Infertility and TTC girl

[Hopeful1]

I came across this site a few weeks ago and have been lurking ever since but I never saw a situation similar to mine so I figured I'd just ask. I have a long history of infertility, tried 3 years (including 2years of unsuccessful fertility drugs/IUIs). I finally got pregnant on my own after doing a LOT to change my lifestyle. I started meditation regularly, quit work, began focusing on a hobby I feel really passionate about, began running, doing yoga, and working out regularly. The cycle I got pregnant I took Vitex, but stopped after 3 weeks because it massively delayed ovulation.

I did not have an easy pregnancy and my DD was born premature. I believe I may have issues with implantation because of the placental issues in my first pregnancy. All the fertility testing came back normal for both DH and I, though I had borderline low progesterone and DH had borderline counts (within "normal" but close to the bottom).

We have now been TTC#2 for over 2 years. DH has vetoed going high tech, and I'm ok with that. However, as time goes on I am starting to want another girl more and more. I want my DD to have a sister (I have a sister) and I have loved having a daughter SO MUCH. I feel like I'm being selfish because I already have such a wonderful girl and maybe I should just let nature take its course and take what I can get, but I am also finding myself looking at friends who have 2 or 3 girls and I get so jealous.

But that's just background. My question is this: if I am already fertility-compromised (and not getting pregnant) should I follow more of a boy-friendly lifestyle to increase my fertility? Will bumping my natural fertility up a bit end up creating a just-fertile-enough environment to conceive a girl? Or by increasing my fertility actually push me towards boy because I'm increasing fertility for me? But I'm also concerned about decreasing my fertility any because, after all, I am NOT fertile now. Another part of this is that I am overweight, about 10 lbs more than when I conceived DD. I am also taking large amounts of folic acid because I am afraid of implantation failure and because I am getting older.

[Hopeful1]

I also wanted to ask if diet + exercise would be enough to sway if I am also doing supplements to increase fertility?

[mis2ninos]

I think you can increase your fertility and also throw in some girl sway tactics to increase your chances of pink. But if you don't make yourself healthy/fertile enough to conceive then your chances of a girl are zero. Have you been seeing a dr or re? What are they suggesting for you?

[Hopeful1]

I think you can increase your fertility and also throw in some girl sway tactics to increase your chances of pink. But if you don't make yourself healthy/fertile enough to conceive then your chances of a girl are zero. Have you been seeing a dr or re? What are they suggesting for you?

We are "unexplained". There is no reason we aren't getting pregnant. We did a year of treatments, all unsuccessful. My DH is not willing to do any more treatments for #2 since they didn't work in the first place and we got pregnant with #1 on our own.

[mis2ninos]

Oh ok I'm sorry that must be tough :(

Well lowering your stress levels like you did with your first dd should lower your t levels and that should sway girl. I would def keep the folic acid and maybe add baby aspirin to help with your lining.

[atomic sagebrush]

Hi thanks so much for your patience, sometimes it takes me a bit to get back to longer q's.

The unsatisfying answer is that we don't KNOW. What I do know is, if you don't get pg, you have ZERO chance of a DD. My recommendation would be to do whatever it takes to get pregnant and the odds are that it would be a girl. I would recommend supps to boost sperm quality and egg health, SMEP, and Preseed.

For diet, please do not do LE Diet, it's not right for you. Follow a general fertility boosting diet including full fat dairy and colorful fruits and veg but at the same time losing weight. The weight loss may be the best thing you can do to up your chances of conception. I would definitely have you add the exercise in - it's gotten outstanding results and will help your fertility.

:agree: with the high dose folic - should be 4000 mcg and also take some B12 or else continue eating meat/eggs.

[Hopeful1]

Hi thanks so much for your patience, sometimes it takes me a bit to get back to longer q's.

The unsatisfying answer is that we don't KNOW. What I do know is, if you don't get pg, you have ZERO chance of a DD. My recommendation would be to do whatever it takes to get pregnant and the odds are that it would be a girl. I would recommend supps to boost sperm quality and egg health, SMEP, and Preseed.

For diet, please do not do LE Diet, it's not right for you. Follow a general fertility boosting diet including full fat dairy and colorful fruits and veg but at the same time losing weight. The weight loss may be the best thing you can do to up your chances of conception. I would definitely have you add the exercise in - it's gotten outstanding results and will help your fertility.

:agree: with the high dose folic - should be 4000 mcg and also take some B12 or else continue eating meat/eggs.

Thank you for your help! Some questions though
1. When you suggest exercise are you talking about the 60 min/6-7 days a week plan?
2. Do you have any suggestions for fertility boosting supps? Or should I just take "boy" sups?
3. Can you recommend a good fertility boosting diet? Book or other resource?
4. What is SMEP?

Thanks again for your help. At this point I'm kind of feeling hopeless about the possibility of a #2. I was feeling really discouraged about the LE diet thinking there was no way I could skip breakfast until menopause. Well, hopefully there will be a #2 and either way, pink or blue, at least I will have another baby to snuggle.

[atomic sagebrush]

1)yes

2)I would do coq10, inositol, higher dose folic, and essential fatty acids such as Enfamil Expecta. Iron 3x a week and zinc 3x a week. Would not do Maca or DHEA. Get 10-15 min. sun on your skin daily for Vit. D.

3)I have this book and like it. Fertility Foods: Optimize Ovulation and Conception Through Food Choices by Jeremy Groll | Barnes & Noble (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/listing/2687583478891?r=1&cm_mmca2=pla&cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-Book_15To24-_-Q000000633-_-2687583478891)

4)Sperm Meets Egg Plan, it's a technique of BD that increases odds of conception. Sperm Meets Egg Plan (http://www.pregnancyloss.info/sperm_meets_egg_plan.htm) she also has an e-book that is free and goes into more detail.

[Hopeful1]

Thanks!!