Trying for a girl after 3 boys and 2 losses

[Loren]

My husband and I just lost a baby, our 2nd miscarriage in a row. I've had short luteal phases my whole life, but somehow conceived our 3 boys in 2009, 2010, and 2011 without any problems. Since then, I've had low progesterone and bleeding and cramping during pregnancies. I also had extremely low hcg with my last pregnancy that I miscarried a few days ago. We were able to see the heart beat despite hcg in the 300s, but then in our 12 week ultrasound 2 weeks later, the heart had stopped.

My doc prescribed me progesterone suppositories, clomid, baby asprin, and estoidol to help my luteal phase (23 day cycles), help produce progesterone, combat another miscarriage, have higher quality eggs (perhaps even multiple), and a quicker conception. I've filled the prescriptions, but I want to plan my pink sway before deciding. We will begin TTC the 20th of May. My husband and I want to start getting ready for PINK! So here's the plan for my girl diet as of now, with today being my first day on it. Please, if any of you have an extra moment, if you could tell me anything to eliminate or change that we've gotten wrong, it would be very appreciated.

Supplements I believe I want to take:
Clomid day 3 - 7 (I'm prescribed 50 mg but would really love twins. Do you think 100 would help that, or stick with 50?)
Progesterone suppositories day 17 and on
baby asprin
Folic Acid
Calcium
Magnesium
Contemplating benadryl before O on attempt days if it will help sway girl

Supplements for DH: He is a nonsmoker, in low normal weight, with no known problems. When we've tested ph levels in the past, we both were in good boy zones.
Cranberry
Licorice Root - If we don't get pregnant the first month, we will stop the LR.
Should he take anything else? Mag/Cal?

DIET
Drinks: I believe all of these sway girl. This is my plan - should anything be changed to sway more?
filtered water in morning
Low fat organic milk whenever I need milk in a recipe - I've seen that some pink diets recommend 3 glasses. Does it sway girl more than other choices here?
great value sugar free drink mix with asperthame 2 cups a day with a meal
dr. pepper with meals (this is what I've always drank the most of)
diet dr. pepper with meals (never been one for aspethame or diet, so I think incorporating this would be good for a girl sway)

My girl diet plan: I have a BMI of 23. I will eliminate breakfast and only eat 2 meals a day without any snacks between meals if this is best. I'll have 15 hours or more between Dinner and Lunch. I have My Fitness Pal set so that I can do what I believe to be the LE diet. My daily intake is set to goals of 1200 calories, 195g (65%) carbs, 30g (10%) protein, and 33g (25%) fat. 9g saturated fat limit, 300mg cholesterol, 2300mg sodium, 60g sugar, 3500mg potassium, and 25g fiber. My exercise plan is to do 60 minutes of walking and jogging on my treadmill 6-7 days a week. I will have a cheat meal a week each Thursday night when we go to a restaurant, and will have a margarita or two then if it's ok. My husband drinks beers twice a week, as well as caffiene daily. Should we tweak anything?

The things I've bought to eat regularly thinking they sway pink:

white rice with Mrs. Dash and corn on the cob with country crock and mrs. dash
tomato, sucumber, iceberg lettuce salad with ranch, italian, or balsamic vinagarette dressing (is one better than others?)
corn tortilla with egg beaters, Mrs. Dash, and salsa with a strawberry or blueberry yoplait light yogurt
corn tortillas with lettuce, white rice, velveeta cheese, rotel, light sour cream, and sala
strawberries and apples with cool whip and a straw/blueberry yoplait light yogurt
spinach, velveeta cheese, cream cheese, rotel dip on ranch wheat thin crackers
white bread grilled cheese sandwich with american cheese and country crock
tricolor rotini pasta with italian and ranch dressing
baked potato with margarine, kosher salt, light sour cream, and shredded mixed cheese
white rice with chicken breast grilled with Mrs. Dash
hot cheetos (will eat in place of a meal)
salsa pringles chips (will eat in place of a meal)

I also have gummy bears and sweet tarts to add candy to my diet. I will eat them right after a meal.

