Sex Selection

Let's face it, the top priority for parents-to-be is a healthy child. Still, that doesn't mean that you don't want a baby girl. You may harbor some hope that you might get the daughter you've always wanted. But is there really anything you can do to help increase your chances of having a girl?

Throughout history, would-be parents have tried just about everything to ensure the gender of their baby. Some of the approaches included various theories on when during your cycle you should to try to conceive. Moreover, many people insisted that you could guarantee the gender if you conceived following some convoluted superstitions.

When all was said in done, most of these "old wives' tales" weren't in the least effective. Only a few years ago, determining the gender of your baby was science fiction. No reliable methods existed.

All that has changed in recent years. Now you can do much more to get the baby girl you want. The choices include everything from medical intervention to following diet programs that may help. As doctors and scientists have learned more about conception, the reliability of gender selection has increased.

What can doctors do for you? Using in vitro fertilization, you can definitely have a little girl if you want one. Using this method, your eggs are fertilized, and then the DNA of the embryo is tested. This testing allows doctors to determine the gender before they implant the embryo in the mother.

Some companies around the nation will separate the X and Y sperm of the father so that couples can then conceive a child of a specific gender. Sperm that carry an X chromosome are heavier than sperm that carry a Y chromosome. Several collection methods exist to try to separate the Xs from the Ys. These methods vary in their reliability, so you should ask your doctor for more information about these approaches before you invest your time and money.

But what if you don't want to spend thousands of dollars and have invasive procedures done? What can you do yourself?

More and more people are using natural methods to try to conceive a child of a specific gender. If you're interested in conceiving a daughter, some research has shown that you can improve your chances by following a specific diet, tracking your ovulation and then trying to conceive on specific dates, and douching.

When it comes to diet, the recommendation is that if you want a baby girl, the mother should eat foods that are high in magnesium and calcium. If you've been tracking your ovulation, the theory is that you should have sex three to two days prior to ovulation and no later than that. Finally, some people believe if you douche with an acidic solution, such as vinegar, your chances for a female increase.

Although these natural, home methods increase your chance of having a little girl, they are not as reliable as enlisting the help of your doctor. Still, they do often work for some people, so you may want to see if they work for you.