Tuesday, June 11, 2013

How to Get Pregnant With A Boy: Top 10 Tips

by Alyssia Granger

Are you hoping to get pregnant with a boy? Try these top 10 tips to help you get pregnant with a boy. Maybe they are old wives' tales, or maybe they're true.

So, you want to get pregnant with a boy? Well, a few years ago you would just have to do your thing and hope for the best! But, not anymore! These days, methods from the tried and true, to the downright wacky are everywhere! Whether you want a boy or a girl, there are steps you can take to better your chances. Of course, none of the methods listed below are proven effective, and some are just wives’ tales, but what have you got to lose?? Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here

Without further ado, here is our list of methods for getting pregnant with a boy!

Know When You Are Ovulating

Sounds obvious, but when you are trying to conceive, you want to make absolutely sure. Ovulation predictor kits are now widely available at drug and grocery stores everywhere, or you can do a quick web search for a ton of tips on how to tell when you are ovulating. Check our When do You Ovulate article for more information.

Have Sex As Close To Ovulation As Possible

Fun Fact? Male sperm are the faster swimmers, but they also die super fast. Female sperm can hang around for a while and take their time getting to the egg. By having sex as close to ovulation as possible, you will give your little guys (ha!) a head start!

Say Good Bye To Missionary Sex

So it’s time to say good-bye to the missionary position – at least for now! Try a position that will allow deeper penetration, such as “standing sex,” you on top, or on all fours. The basics of this? Deeper penetration will “deposit” those little sperm guys closer to the uterus, giving them far less distance to travel and a better chance of “winning!”

Eat Like A Man

No, really. For some reason, boy sperm prefer alkaline environments, which means environments that are less acidic. So, to increase alkalinity, experts recommend eating more red meat, salty foods and soda. So, go ahead and have a big meal, girl! It’s all for the sake of baby!

Have An Orgasm!

Orgasm is another one of the things that helps produce a more alkaline environment that is conducive to producing boys! This is highly prescribed by the Shettles Method of gender selection as well.

Use The Chinese Lunar Calender!

Tons of people swear by this gender-predicting method, and it has been around for hundreds of years. It uses the mother’s age and the month in which she conceives to determine the baby’s gender. You can use the calender to determine which month you should try to conceive in to get the baby gender that you are hoping for. Some lunar calender experts say this method is up to 99% accurate! Why not give it a try?

Make Your Man Wear Boxers

Boy sperm hate heat, so wearing boxers may help your man to keep things cool and breezy for the boys down there. Hey, whatever it takes! And remind your man no hot tubs and no hot baths either!

Cough Syrup?

Is this a wives tale, or not? Some women swear by taking a dose of cough medicine before sex. Why in the world? Well, experts say that cough medicines that contain the ingredient guaifenesin can help to thin mucus membranes in the cervix, helping those little swimmers to get through. Many women actively take cough medicine as an over-the-counter remedy to help with their cervical mucus to get them pregnant faster, and now perhaps it may work better to conceive the baby boy you’ve been longing for.

Check the Moon

This one is definitely an old wives’ tale, but the legend is, having sex on the night of a quarter moon guarantees a boy! So take our your calendars, check the lunar phases and look for a quarter moon.

Make Your Man Drink Coffee

Some people swear that you can increase your chances of getting pregnant with a boy by having your man down a cup of coffee before sex. Maybe the caffeine gets those little guys swimming faster?

There you have it ladies, our top ten tricks to getting pregnant with a boy. Will they work? Who knows, but they will sure be fun to try!

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Sunday, June 9, 2013

Natural Ways to Conceive Twins: How to increase your chances of having twins

JustMommies / Getting Pregnant / Boost Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

Naturally conceived twins occur in about 1 out of every 89 births. Under normal circumstances, your odds of conceiving twins are slim. Taking fertility medications or undergoing a procedure like IVF can increase your chances of conceiving twins, but you may be curious if there is anything you can do to naturally increase your chances of having twins.

How are twins conceived?

Most twins are fraternal. Fraternal twins develop from two separate eggs. Identical twins are rare and happen as a result of just one egg which splits sometime in early pregnancy. Fraternal twins are conceived when two eggs are released during ovulation whereas identical twins are more of a random fluke.

Can you increase your chances of having twins?

Yes, there are some things that will increase your chances of having twins, but some of these things are really out of your control. Having a family history of twins will increase your chances of having twins. This is true if you have a family history of twins, meaning someone on your mother’s side or father’s side of the family has had twins, especially if they had fraternal twins. If your partner has twins in his family, it doesn’t help you any. The reason being is that there may be some genetic component that may cause you to produce more than one egg during ovulation. This “twin gene” may be passed down from your parents to you. Identical twins are not thought to be hereditary.

