In our quest to have a third baby, I went overboard with trying to have a girl. It’s been a much longer process then I had anticipated since my last two pregnancies came so quickly. Factor in age and trying to “rig the system” for nearly a year-long journey.
It’s been some time since my last post. I had to take a break from gender selection and baby making.
I think I researched myself into exhaustion. Finally, I gave up on google and went to the closest resource I have. My husband, Hughan.
Here’s the quick recap. We decided we wanted to try for a third baby. My bright idea was to see if I could stack the deck in favor of a girl – since we already have two boys.
I tried Dr. Shettles method of timing sex on specific days prior to ovulation. I crossed that with the Chinese Lunar Calendar to determine which months would be the best to yield a girl. THEN I loaded up on calcium and magnesium to “make my environment more hostile” to male sperm.
I swear, I haven’t lost my mind.
And what did it get me? A lecture from my internal med doctor regarding my ridiculously high calcium levels and a lot of sideways glances from others who assumed I’d lost my mind. But no pregnancy.
So I opened my meticulous records and closely guarded charts to Hughan. After he got past the fact that I had written EVERYTHING down, he went into doctor mode.
“While the exact number of days are not scientifically proven,” he would qualify, “your issue may be that your luteal phase is just a day or so too short.”
Luteal Phase? Back to Google.
According to Wikipedia, “the luteal phase (or secretory phase) is the latter phase of the menstrual cycle (in humans and a few other animals) or the earlier phase of the estrous cycle (in other placental mammals). It begins with the formation of the corpus luteum and ends in either pregnancy or luteolysis. The main hormone associated with this stage is progesterone, which is significantly higher during the luteal phase than other phases of the cycle.”
Ok, Dr. Frederick – What does that mean to me?
“Typically, there should be 14 days from ovulation to the start of a woman’s period. Not all the time, but generally speaking.”
Mine is only 10. This wasn’t the case with either of my first two babies so I was immediately concerned. It means that my body is not producing enough progesterone to carry a lining for the full two weeks. If I were to get pregnant, my body wouldn’t be able to keep the fertilized egg long enough before it was able to produce its own necessary hormones. Essentially, I would have a miscarriage every time – before I even knew I was pregnant.
My eyes grew wide and my throat went dry.
Then Dr. Frederick talked me off the ledge.
“It’s a general guideline. Let’s try you on a progesterone pill a few days after ovulation and see if that helps,” he said.
So of course, I have to consult my friends. They suggested creams, fruits, etc…all to which my husband said no. They aren’t strong enough for the task.
With pill bottle in hand we tried again…on just the right month.
