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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

swayed for a girl =diet,timing,ph levels,and got another boy.

220 replies

racheael76 · 06/04/2013 19:32

hi i really wanted a daughter this time as we already have 2 sons.i did the dairy diet,milk no salt limited chicken drank evian water ,took calcuim and magnesuim tablets,douche with massengill vinegar(cost a fortune form overseas!) plotted ovulation conceived 5 days before ovulation.i did every thing i know for a liitle girl.so many people have a daughter and a son.did anyone sway and got the sex they wanted?did anyone sway and got wrong gender?what did i do wrong?

OP posts:
Fakebook · 07/04/2013 13:34

I had a girl then a boy. Ner ner ner neer ner.

No but seriously, I've heard magnesium helps conceive a boy too.
It's all bullshit. Only the sperm determines the sex. Blame your DH for having super fast boy sperms who win every race.

Fightlikeagirl · 07/04/2013 13:58

Op, I have two boys, both love football as does DH so we ALL go to football matches and out to play football. Never used to be interested in football and I'm still not as into it as they are but my sons love it so I've decided to get involved rather than sit at home. We all have a fun time ( even when our team loses!).
I think it's great that my boys see that's it not just males who can be into sport. My eldest always likes (short!!) shopping trips so I get to take him into town, we do lunch etc.
I also know all the skylander names, all about Kobots and can build a lego fire engine with my eyes shut!!
So I'm just saying you don't have to be the same gender as your child to get involved and share experiences together. Smile

AmandaPayneAteTooMuchChocolate · 07/04/2013 14:04

I'm going to leave the main issue alone, as you've had lots of comments.

But I have to pick up on the 'lose them to their wives' 'if they divorce will I see my grandchildren' stuff.

Firstly, many grandparents (maternal and paternal) see less of their grandchildren than they would wish. For any number of geographic and other reasons. I know many mothers living in different countries from their parents and close(ish) to their in laws, for example.

Secondly, you do not lose your son to his family. The fact is that, in our patriarchal society, women often take the burden of organising the social life of the family. Setting the meet-ups, posting the birthday cards. That is why the family of the mother can end up getting preference. If you're doing the organising, you sway towards organising in a way that suits you. So you have a few things you can do:

  • raise your sons not to abdicate responsibility in that way;
  • raise your sons to treat women well and to treat people generally nicely, so that if they have relationships they are more likely to last and any break ups are more likely to be amicable (the woman who uses possession of her children to punish a perfectly lovely ex and his family being the stuff of Daily Mail caricature and really not so common in real life); and above all,

-be nice to any woman who has your grandchild. I know at least two sets of grandparents whose sons have gone totally off the rails and don't see their children, but by virtue of being nice people who the mother likes and trusts with her children, are still heavily involved in their grandchildren's lives.

I know you are probably thinking it is unfair that you have to put in what seems like 'extra' effort, but well, 'wifework' screws us all over in many and varied ways. And, to be honest, those are things I shall be doing too raising my girls (with an obvious tweak to the first one).

somewherewest · 07/04/2013 14:08

...whereas I'm the opposite of Cricketballs and am a bit nervous about having a DD in case they turn out to be obsessed with clothes/shoes/shopping and we have nothing in common. I would happily have the OP's household Grin.

somewherewest · 07/04/2013 14:13

...and sod's law if you ever do have a daughter OP, she will probably be as stereotypically 'boyish' as its possible to be (says the woman who hated dolls and dresses and would've worn the same raggy Scooby Doo T-shirt for her entire childhood if it hadn't literally fallen to pieces).

cakeandcava · 07/04/2013 14:26

To those defending the OP with 'gender preference is real' and 'we should be understanding of feeling sad for not having a girl' -I'm sorry, but no. Just because a feeling is real does not mean it is deserving of sympathy. I think it's totally fine to tell the OP she is being ridiculous and insensitive (I spent three years ttc, one mmc) and that she should be grateful she has healthy children.
I really really can't stand this gender preference crap. If that is truly how you feel then you should be ashamed and try to work on your feelings a bit.

sheeplikessleep · 07/04/2013 14:28

OP, I think you've had an unfair hammering here. No one is ever saying that being able to have any child, boy or girl, who is healthy is a blessing and the most important thing. Of course it is. This isn't a competition.
However, with 3 DSs who I adore and wouldn't be without and wouldn't swap for the world (and I mean that - I wouldn't swap them for any girl, ever), I too feel some sadness that I will never experience bringing up a daughter. That is a totally separate feeling to having 3 sons. I think your wording in your OP was ill thought through. Gender disappointment is such a taboo topic and of course, it's less important than the harrows of infertility or not having healthy children. But it is a feeling that is very real for people.
OP - focus on your beautiful sons. You imagined your life in a certain way and it's turned out different. As time goes on, you'll realise why. I'm a bit fatalistic about these things really.

Congratulations btw.

sheeplikessleep · 07/04/2013 14:28
williaminajetfighter · 07/04/2013 14:30

cakeandcava, There's really no need to be unnecessarily mean. Glad you are soooo open minded and are completely neutral about gender.

This article is starting to feel timely:

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2305111/Why-I-hate-negative-judgmental-Mumsnet--Amanda-Holden-Britains-Got-Talent-star-accuses-site-fuelling-mothers-guilt.html

AmandaPayneAteTooMuchChocolate · 07/04/2013 14:48

Williamina - I rather like Amanda Holden, but I find that article rather sad. She's an ambitious, adult woman. I couldn't give a toss about how long she takes off, and a few days on BGT is hardly going down 't pit. Why does she feel she has to justify her decision based on it being best for her older daughter? She's sort of an example of exactly what she's criticising - the cult of everything having to be abut the child. I wish she'd said "I needed to get back to normal. It was very traumatic and I wanted to put it behind me. It was a few days and my daughter came with me. I don't understand the fuss"

elliejjtiny · 07/04/2013 15:00

I have 3 ds's and pg with my 4th (not sure what type this one is).

