Low-Tech Ways to Choose Baby's Gender

Environmental Affects on Gender

Dr. Mark Moore, an anesthesiologist from Tallahassee, Florida, and his wife, Lisa Moore, a registered nurse, explain their method of gender selection in their book, Baby Girl or Baby Boy: Determining the Sex of Your Child. The book details some practices that are generally believed to increase a couple's chances of influencing the gender of their baby. While there are no guarantees, Dr. Moore estimates that, if it's followed correctly, it has a statistical probability of working 80 percent of the time.

Dr. Moore's method is similar to the method developed by Dr. Shettles, but Dr. Moore has "tweaked" it to take advantage of recent discoveries in the environmental and behavioral science of conception.

Ways to Influence Boy or Girl Gender

Here are some of the ways Dr. Moore says will maximize a couple's chances of conceiving a girl or a boy.

Baby Boy: For a baby boy, the Y sperm need to be more plentiful and to make their way to the egg easier and faster.

• Avoid sexual activity for three to four days before the calculated ovulation date.
• No hot tubs or hot baths for the man at least one week before this time. He should also avoid wearing briefs.
• Have intercourse one time only on the ovulation date. Use condoms for any subsequent sexual activity.
• The man should drink coffee or caffeinated soda two hours before sex; this increases sperm counts.
• After sex, the woman should lie still for 20 minutes.
• Avoid artificial lubricants.

Baby Girl: For a baby girl, the X sperm need to be more plentiful.

• To lower the sperm count, have frequent intercourse on days 5 through 8 of the woman's cycle.
• On days 9, 10, and 11, have daily intercourse.
• The sexual position should be face to face.
• Avoid artificial lubricants.
• No sex on days 12, 13, or 14, or for at least two days after ovulation, except with condoms.

Dr. Moore also notes in his book that selecting a child's gender shouldn't be taken too seriously, but he thinks using his methods make trying that much more fun.

What Moms Say About Gender Selection

Considering that influencing the gender of one's child is sometimes viewed as playing God, it's interesting to note that each of the three women interviewed for this article is religious. While Kate and Bethany say that they would draw the line at high-tech sex selection methods, Madeleine responds that she and her husband are thinking about sperm-spinning to conceive a girl.

All three women appear to have reached a healthy balance between taking a proactive stance toward gender selection and at the same time appreciating the singular gifts that a baby of either sex brings.

When asked what advice she would give to couples contemplating any form of gender selection, Bethany puts an insightful spin on the issue of choice: "Be happy with either sex. You will get the child that has chosen you."

* Last name withheld to protect privacy.