I also take buspirone twice a day to combat anxiety. I've dealt with it my whole life, mostly dealing with perfectionism and competitiveness in my job (I'm a math/science teacher in a testing grade). I wasn't on this med before when I conceived my boys or my first miscarriage, but it's allowed me to live my life and enjoy it instead of stressing. I know stress like this sways blue, so I believe it's best that I use it while TTC. (It's a grade B med, and I plan on taking it while pregnant i believe to have as stress-free of a pregnancy as possible).

Do I have any misunderstandings about any of this or is there anything that will ruin my intention of a girl diet, despite sticking to calorie, fat, sodium, and potassium limits? I appreciate your help more than you know. After I have my plan down, I want to follow it and continue shopping this way so I have nothing else to stress about. I have had a hard time shaking everything we used to believe about timing out of my head, especially since we conceived all of our boys right at O, but I know with Clomid I need to not do a cut off if I want to get pregnant. I think the best thing for us would either be one attempt with abstaining before, or frequent release AF on. Any opinions for my situation? Thank you so much for your time.

[Loren]

After more research, I think I've decided against the cal and magnesium for both of us, as I think lower nutrients may be best. I did order rephresh and will use once 3 days before O.

[covered in blue]

Welcome ��. Sorry to hear about your losses. When are you planning on ttc? We are starting in May. Coming around so fast! Good luck! Hope we are ttc buddies ��

[Loren]

Late April. Me too!

[maidentomother]

I'd definitely drop the cal-mag. I wouldn't use benadryl in a clomid cycle since clomid is already very drying. Diet sounds fine though I wouldn't go crazy on the milk drinking (unless it's skim, then you can drink a couple glasses) nor would I go overbiard on the aspartame. Though personally I'd never consume the stuff, I think it's too toxic and it barely sways if at all. Don't worry about sodium or potassium, we don't think they sway and it's one less thing to obsess over. You may need more overall cals and protein with the exercise.

Everything else sounds good, buspirone should sway pink, and I'd have DH do regular release all cycle long with one attempt at positive OPK.

I'm so sorry for your losses, I hope you conceive your rainbow baby girl soon! Btw I also conceived easily with a naturally short LP...it's not uncommon.

[Loren]

Thank you so much for the time it took to respond with such helpful advice.

[atomic sagebrush]

Hi again, thanks for patience.

Stick with 50. You have decent chance at twins with 50 mg.

Do not use RepHresh or Benadryl, it will cut your odds too far on Clomid and we're not getting good results with them anyway (don't appear to be doing anything) On Clomid, you are not gonna be able to predict when O will come and trying for 3 days before O, could very well end up coming right before O and cutting odds of conception to nothing (if you ovulated early)

Unless you already have the cranberry for DH, let's do OLE instead. IT's getting better results than cran and cuts odds of conception much less.

You are way too low on nutrient data. Protein needs to be 40-50 g minimum because that is the amount needed to sustain a healthy pg. I prefer most people do 1500-1800 cals and very very few need to drop to 1200-1500.

2-3 servings of aspartame is ok, no more than that please.

:agree: on the amounts of sodium and potassium, those are great! Please resist temptation to cut back any further on those things.

Alcohol and caff are fine at that intake! :)

I do want you to understand you CAN have more than 2 meals, it's 2 or 3, whichever works better for you. Some do better with 3 and esp. since you have to work, I wanted you to be aware you can add another meal if need be.

Also be aware that low carb veg are free - you don't count them in your cal/pro/fat, and higher carb veg and fruit are free for pro and fat but you do count cals. I just don't want you to be too strict on your diet.

I would have you guys skip freqency all together (it is not working and really cut odds of conception a lot) and have DH do regular release every 2-4 days and then stick with the one attempt the first couple months, then we will need to revisit that and start adding attempts (please come back and ask about this at that time!!! don't be shy :))

[atomic sagebrush]

forgot antidepressant - yes that seems to help a pink sway.

if you do drink some milk be sure to count in totals for the day.

[Loren]

June 3rd will be our cycle we start trying. I wasn't happy with my diet last month and wanted more time on the diet.

