Myth-bust getting pregnant and TTCing "old wives" tales with Clearblue: chance to win £250 NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We have all heard "old wives" tales about how to get pregnant and now the team at Clearblue would love to hear which ones you have heard of - and which you believe in and which are a load of tosh!

Inspired by threads like this, they'd also love you to share the myths/ pre conceived (gettit)! notions you had before you TTCed about DTD and trying to get pregnant - what was an absolute revelation to you once you entered the land of TTCing?

Clearblue say "At Clearblue we love hearing about the journey women go on when trying to get pregnant, and especially when our products have been able to help in some way, please do share your experiences on this thread!"

Everyone who posts will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £250 Love2Shop voucher.

Please note your comments and photos may be included on Clearblue's website and social media channels, and possibly elsewhere, so please only post if you're comfortable with this.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

I certainly heard about the "legs in the air post-sex" thing.

Also (and I'm not sure it is an Old Wives Tale; it might actually be true), the story about if you conceive early in your cycle it will be a girl, and later it will be a boy (girl sperm swim faster, but die sooner, or something like that).

The one about heart rate of the foetus revealing the sea of the baby - rubbish! Although it was a midwife who was trying to peddle that one to me!

I'm not convinced about certain foods to conceive a boy/girl. I read that you should eat red meat, salty food and caffeine for a boy and chocolate, vegetables, fish and sweet food for a girl. Although now I think about it, I eat more of the latter list and had two girls...

I hadn't heard that it was sex in the morning for a girl. That's what we have been doing wrong.

I didn't listen to any "old wives" tales and don't really believe in any of them. My children were conceived naturally and just happened when the timing was right.

I always remember being told that if you eat yams you are more likely to have twins - not sure this is true but haven't put it to the test so can't be sure.

That your temperature is higher when ovulating...definitely can feel that sometimes!

I think just going to sleep after sex got me pregnant first time, I would usually nip to the ladies if you know what I mean.
I'd be very interested to know if there are any PROVEN ways of conceiving a girl, as that's our preference next time.

i think I've heard them all as I was desperate for 2 more children which took a lot of time to TTC.

I think the best was to try to relax and it will happen which is the most difficult thing to do when TTC.

It's not really a myth but that you're more fertile after you've had your first - I have heard it does have some scientific basis as your cervix is still partially opened as it never completely closes again.

I've also been told certain soaps can destroy the sperm - so natural products only if you are wanting to conceive.

Of course there is waiting a few minutes before standing up and allowing amble time for the swimmers to get moving. I think this must be true surely? As soon as you go into the bathroom you're wiping the remainder away. I don't advise waiting more than 5 minutes though as apparently you're more likely to get cystitis if you do this.

TTC can be a minefield :o

I was always told that the more frequently you 'try' for a baby, the more likely you will have a girl. Likely a myth but I have 2 girls and really enjoyed trying it out

The myth stop trying and it will happen well it actually worked for us we gave up trying we went and bought a new house a 2 seater sports car and started to enjoy life once again instead of stressing about TTC 8 months later I was pregnant.

If the soaps on tv have taught us anything it's that if you have an affair you will almost definitely be pregnant soon

My dh was travelling all over the world when we decided to try and conceive so I followed him. My fertile periods coincided with a conference in San Diego, a trip to Pebble Beach in Northern California etc. With our second child I had to go to Naples in Florida, Boston, New York... Number three just happened and was a surprise as I hadn't thought I'd be fertile again as I had only just stopped EBF & if the ultra sound dates were right I'd have been in Orlando with him (but she was 2 weeks late).

How did the fairy get pregnant? She st on a toadstool.

We've had the magical pregnancy chair at work too, Rhinos! Still no babies for me ... I also got told to drink green tea, stick a pillow under my bottom both during and after and that OH should change his undies for a different style! x

buy a dog - it works on some occasions

I was just surprised by the amount of people who seem to think that the age of 40 is some sort of cut-off point for having children. Am 42 (although I do look younger) and expecting my second.

after sex lay on your back with your legs in the air! lol

I read than DH should avoid eating peas as they reduce fertility in men.

go with the flow and see what happens

Rumours when younger was you could get pregnant from looking at a boy!

When TTC I checked my ovulation on sticks looking for the smiley face, but this just got my stressed to DTD, when I finally relaxed and threw the ovulation sticks out of the window then I conceived! Now I am aware of my body and can tell when I am ovulating, so understand when to DTD!

The helpful comments of (possibly) well-meaning types telling you how their neighbour's niece got pregnant and she's older than you, and that bird off the telly who reads the news, she's older than you and she's pregnant, and someone else you don't know who's older than you has got what you want and...none of this helped me at all.

You have more chance of conceiving if you orgasm...even if it's not true, we certainly had fun trying!

We heard about elevating hips etc but don't think it made much difference to us, in fact when we stopped all of those wives tales I got pregnant!

apparently on average - people have girls eat 500cals a day less on average than those who have boys at the time of conception... I was told this as though it's a fact, I'm not sure! But I'd try eating less if I was trying for a girl! I have two boys, but I think I'm leaving that at that now. x