Shettles theory

[sheeplikessleep]

Found out we are expecting ds2, which we are really thrilled about.

BUT, we did BD 6/7 days before ovulation, which according to Shettles, should have swayed towards a girl.

I just wondered whether others had tried Shettles theory and been either 'successful' or 'unsuccessful'.

unsuccesful twice .

shiny - do you think there is anything in the '0+12' theory? did you follow every aspect of shettles, or just timing?

Just timing - although with no girls born in dh family for 65 years my chances were probably slim to start with.

Whilst I never actively tried to sway for either sex this is my experience:

DC1 - constant sex All. The. Time (prior to, during and after Ov) - GIRL!

DC2 - an oops with a broken condom. I remarked at the time 'It's a good job that didn't happen a couple days ago because I was ovulating' (had egg white cm and felt the familar twang in my left ovary) - BOY!

THis pregnancy - we were not trying, not preventing but I was charting to make sure I was O'ing (had a mirena for nine years and worried it had screwed my system up). Sex three days prior to O, on the day of O and two days after... - Two scans confirm this is a BOY.

I seem to confirm shettles theory.

Tried Shettles. A bit embarrassing just how much research I put into it - months of watching cycle etc. Didn't work. I wouldn't bother trying it again if we decide to have DC3.

practicalcat - would you do anything?

I might have done anything, even more extreme methods, with the mood I was in a few months ago. But my longing made me very unhappy and it took me a while but I made peace with it. Now, if we decide to have DC3 it will be because I want a third child, and not to try for a gender. So no, I probably wouldn't do anything.

sorry practicalcat if your post was difficult to write. i guess i need to get to a similar place you are now in. thanks for posting.

I hope it helps - I'm not afraid to talk about how much I longed and the disappointment I felt when I found out. But worse, the guilt and disappointment in myself for being disappointed. Too horrible - don't want to go through that again. Took a while to come to peace with it, and every now and again I have hiccups, but then I just imagine my lovely children playing together and that helps.

I only did this for #2, #1 is a girl.

DH switched to boxer shorts and had cold showers on his bits twice a day.

I charted cycle, and only had unprotected sex on actual day of ovulation - and abstained for 3 days before.

Followed the food guidance in Hazel Chestertons books (can't remember what it was now). And yes #2 was a boy - and we were lucky as i conceived on first cycle we were trying (ie only one act of unprotected sex).

I am now pregnant with #3 and have no preference, so didn't pay too much attention to when ovulating.

sorry also wanted to say my SIL was sure #2 would be girl because BD around 5/6 days before ovulation, not because she planned girl but because her DH was away with work and no, its was another boy.

mumNWlondon - exactly the same here as your sil. thanks for posting

I started a thread ages ago about this. Can't find it now.
I am PG with DC2 and have a lovely DS.
I was upset because I had never heard of the theory until I was 20+ PG.
I thought, shit, I waited until Ovulation day (very obvious egg white day) with DS1 and fell PG immedietly. Did same with this one (33 weeks) then heard theory and I have to admit, my heart sank!
Id mainly have liked the surprise and the unknown whereas I feel it's a high chance of being a boy now.
I asked if anyone had only had sex on ovulation day and ended up with a girl.
There was quite a lot. Some where scetchy because they had had sex a few times around the time. Some were very definite, they had only had sex on the day, they knew it was ovulation day and it was a girl.
It sounded to me like the shettles theory was only giving you 'more chance' but not definite.
Im still P'd off I know about it now though!