I'm eating lots of white rice, corn on the cobb, sugar free strawberry yogurt, sugar free/diet drinks (Def never did that before with all our boys), drinking a glass of red wine each night, eating a graham cracker with ground cinnamon sprinkled very generously all over the top, and staying away from high nutrient foods like breakfast cereals and lots of meats and other dairy products. I'm also skipping breakfast and not snacking between meals. Trying to eat about 6 each night and not eat til 11:30 the following day. My husband is taking olive leaf extract pills daily and staying away from steak (huge change for him). He's also drinking caffeine, sugar free drinks (also a big change for him), and a glass or two of wine each night. We're BD ing every day or two days. Our TTC Cycle will start June 3rd. I'll begin the Clomid for the first time day 3 of my next cycle. I'm also taking baby aspirin and folic acid each day.

I really wanted to include an hour of jogging/walking each night but my beloved treadmill JUST broke. I'm heartbroken!

[Pbn3]

Hi loren sorry for your losses and I hope everything goes great this cycle ttc. Just wanted to jump in as I noticed you said you're bding every day or two and I think this actually sways blue. Hubby can do release (with or without you :)) but from the previous comments think you're advised to bd once?? I see your original comments were back in march so this may have changed, I believe there's other ladies ttc pink that are dtd every 3-4 days during fertile window as one attempt hasn't been working or their opks are unreliable. I just know I've read multiple attempts in fertile window sway blue. Sorry again for bumping in here just wanted to make sure that you're getting your best chance at girl :)

[atomic sagebrush]

That is too much BD, switch to every 4 days.

Are you getting ENOUGH nutrients?? That sounds very sparse.

Only people with PCOS should use cinnamon and never more than 1/4 teaspoon.

Baby aspirin, unless you are taking that under a doctor's recommendation, should be 3-5 days a week. Not every day.

Can you not walk, just normally???

[atomic sagebrush]

Hi loren sorry for your losses and I hope everything goes great this cycle ttc. Just wanted to jump in as I noticed you said you're bding every day or two and I think this actually sways blue. Hubby can do release (with or without you :)) but from the previous comments think you're advised to bd once?? I see your original comments were back in march so this may have changed, I believe there's other ladies ttc pink that are dtd every 3-4 days during fertile window as one attempt hasn't been working or their opks are unreliable. I just know I've read multiple attempts in fertile window sway blue. Sorry again for bumping in here just wanted to make sure that you're getting your best chance at girl :)

:agree: One attempt in fertile window has gotten 70-75% success. this falls to 60% with 2 attempts, and 40% with 3 attempts. By DTD every 4 days, this ends up being one attempt in the fertile window and we are getting good results with it. Or, you can BD at positive OPK but if you miss the positive OPK, you will miss your chance and have taken the Clomid for nothing.

IF you want better odds of conception, lower odds of pink, BD every 4 days plus one attempt at pos oPK.

[Loren]

Thanks yall. I didn't know if the Clomid would lower fertility too much and make ovulation unpredictable to do 1 attempt. I will take your advice and do 1 attempt every 4 days. I'm scared I might miss it though. Would this definitely be better than every 3? We've tracked my cycle and done natural family planning for 10 years to avoid pregnancy when we aren't TTC, and often BDed 4 days prior to O without ever achieving a pregnancy.

Atomic I'm a teacher and live over an hour away from where I teach without traffic. After getting out of work, picking up the kids, and driving home, it's after dark. I wake up at 4:50 as is and couldn't do earlier, and it's still dark at then as well. I could walk on weekends but I thought it'd be better to do nothing if I couldn't do it every day. Very disappointing as I wanted to include this in my sway.

My doctor told me to take baby aspirin daily as part of my plan to avoid a third miscarraige. He also told me to take Estrogen but my levels aren't low and although I have the script, I'm afraid it'll sway blue. Also the side effects kind of scared me.

I use my fitness pal to make sure I'm getting enough calories. 1200 is my goal. Sometimes I don't meet the protein or fat percent though, so I'm struggling to down my carbs so it's not all turning into sugar and messing up the lower blood sugar I'm going for.