Have you seen the film "bend it like beckham"? The mum of the girls is always worrying about what her DDs are doing and the mum of the boy is perfectly happy although oblivious that her DS is gay.

I must admit I worry sometimes about being the MIL who doesn't get to see the GC but in our family it's the other way round. I'm also extra nice to DS1's GF just in case (DS1 is 6 and GF is 8 but you can't start too early Grin.

HorryIsUpduffed · 07/04/2013 15:02

cakeandcava most women with gender preference do feel guilty and do try to work on it. Your lack of sympathy does mirror those who fail to sympathise with those struggling with fertility.

Or is it ok to tell people with mental illness to pull their socks up and count their blessings?

cakeandcava · 07/04/2013 15:12

Horry I guess my argument would be that whereas infertility and mental illness are genuine, debilitating and heartbreaking issues, gender preference is not.

However, I do see your point -I'll try to work on my sympathy.

sheeplikessleep · 07/04/2013 15:21

For some cakeandcava, gender disappointment is genuine, debilitating and heartbreaking.

MarianaTrench · 07/04/2013 15:30

Well they need to have a stern word with themselves then and will not get a shred of sympathy from me. It is in absolutely no fucking way comparable with either infertility or mental illness.

jellybeans · 07/04/2013 15:34

Lovely post Fightlikeagirl

I think a preference is somewhat normal but when people say they are heartbroken etc or would 'get rid' if it was 'another boy' (it always seems to be boys) it is hard to hear that if you have actually been to a 20 week scan and been told your baby has severe probably lethal birth defects (happened to me). That programme a while back '8 boys and wanting a girl' was horrible and there also is a website called 'in gender' where they commiserate if told the 'wrong' gender at the scan. Some also abort if the wrong gender. I wonder why also it is more acceptable to want girls but if it was the other way round and they really didn't want 'another girl' or would 'get rid' would it be so 'understandable'?

FrankellyMyDearIDontGiveADamn · 07/04/2013 15:35

I pity the children of parents with "gender disappointment", not the parents.

sheeplikessleep · 07/04/2013 15:35

I'm not saying its comparable. But it is genuine.
Im bowing out of this thread now.

MarianaTrench · 07/04/2013 15:40

Having lost babies in similar circumstances I completely agree. Anyone saying they're 'heartbroken' at having a boy would get very short shrift from me. I, and many others on here, would do anything to be able to have a healthy baby and idiots like the OP need to count their blessings rather than mourning some mythical mother / daughter relationship that doesn't even consider the female child might have their own preferences or personality.

jellybeans · 07/04/2013 15:47

'When I am in desperate need to do the mother/daughter thing I take one of my nieces out shopping/lunch etc and leave the smelly ones at home '

What is the 'mother and daughter thing'? Why do you specifically need a girl to do it? Can't boys do dinner/lunch? And not all boys are smelly or full of mud all the time!!

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 07/04/2013 15:50

What Sheep said at 14:28:42

AmberSocks · 07/04/2013 15:52

Actually it is not just the father that determines the sex,the vagina ca have a acidic or alkaline enviroment which can help or hinder male of female sperm.

MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel · 07/04/2013 15:56

I don't understand 'gender preference' or 'gender disappointment' or whatever the term is, but I do get that every person on this planet is different.

When you feel something then, to you, that is the most important thing in your life, and just because other people have it worse it doesn't detract from the way that you personally feel.

Its like someone falling and breaking their leg and struggling on crutches, the pain and suffering and difficulties will still be the same for them if someone else falls and breaks both their legs and is struggling more.

As I say I have no experience of gender preference/disappointment, and I don't understand it, and I have been through more than my fair share of heartache when it comes to having children, but that doesn't mean that I can't see that it really is an issue for some people and that they do feel a sense of loss over what will never be.

As I said upthread though I think your time and energies would be better spent bonding with your boys rather than trying for another child and hoping its a girl. You have a lovely family right in front of you and it sounds like you are missing out on it all just now. Join in on their trips, invite force them to do things you like, take up new hobbies together. Children are all amazing individuals regardless of gender, they really are.

AmandaPayneAteTooMuchChocolate · 07/04/2013 16:08

I am not sure it is fair to say gender disappointment is in no way fucking comparable with mental illness.

That makes the mistake of judging it objectively. Objectively, phobias of spiders, or vomiting, or flying are bloody ridiculous. Pull yourself together. It's not a proper problem. It's not going to kill you. It's not even going to hurt you. Just get a bloody grip and stop feeling sorry for yourself.

Except it isn't like that is it? Phobias about the 'silliest' of things can be debilitating mental illness. Just as this type of thing can be. Doesn't mean it's objectively anything like stillbirth, or infertility, or bereavement. But it does mean that the person's mental state has turned it into something it isn't - and that process has itself made the 'thing' something that can damage lives. I'd say that, in many ways, gender disappointment can be a mental illness.

cricketballs · 07/04/2013 16:09

jellybeans can you not understand a bit of sarcasm? this is why I get annoyed with mn sometimes

I love all the men in my life and I have taken on their wants and needs no matter how much I want to talk to someone about mascara; but to be honest, yes they do smell!

So yes, I do 'kidnap' a niece every so often to have the lipstick/mascara conversation that I don't have with my DC - instead DH and DS have full and detailed conversations that I do join in on about if someone was offside, if someone was really LBW...

BUT I also need the full girlie thing as well!

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