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How to Improve Your Chances of Conceiving a Girl

Do you already have one boy (or several), and now you want to have a girl? Or perhaps you grew up with only brothers, and always wondered what it would be like to have a girl?

Some people choose to leave gender selection to chance, which can be great fun to find out whether they are having a boy or girl on the day of the birth. However, some other parents would like to tip the scales in their favor of conceiving a particular gender. In this particular article, information is provided on how to increase your chances of having a girl.

So what are the factors that can help you conceive a girl?

First, understanding the science behind what creates little boys and little girls is the easiest way to increase the chances of conceiving the gender of your choice. In particular, knowing the differences between sperm is what is most important.

So what are the differences in sperm?

As you may already know, sperm can be X or Y chromosomes. X chromosomes result in a girl baby when they fertilize the female’s egg. Y chromosomes result in boy babies upon fertilization. The mother’s egg always contains an X chromosome.

X (from mother) + X (from father) = Girl baby

X (from mother) + Y (from father) = Boy baby

What other differences exist between X and Y sperm?

X sperm chromosomes are heartier and live longer in a woman’s body. On the other hand, Y sperm chromosomes are weaker and do not live as long, dying off more quickly inside a woman’s body. X chromosomes also swim more slowly, compared to Y chromosomes.

Therefore, to increase your chances to conceive a girl, you will want to ensure that there are no Y sperm still inside your body so that the X sperm fertilize the egg when you ovulate.

So how do you make this happen then?

If you want to have a girl, you need to plan to have sex about two to four days before you ovulate. By then, the Y sperm will have died off, and the slower-moving, longer-living X sperm will presumably get to the egg to fertilize it.

This is just one factor that can help you in getting pregnant with a girl. For best results, you need to combine several techniques for higher success. Other techniques include considering the pH levels of your cervical mucus, what foods you are eating, and so forth. The best way is to get the information from someone who has helped many couples to achieve the gender that they desire. You can find out more here: <insert your affiliate link here – Clickbank Marketplace and Amazon have books about gender selection>

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7 Tips to Consider When Choosing Your Baby’s Name

Choosing a name for your baby can be as important as picking your obstetrician and your baby’s pediatrician. After all, what is the first thing people want to know when they meet you? It’s your name! So putting some thought into your baby’s name is time well spent, and can be a lot of fun!

Here are 7 things to consider when deciding on potential baby names:

Can others shorten the first name?

For example, if you name your child, Daniel, there is a chance that others will call him “Dan” or “Danny.” Even if you do not call your child this, his friends or adults may shorten it. You have to be prepared for this. If you do not like the potential shortened version, you may want to look at alternate names. Think of what others may potentially shorten your child’s name to, and decide if it is something that you can live with.

Can the name you choose “grow” with your child?

For some parents, it is important that the name chosen be suitable for both a child and an adult. In other words, some names may sound cute when your child is a baby, but may later sound childish for an adult.

Can others pronounce the name easily?

If you are making up a name or you are choosing an uncommon one, others may not know how to pronounce it. You can decrease this by ensuring you use phonetically correct spellings, but you have to understand that there will always be people who still do not pronounce the name correctly.

Do you want to honor someone in your family?

Naming a child after a loved one can be very satisfying. You may choose to use or include your own surname, as it may be a way for that name to live on. You may also decide to name your child after your father, grandfather, godmother, or another special person.

Does the name’s meaning matter to you?

Every name has a meaning and a history. You can easily look up names to find out what they mean.

How many names do you want to provide your baby?

Some people have two first names. Others have three middle names, while others have none at all. There is no right answer. It is a chance to express your individuality, while still remembering that your child is the one who will be using it all his/her life. Also, remember that often only the first middle name is what will show up on important documents, so you may want to use your favorite one first.

Is it important that your child’s gender is evident when reading the name?

Names like Emma, Victoria, and Jennifer are obviously female names. However, names like Jamie and Kelly can be male or female ones. Uncommon names can also make the gender more difficult to identify on paper.

In summary, choosing a name can be one of the most important first decisions you make for your child. There are so many things to consider, but it can be very fun and exciting to play with all the different name combinations.

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7 Ways to Deal with Heartburn During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, it is common to have nausea, back pain, sore legs, and interrupted sleep. Another one of the complaints of many pregnant women is the heartburn that they experience. In fact, up to 50% of women are likely to experience heartburn at some point in their pregnancies. You may not be able to avoid it or relieve it completely during pregnancy, but there are ways to control it.