[Loren]

Will frequent release for dh improve our chances of pink?

[Hitmebabyonemoretime]

:agree: One attempt in fertile window has gotten 70-75% success. this falls to 60% with 2 attempts, and 40% with 3 attempts. By DTD every 4 days, this ends up being one attempt in the fertile window and we are getting good results with it. Or, you can BD at positive OPK but if you miss the positive OPK, you will miss your chance and have taken the Clomid for nothing.

IF you want better odds of conception, lower odds of pink, BD every 4 days plus one attempt at pos oPK.

Now I'm questioning my sway. I've told DH every 4 days, bc I don't know that my opks will work; but looking back I likely just missed it since it was so delayed. Clomid says 5-10 days after the last dose. I wish I knew if the opks were going to work.


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[atomic sagebrush]

please bump this for me, out of time today and it will take me a few minutes. :)

[Hitmebabyonemoretime]

Bumpity bump for Atomic [emoji120]


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[atomic sagebrush]

Thanks yall. I didn't know if the Clomid would lower fertility too much and make ovulation unpredictable to do 1 attempt. I will take your advice and do 1 attempt every 4 days. I'm scared I might miss it though. Would this definitely be better than every 3? We've tracked my cycle and done natural family planning for 10 years to avoid pregnancy when we aren't TTC, and often BDed 4 days prior to O without ever achieving a pregnancy.

Atomic I'm a teacher and live over an hour away from where I teach without traffic. After getting out of work, picking up the kids, and driving home, it's after dark. I wake up at 4:50 as is and couldn't do earlier, and it's still dark at then as well. I could walk on weekends but I thought it'd be better to do nothing if I couldn't do it every day. Very disappointing as I wanted to include this in my sway.

My doctor told me to take baby aspirin daily as part of my plan to avoid a third miscarraige. He also told me to take Estrogen but my levels aren't low and although I have the script, I'm afraid it'll sway blue. Also the side effects kind of scared me.

I use my fitness pal to make sure I'm getting enough calories. 1200 is my goal. Sometimes I don't meet the protein or fat percent though, so I'm struggling to down my carbs so it's not all turning into sugar and messing up the lower blood sugar I'm going for.

WE do not yet have the data to know if every 3 will be as good as every 4 (or really, if every 4 even IS that good because it could still be in the land of a fluke for now, too new and not enough results). The thing you have to remember is that the odds are 75% that you won't be 4 days from O anyway, yk??

Yes that's too much for one person! Don't even worry about it, just let it go. Clomid is a great sway!

OK if doctor says to take the aspirin that is fine, I just don't want people to do it for swaying. Honestly I'd give the E a pass, you don't need it.

You have to hit the protein and fat minimums. THose are for your body's health and to enable you to have a healthy pregnancy. Very few people should ever be on 1200 cals. I really much prefer 1500-1800. You don't have to down your carbs, that's not how blood sugar works. Please just follow the LE Diet guidelines and yoru blood sugar will take care of itself.

1500-1800 cals
40 50 g protein (50-60 if you ave PCOS)
25-60 g fat (aim for higher end if you have PCOS)
Skip breakfast if possible
Avoid snacks.

That is IT. If you do those things you do not need to worry about your blood sguar, it worries about itself.

I would not recommend you guys do FR for DH when on Clomid.

[Hitmebabyonemoretime]

Atomic, can you clear up whether I personally should just do one attempt given our time restriction, (even though hubby says we don't have one, and that we'll take care of things but I don't want that pressure of having to explain to my clients); or if you would recommend the 4 day plan (which hubby loves).


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[Loren]

Thanks so much.

I'm not sure yet what I want to do as far as timing. I conceived two of my three boys with one attempt on fertile window. I'm scared!

[Pbn3]

Hi loren just to let you know I conceived both my boys with 2+ attempts in fertile window, dtd 4 x times in fertile window with ds1 using internet ovulation calculator for suspected week of ov and 3 attempts with ds2 (was temping and charting with him - had no idea about trying for natural gender sway at the time) hence I really believe its mostly about the diet as I was on such a boy friendly diet then!!!

