 3rd was adopted and we said we would take either. They sent us a picture of the cutest little boy in all of China and we couldn't say no. pixie dust:

Good luck to you.

 

[RachaelA]

I put no stock in the Shettles method because I have a perfectly healthy daughter that should have been a boy according to the Shettles method. (Note: I did not actively try for either, I just chart my cycle).

 

[treemi01]

Try ingender.com and look up the information on swaying. Be patient with the website, it stinks, but the women there are awesome!

I did sway for my DD and was successful. It could have been the swaying, or it could have been luck, but I had a great time trying it.

 

[Wills Mom]

I'm super interested in this topic so I'm gonna jump in here if the OP doesn't mind! We have a 5 month old DS who was conceived ON the day I ovulated. I watched my cycle for 14 months to be sure I knew when I was coming up to O and we DTD on CD17-20 of a 31 day cycle (I O late so I'm 99% sure I O-ed on day 19)
We are hoping to have #2 by the time DS turns 2 so I haven't been taking BC however DH has told me in no uncertain terms that 2 kids is his limit! So although I will be delighted if we are blessed with another child, of either gender, I can't help but be hopeful we have a DD so I can experience both. I've started temping but its hard with my DS waking at different times to get accurate readings and because my body has so recently given birth its taking its sweet time regulating. My last cycle was 27 days and the one before was 34! So any stories on how you conceived either boys or girls shortly after having a child - I'm all ears!!

 

[hgeisler]

Buy ovulation test strips. They have pink lines on them like pregnancy tests. The difference is,with a pregnancy test,if you have any second line, it's positive. With ovulation strips,in order for it to be positive the test line has to be darker than the control line. With most women,the line will gradually get darker the closer you get to ovulation. Once you get a positive test,you will ovulate within 24-48 hours. With me,I actually feel the ovulation pains the day I ovulate I usually started taking the tests around cycle day 11 (I usually ovulate around day 13.) until I got a positive. If you want to pinpoint the day you ovulate,take tests (One in the a.m. and one in the p.m.) after your positive test until you get a negative. I also used to write the cycle day and the date on each strip,so I could pinpoint my duedate if we conceived.
Temping is not a reliable method to catch ovulation before it happens. Once you get your thermal shift, it means you have already ovulated and that egg is already out there...abd it doesn't have a long shelflife
My hubby had low motility problems. So much so, that IVF was suggested a our only option. We tried for over a year to get pregnant with DD. Then we spoke to a nutritionist. He had my hubby take zinc and arginine. I took arginine only. We took the pills for a month. We were about to start treatment,when we found out we conceived that month! With DS,we tried with no pills for three months and nothing. Took the pills for a month...pregnant. With DS 2, we took the pills immediately, and it took 2 months. Let's just say I'm a believer

 

[VeroBeachGirl]

WOW! Thanks for all the info…. and non-judgment. As I said earlier, any child is a blessing, but it would be fun to raise a "Pirate" as we already have 2 "Princesses."

 

[hgeisler]

They are very different! That's for sure

 

[mjkacmom]

According to Shettles, dd16 should be a boy, and ds14 should be a girl - after that, I stopped. Good thing, because there would be no explaining dd9 and ds9! I figure you might as well try - I do here you have a 50/50 chance either way.

 

[Svhadden]

I'm super interested in this topic so I'm gonna jump in here if the OP doesn't mind! We have a 5 month old DS who was conceived ON the day I ovulated. I watched my cycle for 14 months to be sure I knew when I was coming up to O and we DTD on CD17-20 of a 31 day cycle (I O late so I'm 99% sure I O-ed on day 19)
We are hoping to have #2 by the time DS turns 2 so I haven't been taking BC however DH has told me in no uncertain terms that 2 kids is his limit! So although I will be delighted if we are blessed with another child, of either gender, I can't help but be hopeful we have a DD so I can experience both. I've started temping but its hard with my DS waking at different times to get accurate readings and because my body has so recently given birth its taking its sweet time regulating. My last cycle was 27 days and the one before was 34! So any stories on how you conceived either boys or girls shortly after having a child - I'm all ears!!

Are you nursing your 5 mo old? That will greatly affect your O, and hormone levels. It may be wise to invest in the O prediction kit/strips. Having a cycle that's not so regular or predictable may make it a challenge to predict and plan.

 

[hgeisler]

Especially with night nursing. The longer you night nurse the longer it takes for your period to come back. I didn't get mine back until minimum 7-8 months postpartum each time.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Gender is based on the DNA provided by the father. That's it. A woman's diet, cycle, etc. won't make a difference. Unless you are going to get into genetic manipulation or in vetro, you've got a 50/50 shot.

 

[Wills Mom]

Are you nursing your 5 mo old? That will greatly affect your O, and hormone levels. It may be wise to invest in the O prediction kit/strips. Having a cycle that's not so regular or predictable may make it a challenge to predict and plan.

No I'm not currently nursing. I only managed to for 2 weeks due to low milk production, although I'm inclined to think even then he was just a super hungry baby and he needed more! I didn't get my first AF until I was almost 12 weeks post partum then the next one was a 34 day cycle then a 27 day and I'm currently on CD23 and I could've sworn I was getting AF last night, either that or I was ovulating cause the cramps in my left lower abdomen were SO bad I could barely sleep! I think the O predictor kit is a good idea!! Thank you, I'd never have thought of that!! I agree with the OP, while I can't wait to Disney-fy my DS (we've already started LOL! His bedtime lullabies are all Disney of course!) I'd love to have a Princess as well as a Pirate! Thanks again