Read more: Conceiving a Boy or a Girl

We feel that every healthy baby is a blessing, whether it’s a boy or a girl!

There are many factors that can influence the accuracy of the ultrasound. They include:

• the gestational age of baby
• the quality of the equipment
• the experience of the person doing the ultrasound
• mother’s weight
• baby’s position

Other methods of sex prediction are more accurate but carry risk to the pregnancy. The most commonly used methods are amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. This method is about 100% accurate.

Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling are genetic tests that can be used in the first trimester or early second trimester to find out the sex of your baby. They are more invasive and 100% accurate but they can pose health risks to your baby.

Frequency and Timing of Intercourse:

Shettles recommends that you have sex as early as 24 hours before ovulation to no more than 12 hours past ovulation to increase your chances of conceiving a boy. Having sex too long before ovulation will dramatically decrease your chances of conceiving a boy and increase the chances of having a girl.

Other things to consider are to make love when there’s a quartermoon in the sky and always have sex at night. Boys are conceived on odd days of the month.

Sexual Position:

Shettles suggests deep penetration from your partner, preferably with the “doggy style” position.

Others say you should lie down after sex. And stay down for a while. You can also try making love standing up. Consistent with what we have said before: if the man is the one to initiate you’ll get a boy.

Also, when you fall asleep be sure to be on the left side of your partner.

Sex and Orgasms:

Shettles suggests that orgasms during sex are a good thing if you want to have a boy. Though others disagree and say to always focus on his pleasure. If the male partner orgasms first, you’ll probably have a boy. Don’t be too relaxed, if you’re a bit worried when you’re conceiving you’ll have a boy.

Eating habits:

Eat red meat and go for salty snacks such as pretzels and potato chips. Your partner should drink lots of soda, especially cola. Also have your partner drink a coffee right before sex.

Consideration for the dad:

Research suggests that it’s important for the man to avoid wearing tight underwear if you want to conceive in the first place. However, some believe that ‘warmer testicles’ increase the chances of having a boy.

Frequency and Timing of Intercourse:

Shettles says in order to increase the chances of having a girl, you should have sex everyday from the end of your period up to 2 1/2 to 3 days before ovulation. Having unprotected sex closer to ovulation will dramatically decrease your chances of conceiving a girl.

Other tips are to make love in the afternoon and preferably on the even days of the month.

Sexual Position:

Shettles suggests shallow penetration, that way the sperm will be deposited closer to the entrance to the vagina. That area is more acidic and will work against the weaker ‘boy’ sperm.

Try the missionary position or make love with the woman on top and, remember that if the woman initiates sex, you’ll get a girl.

Sex and Orgasms:

Shettles recommends that you don’t orgasm during sex. But some people feel that if the woman reaches orgasm before her partner, you’ll have a girl. According to some stories, being relaxed when you conceive could probably mean you’ll have a girl. So, having an orgasm doesn’t sound so bad at all.

Eating habits:

You should both eat lots of fish and vegetables and the woman should give in to her chocolate craving, or just eat sweets in general.

Consideration for the dad: Some say a man’s testicles should be cool before you have sex if you want a daughter, so don’t wear any tight underwear or visit a sauna or steam room.

There are families who have such strong sex preferences that they choose to do sex selection. Using techniques like MicroSort, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Shettles and other methods of sex selection, anyone can attempt to influence nature. Some of these techniques are not entirely risk free, though Shettles method is harmless. Between 75 and 90% effectiveness is claimed, but experts don’t agree that it works.

It is understood that sperm cells that result in a boy are faster but more fragile than those that result in a girl. The Shettles method tries to influence the timing of the sperm arriving at the egg. The Ericsson method is based on the same belief, but there the sperm is deposited outside the woman and time is given for the swimmers to separate before artificial insemination takes place.

There are lots of people out there telling you non-medical ways to influence the sex of your baby. Let us give you the easy, safe and nice ways to influence the sex of your baby… or not.