[XXforhubby]

Loren- It is rather your type of diet and exercise that sways the strongest. What we have found however, that only one attempt along with the LE diet and exercise (if you do it) sways girl = 70-75%!

Now remember you are focusing solely on the timing aspect when you conceived your boys. I bet if you looked at your diet/eating patterns I bet they were very boy friendly.

Please, trust me on this, if you have more attempts you will be shooting yourself in the foot and undoing ALL of your hard work on the LE diet and exercise (if you plan on doing the hour of cardio)!

FWIW, DS2 was only one attempt BUT, I always had breakfast, snacked throughout the day, ate WAY more than 50g of protein, and did moderate amount of exercise and weight lifting = boy!! The measly effect of one attempt didn't have a chance to sway girl for me with my heavily boy lifestyle! Focus on what matters most: LE diet, cardio exercise, and ONE attempt in the fertile window = GIRL!!!


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[Hitmebabyonemoretime]

Loren i conceived my last 2 with one attempt in the fertile window, but I think the diet tips the scales that way. I'm gonna chance it lol it's either one attempt in the window (or adding attempts as well) or some crazy cut off that doesn't make sense and you won't get pg.


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[LacePrincess]

Loren, first of all, I am so so sorry to hear about your losses. That truly sucks. :(

I read through the thread real quick so forgive me if I missed anything, but did you mention your age? And, did you get a full fertility workup?

The reason I ask is because if you're mid 30's+, it's a REALLY good idea to get a full workup so you know right now if your fertility is starting to run out. I am not trying to scare you, but short cycles and short luteal phases are a symptom of dropping ovarian reserve. I'm NOT saying that is a problem for you, but it's not a bad idea to find out for sure, kwim? So if HT is on your radar at all, it's a good idea to get all your fertility pretesting done so you know how much time you have to work with. IVF is something that has a much better chance when you're younger with a good ovarian supply. I wouldn't want you to waste time swaying if you've got real fertility issues going on.

In my case, I've always had short LP's. From 9-12 days on average, but still managed to conceive. It did take us an inordinately long time though. My current RE suspects that a morphology issue on DH's side might be a factor. Right now my cycle is completely shot though, with ovulating like CD25 and an LP of 5 (!!!!) so yeah there's something wrong with me now.

Anyways, if you haven't, please consider getting a workup done, then at least you know how much time you have left. Especially if you're in your 30's - your fertility can disappear quickly!


ETA: Also, PLEASE don't mess with your Clomid prescription. If your doc prescribed 50mg - stick with it! It's not a vitamin and Clomid can be dangerous if misused. I dearly hope you are actually being monitored on Clomid - unmonitored Clomid results in Kate + 8!!

If you're not being monitored, will your doc give you Femara instead? It acts similarly to Clomid but there is a MUCH lower chance of multiple follies and also no risk of thinning the lining like Clomid does. While I get the allure of twins, in reality twin pregnancies are risky for so many complications to both mother and fetus(es). There's a reason why so many RE's are soooo cautious about multiples.

[atomic sagebrush]

Atomic, can you clear up whether I personally should just do one attempt given our time restriction, (even though hubby says we don't have one, and that we'll take care of things but I don't want that pressure of having to explain to my clients); or if you would recommend the 4 day plan (which hubby loves).


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At 39 with your time restriction you should not do one attempt. I actually agree strongly with your husband that you need to be open to the possibility of forgoing the time restriction given your age, but that is of course up to your discretion.

[atomic sagebrush]

Thanks so much.

I'm not sure yet what I want to do as far as timing. I conceived two of my three boys with one attempt on fertile window. I'm scared!

This isn't timing. It is number of attempts. Totally different thing.

