Most couples are happy to simply deliver a healthy child, but there are circumstances where parents may have a preference for one sex over the other. This can be related to religion or simply because the couple already has one or more children of a certain sex and wish to have the experience of the other.
To achieve gender selection, parents around the world have tried different techniques. Here are a few methods to try and control the sex of future offspring. Keep in mind none are guaranteed, but there is no harm in exploring them.
Diet
According to many supposed baby gender specialists, what you eat prior to conception can influence the sex of your baby. In order to have a baby boy, mothers are encouraged to eat foods high in potassium and sodium. To have a girl, mothers are encouraged to consume foods rich in calcium and magnesium.
Other dietary fertility habits allegedly linked to having boys include eating more calories before conception and regularly eating cereal. Mothers wanting to have a girl are advised to avoid caffeine.
Timing of Sex
The Shettles Method taken from the book How to Choose the Sex of Your Baby, insists that timing plays a role. When couples have sex will determine which gender they conceive. Couples who wish to have a girl should have sex two to three days before ovulation, whereas couples wanting a boy should have sex at ovulation.
The logic behind this method is connected to the differences Dr. Shettle believed exist between male (Y) and female (X) chromosome of the sperm. His theory suggests that male sperm are faster swimmers and will always beat out female sperm to the final destination of an egg. Conversely, he claimed female sperm are more resilient. Thus, if released into the body before ovulation, they will live longer and subsequently fertilize the dropped egg.
pH of Follicular Fluid
According to this theory, the pH of a woman’s follicular fluid will alternate between acidic and alkaline. This pH level will determine which sperm are successful at surviving the medium and then fertilizing the egg. If the follicular fluid is acidic, female sperm have an easier time getting past it and fertilizing an egg. If the fluid is alkaline, male sperm move through it easily and reach the ovum.
The O+12 Method
This method is designed for couples interested in conceiving girls. According to this theory, to ensure the best possible result for having a girl, couples should determine exactly when a woman is ovulating and have intercourse exactly 12 hours later. They have no surefire method for having boys except not to follow the above recommendation.
Final Thoughts
While other opinions weigh in on factors such as positioning, astrological sign, and timing of orgasm, the above methods tend to be the most tested. Many gender selection websites may even use a combination of the above methods to help get the gender you want. The truth is that every pregnancy has a 50-50 chance of conceiving a girl or boy, so you may never really know what worked. These methods are relatively easy. If you are eager to predetermine the sex of your child, you may want to try them out.
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