What exactly is heartburn?

Heartburn actually has nothing to do with your heart. The burning pain, associated with heartburn, results when stomach acid rises up into your esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach). You may hear it referred to by its medical name, “gastroesophageal reflux.” “Gastro” means stomach. “Esophageal” refers to your esophagus/food pipe.

What causes heartburn during pregnancy?

There is a muscle, called the “lower esophageal sphincter,” located between your stomach and esophagus. This muscle relaxes when you eat or drink something so that the food/drink gets to your stomach.

However, if the muscle relaxes and does not stay closed, then symptoms of heartburn result.

The two main reasons for heartburn during pregnancy are:

Pregnancy hormones play a role in relaxing muscles throughout your body. This includes the lower esophageal sphincter.

The growing uterus pushes and displaces other organs in your abdomen, including the stomach and its contents.

What can you do to reduce heartburn and its effects?

Eat smaller, more frequent meals

Most pregnant women get accustomed to doing this anyway, especially as the pregnancy continues and the baby crowds your abdominal organs.

Do not eat/drink before you lie down

You want to use gravity to your advantage to help keep things in your stomach, where they should be.

It is preferable that you do not eat for about two hours before you plan to go to sleep.

Make adjustments to your sleeping surface

You may have to sleep in a recliner chair for part of your pregnancy. Again, you are using gravity to help keep things down.

A second option is to elevate the head of your bed. You can do this by putting six-inch blocks under the head of your bed. Alternatively, you can buy a foam bed wedge that you place under your head down to your waist, and sleep on that. That will keep you propped up. You can find these wedges on Amazon, for example.

Try sleeping on your left side instead of your right side

This recommendation is based on the anatomical design of the human body, and can be helpful for some heartburn sufferers.

Ensure you are wearing comfortable maternity clothing

You want to avoid anything tight around your waist that might cause increased pressure and chance for reflux.

Avoid particular foods and drinks

Spicy foods and carbonated beverages are known to play a role in heartburn. Caffeine, citrus, and pickled foods can also aggravate it.

Speak to your physician

If you try these tips, and you are still not getting full relief, be sure to talk to your doctor. Some antacids may be able to be used, but you should get medical advice first as to which ones are recommended during pregnancy.

To summarize, heartburn is one nuisance of pregnancy. Now that you know what causes it, you need to implement methods to control or relieve it. Pregnancy certainly can be uncomfortable, but you want to do what you can to minimize those discomforts.

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Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding – What Mothers-To-Be Need to Consider

If you are a mother-to-be, there are many important decisions to make before the birth of your child. One of those decisions can be whether you will breastfeed, or provide your child with formula after his birth. Breastfeeding definitely has many more health advantages for both you and your baby, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it be done exclusively for at least the first six months of your baby’s life. It is then recommended that it be continued at minimum up to one year, after the introduction of solid foods at around six months of age.

But what if I need to feed my baby formula? Does that make me a bad mother?

Mothers should never feel like they are substandard if they need to or choose to formula feed, for whatever reason. The old saying, “Never judge someone unless you’ve walked a mile in her shoes,” certainly holds true. Sometimes, mothers have their own health issues or personal reasons that prevent breastfeeding.

Formulas have come a long way, and more closely mimic breast milk than they ever did in past years. Infant formulas offer complete nutrition for your baby, and if you cuddle your baby during every feeding, it can still provide a wonderful bonding experience for you and your baby.

So if baby formula is adequate, why even consider breastfeeding?

Here is a list of reasons why breastfeeding is still recommended over formula:

Breast milk contains live antibodies (immunoglobulins)

This is the main ingredient missing in infant formulas. When the mother is exposed to germs, her body produces antibodies to fight the potential infection-causing organisms. These antibodies are then passed along to her infant in her breast milk, providing protection against potential illnesses and diseases.

Breastfeeding is free while formula is very expensive

Because formula can be very expensive, some parents have been known to give their infants plain cow’s milk or other milk alternatives at a much earlier age than recommended. Although this is adequate for a calf, it does not contain the necessary vitamins and minerals to encourage healthy development and growth in an infant. In addition, this could cause allergic reactions, and a number of other health problems.
On the other hand, breast milk is made specifically for human babies, and is always free and on tap.

