Well color me happy!

This past week marked the day we had been waiting for. The day where I would be fertile enough to do the deed that would result in making a baby. I really think because of this process I have been more aware of my body and what the hell goes on inside it. I realized that the bloating, twinges, and crankiness were not because of the cookies I was eating, or the really big glass of water I had on Wednesday. It was my body's way of saying "Hey if you want to get knocked up, here's the time to do it!". I never realized how out of tune I was.

So sticking with the Shettles Method my hubby and I "colored" ( as we call it in our house) twice within the   days leading up to ovulation, and once just after. The last time wasn't for procreative reasons, our kids were just asleep at a decent time, so we decided to take advantage :-).

"Coloring" really does take on a whole new meaning when trying to make a baby. I didn't think I would be preoccupied with it, but even Brian said it felt different. I can understand why it can be frustrating when you are "trying" and you have expectations that are not met. I do think I will get pregnant this first try, if not we will have lots of fun trying again. With my two boys nothing was planned, nature took its course, and we were blessed to have healthy babies. I can't imagine the heartache some couples endure to conceive, we really are lucky.

So this time next week I should be able to take a pregnancy test to see if Brian's swimmers still got what it takes. I'm really excited, but know that it is ultimately not up to me when it happens. But when it does, whether it's a "he" or "she" we will be very happy.

Anticipating From Boyland,

~ Nacia
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The Whelan Method

So here is yet another method that directly disagrees with the Shettles Method, however both agree that timing is key to selecting the gender. This one was developed by Dr. Elizabeth Whelan whose recommendations were based on the work of a Colombian doctor named Dr. Rodrigo Guerrero during the 1970's

From a study of over 1,300 women who charted their temperature’s using basal body temperature (BBT), it was found that on the day of the temperature rise (indicating that ovulation had just occurred) that there was a greater chance of having a girl baby than a boy on that day.

The study also went on to say, you had the best chance of having a boy baby if conception occurred six or more days before the temperature rise. The success rate of the Whelan method says that it works 65% of the time for a boy, and 57% of the time for a girl.

Wow, this process is going to be harder then I thought. With so much conflicting information how am I to know which one will give me the greatest odds of conceiving a girl?

Contemplating from Boyland,

~Nacia
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The O+ 12 Method

This method was born after results of a 1984 New Zealand study on the timing of sex relative to the ovulation cycle were published in a medical journal.  The study tracked the number of boys versus girls that were born in the days preceding and following ovulation. An Australian woman, named Kynzi, who was the mother of 6, count em 6 boys, came up with this method after all others failed her, including Shettles. After reading the study she concluded that more girls were conceived after ovulation took place so she advised that intercourse only happen 12 hours after you have ovulated, hence O+ 12.


After timing intercourse to occur 12 hours after her ovulation cycle began, Kynzi finally conceived a girl. To correctly administer this method the following must be done:

• The male must refrain from ejaculation for up to 7 days before intercourse to increase the ratio of female sperm. (NO sexy time with his wife or by himself)
  
• Keep track of ovulation  – when you get confirmation that ovulation is about to happen look for the changes to indicate that you are ovulating such as a rise in temperature (if you are charting), or any ovulation pains
• Have intercourse within 8 to 20 hours after you believe you ovulated.

Though some claim that this method has a 90% success rate, it is hard to concretely establish when test subjects ovulate. Something is also to be said of the statistic surrounding the probability of having a boy after giving birth to 6. There is a less then 1% chance. Not sure if she made a breakthrough or the odds were on her side.

Slightly Confused in Boyland,

~Nacia
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The Shettles Method

Since the 1960's thousands of couples have turned to the Shettles Method to conceive a baby girl. It was developed by Dr. Landrum Shettles whose average rate of success is about 70%. Here is what he claims will help to get the baby girl of your dreams:

1) Determine your time of Ovulation

Having sex closer to ovulation strongly increases your chances of having a boy. I've found the best way to determine when you are ovulating is to use one of the many online ovulation calculators. Here are a few that I have found:

http://www.ovulation-calculator.org/

http://www.babyhopes.com/ovulation-calendar.html

http://www.babycenter.com/ovulation-calculator

Also some indicators that are you are ovulating may be:

• Change in cervical fluid

• Brief twinge of pain or dull ache that is felt on one side of the abdomen

• Increase in sex drive

• Breast tenderness
• Abdominal bloating

• Body temperature chart that shows a consistent change

2) Frequency and Timing of Intercourse

The Shettles method suggests having sex every day up until 2 1/2 to 3 days before you ovulate, after which you should not have unprotected sex until after you ovulate. Since sperm carrying the X chromosome are stronger but slower then Y chromosome sperm he suggests having intercourse farther away from ovulation so that the Y sperm will die off and you will be left with more X sperm.

3) Position

Shettles claims that missionary style sex, with shallow penetration, will drop more sperm off at the opening of the vagina which favors the X sperm. Y sperm are not able to survive the acidic nature closer to the opening.

4) Orgasms

Dr. Evil...I mean Shettles also claims that when trying to conceive a girl the woman should refrain from having an orgasm. He postulates that during an orgasm a woman's body produces fluids of an alkaline nature which kill off any X sperm. Also, contractions cause by the orgasm push the sperm closer towards the cervix which give those boys a better chance of fertilizing the egg.

Dr. Shettles has some valid suggestions that I think will be helpful in my quest. Refraining from having an orgasm might prove difficult. Knowing what I know now, I see why it is so much easier for men to climax, it's been that way since conception.

Sexually frustrated in Boyland,

~Nacia

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