I can guarantee you based on our results for both pink and blue sways that the reason you had boys has nothing to do with having one attempt. One attempt sways pink, there is no other possible explanation for the results we've gotten. (don't ask me how or why, but there's no other way to interpret the stats, as far as I can see)

Timing is totally up to you if you want to include that - the fertile window is NOT O Day, it is O-3, O-2, O-1, and O Day (with a little outside chance on O-4) If you wish to do timing, I advise one attempt on O-2. O-3/4 are too slim of odds of conception)

[atomic sagebrush]

I missed the messing with Clomid part - I agree no messing with Clomid!!! I think 50 mg is the max anyone should take unless being monitored!

[Loren]

Thank you all for your time.

I've done the LE diet now for weeks and will continue up through next month. I'll try one attempt on O-2. I've never gotten pregnant on O-4, just as yall mentioned. Very slim chances.

I'm 28. Doc is monitoring me with blood tests on day 21.

[Loren]

Our sway so far:
I've been doing 50% carbs, 30% fat, 20% protein and doing well. I took clomid in the AM starting on day 3. We've been walking or going to the pool each day for a few hours but that's only been for 2 weeks so I don't think that's really worth factoring in. My husband has taken OLE each day in the morning. We're BDing every 4 days. I haven't had any side effects from clomid of symptoms of ovulation yet, but I shouldn't ovulate for a few more days. If I ovulate when my dc predicted based on clomid days, it'll be on cycle day 14 which is when I do normally. If we continue with every 4 days, we'll have an attempt on day 9, 13, and 17. I've decided against taking ovulation tests since I'm unsure of the reliability with Clomid. I've also taken a baby aspirin each day (doctors advice), a folic acid pill, benafiber in water in the morning, avoided eating until 11-1, and switched to diet soda which I've never had before. How does everything sound so far?

[maidentomother]

Sounds good! You should get a nice strong positive OPK on Clomid, most do, just don't start testing with OPKs until CD10 or you might get false positives. One attempt on the same day you get your first positive OPK should be O-1 or O-2 timing, both excellent odds of conception. On average, if you have normal cycles, you can expect to O on CD14 though it could be later with PCOS. Fx for you.

[atomic sagebrush]

Sounds good!!

OPK do generally work on Clomid, you just have to wait to start them till the medicine leaves your system as it can cause false pos. The benefit would be that if you do end up getting your surge at such a point in time that you are far from your last BD< you can decide to add another attempt and know that it is at a better time for conception.

[Loren]

Thanks ladies!

[Loren]

This morning I got the lightest, most faint positive on a FRER ever, but a positive nonetheless! Helllooooo breakfast!

Please keep us in your thoughts. Not only for pink, but no more miscarraiges please!

[XXforhubby]

Huge congrats! Praying for a sticky, pink bean!!


[emoji170][emoji577][emoji843][emoji602][emoji170]

[atomic sagebrush]

So happy for you!!! Sending all my pink sticky healthy baby dust your way!

[mandyp85]

Congratulations :)

[Pbn3]

Gl Loren and congratulations!! Wishing you a happy and healthy (pink) pregnancy!!

[maidentomother]

Congrats Loren, and much sticky pink dust!

[Loren]

It ended up being a chemical pregnancy. My tests got lighter over the days and yesterday's was negative. I stopped my progesterone supplements and my period finally started today. On to month two.

I feel really defeated, not particularly about the CP, but because I ate breakfast three days and even the days I didn't I've just been eating whatever. I feel like all those months of girl dieting is out the window now!

[Pbn3]

Loren so very sorry to hear and don't stress about the diet, I've been told a few days will not undo months of work :). Will you be joining the July 2ww thread? My cycle started today to and I'd like to offer you any support and encouragement you need. The ladies you meet in these forums are so wonderful and I found them so supportive and helpful last cycle. Otherwise pm me I am always happy to chat :)

[maidentomother]

Even a week of cheats isn't a big deal, but a few days is nothing. You might even need it. I'm so sorry about the CP.

[Hitmebabyonemoretime]

Sorry to hear about your chemical. Really don't sweat the normal eating. I'm sure that moms that have strings of girls and typically eat le still had weeks of eating alternatively.


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[atomic sagebrush]

Oh gosh don't even worry about the diet at all. that won't make a bit of difference. Sorry to hear of the chemical.