Breast milk is “smart”

Breast milk changes its composition over the course of your baby’s growth and development.
Colostrum, for example, is the first milk that is produced by your breasts during pregnancy and then for the first few days after your baby’s birth. It is very high in protein as well as antibodies, which give your baby’s immature immune system a “boost” of protection. It also acts as a natural laxative for your baby’s first bowel movements.
Colostrum is replaced by transitional breast milk approximately three to four days after you give birth, and lasts for a couple of weeks.
Mature breast milk comes in last. It is composed of one kind of milk that has two different compositions:

a) Foremilk – The baby drinks this watery, thin milk first during a nursing session. It helps hydrate the baby, and contains more lactose and less fat. The lactose is important for energy production in the infant.

b) Hindmilk – The baby gets this higher-fat content milk as the nursing session continues. This is what is important for the baby’s growth.

In summary, breast milk is still the recommended nutrition for babies. A few reasons why you may want to consider breastfeeding over formula feeding have been provided. Although not discussed above, there are many other reasons why breastfeeding is beneficial including breast milk is more digestible, and breastfeeding also protects you against certain cancers. No matter what decision you make – breastfeeding or formula – know that it has to be right for you and your situation. Only you can make that decision.

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8 Early Signs of Pregnancy

When a lot of women get pregnant, there are typically some signs of pregnancy that occur quite soon after the pregnancy takes place. Ordinarily, a pregnancy test can confirm your suspicions quickly. However, being able to recognize some of the clues that your body is giving you, can help you decide if you need to look further into the possibility that you could be pregnant. Here are some signs to watch for that may indicate that you are indeed pregnant.

Tiredness

Extreme fatigue is one of the main signs of pregnancy at the start. All of a sudden, you may feel like falling asleep during the day at times when you normally would not. For example, you may suddenly have to fight to stay awake during meetings at work.

Tiredness can be due to so many different things, that frequently it is not identified as being related to pregnancy. Many times, people will think that the fatigue they are experiencing is due to having a busy schedule and so on. If you are more tired than usual though, this could mean that you are pregnant.

Change in Menstrual Cycle

Women who have regular periods know when they are “late.” Sometimes, lateness can be caused by increased stress in your life, but it can also be another telltale sign of pregnancy.

Morning Sickness

This feels like you have the flu (without the fever). You may feel nauseous or may even be throwing up. Even though it is called morning sickness, you may be feeling sick any time of the day.

Morning sickness is most common in the first trimester of pregnancy, but can continue into the next two trimesters for some women.

You can reduce some of the symptoms of morning sickness by having more frequent, smaller meals. If you are not managing to keep any food down, it may be time to see your doctor for ways to reduce the morning sickness you are experiencing. Dehydration can also be a real concern, which sometimes necessitates hospitalization. In addition to seeing your doctor, you may also want to consider the advice of a licensed naturopath, who can provide you with some strategies to manage the nausea, etc.

Breasts that Hurt or are Tender

You have probably experienced uncomfortable breasts just prior to, or during, your menstrual cycle. This is what your breasts will feel like when you first get pregnant. They will be more sensitive to touch.

Abdominal Cramping or Bleeding

You may not even notice the cramping, as it is not usually really bad cramping. It may just feel like some pressure in your abdomen, similar to what you may feel at the start of a period. You may even mistake it for the start of a period when, in fact, you are pregnant!

This cramping reportedly occurs when fertilization occurs within your uterus. You may also experience a bit of spotting or notice some blood in your panties. As long as it is not a significant amount, there is no need for concern.

Enhanced Ability to Smell

This sounds weird, but it is true. Your sense of smell becomes very sharp during pregnancy. Suddenly, you may notice the scent of someone’s tea from across the room. Walking down the cleaning aisle of the grocery store, may prove too much for your senses. It may feel like the scents of everything have become stronger overnight!

Gustatory Changes

You may have always enjoyed a particular food, but now it tastes bad (it may also smell bad). You may find that you develop unusual cravings for foods that never interested you much before.

Lightheaded

This can be very subtle, but you may suddenly feel like the room is spinning, or you may feel faint. Make sure to eat during these times, as your blood sugar is probably a bit low.

To conclude, some of the early signs of pregnancy have been covered. There can be more, but the ones mentioned are quite common. The next thing that you need to do is find out if you are, in fact, pregnant. The sooner you find out if you are pregnant, the sooner you can begin taking good care of that little baby growing inside of you.