Other factors that may affect your chances of having twins are your ethnicity and your age. African American women are more likely to conceive twins than Caucasian women. And, Asian women have a lower chance of conceiving twins. Twins are also more common in older women.

Things you can do to naturally increase your chances of having twins:

Take a folic acid supplement: There have been a few studies on the link between folic acid and conceiving twins. One Australian study found that women who took folic acid before they got pregnant were more likely to conceive twins. In fact, according to this study, you may have a 40% or greater chance of conceiving twins if you take folic acid while you are trying to conceive. Some other studies have shown contradictory results making it hard to say for sure if folic acid actually increases your odds of conceiving twins. Nevertheless, folic acid also helps to prevent neural tube defects so it is a good idea to take a folic acid supplement (or a multi vitamin with folic acid) even if you aren’t trying to conceive twins.

Gain weight: A study published in the March 2005 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that women who were overweight had a higher chance of having twins. Women who were tall also had a higher chance of having twins.

Eat dairy products: According to a recent study by Dr. Gary Steinman, a physician at Long Island Jewish Medical Center who is well known for research on multiple birth pregnancies, women who eat dairy are five times more likely to conceive twins than women who don’t. Dr. Steinman’s study compared women who ate a regular diet with vegan women and vegetarian women who consumed dairy products. Vegans appear to be less likely to conceive twins according to the study. But, it may not be so much that consuming dairy increases your chances of having twins; but rather, that consuming milk or other dairy products from growth hormone treated cows increases your chances of having twins.

Continue breastfeeding: If you are breastfeeding and would like to conceive twins, you may want to hold off on weaning your little one. According to one twin study, women who were breastfeeding when they conceived were nine times more likely to conceive twins than women who are were not breastfeeding.

Try to conceive shortly after discontinuing birth control pills: Sometimes when a woman quits using birth control pills, her body gets “out of wack” as it tries to start regulating its own hormone production again. If a woman has been using the pill for six months or more her body adjusts to the birth control controlling her hormones so when she stops taking the pill, her body may take a cycle or two to get her hormones working the way they are supposed to. When this happens, women sometimes receive a little too much hormone stimulation. This can cause the ovaries to release one too many eggs during the first ovulatory cycle or two after discontinuing the pill. So if you want to have twins, the first cycle or two after stopping the pill is a great time to try!

Eat wild yams: We are not sure if this one will really work but it can’t hurt. The theory behind eating yams is that there may be a chemical in wild yams, or cassava root, which may cause hyperstimulation of the ovaries, resulting in the release of more than one egg during ovulation. We are not sure if this is true or not but one town in Africa, Igbo-Ora, is known for having a high rate of twins. This small town in Nigeria claims to have the highest rate of twins in the world, 4 times higher than the rest of the world’s population. Researchers started looking into the diet of this African town and concluded that the reason for the high rate of twins might be due to their diet. People in the town of Igbo-Ora consume a large amount of cassava root, a wild yam. Researchers believe that the wild yams may play a role in the high rate of twins conceived in this town.

Have a big family: Having a big family also naturally increases your chances of having twins. It makes sense, the more times you are pregnant, the more likely it is that one of your pregnancies will be twins.

Try to get pregnant when you are older: Women who are older are more likely to have twins. Women over 45 have a 17% chance of conceiving twins, but they also have a lower fertility rate so it probably won’t make sense to wait until you are older just to conceive twins. Still, if you are older and are able to conceive, you are more likely to have twins than someone younger. The reason being is most likely related to the fact that older women start producing higher levels of FSH, follicle stimulating hormone. FSH is a hormone that tells your ovaries to start maturing an egg for ovulation. As you get older, you have less eggs and lower quality eggs, so to compensate your body starts producing more FSH. This increase in FSH production may cause an older woman to be over stimulated and result in the release of more than one egg during ovulation; thus, increasing the chances of conceiving twins.

SOURCE: http://www.justmommies.com/articles/natural-ways-to-conceive-twins.shtml?page=0,1

Friday, May 24, 2013

Dealing With Being A New Mom

By Maui V. Reyes for Yahoo! Southeast Asia – Thu, May 9, 2013 5:47 PM PHT

Being a new mom is not overwhelming. That’s because the word “overwhelming” in itself doesn’t cut it. It starts with nine months of nurturing a human being inside you, only to be followed by what seems like a non-stop cycle of crying, diaper changes, and spit-ups. And forget sleep. Sleep becomes a thing of the past, much like your sex life.

Becoming a new mom may not be filled with the Hallmark-moments you thought it would. The truth is, you won’t exactly be in love every waking moment with your baby: and who can, when most of your time is spent changing diapers and wiping off spit-up while in a sleep-deprived state? Don’t worry: you’re not alone. Every new mom has her ups and downs, and just because you’re not showing your utmost joy 24/7 doesn’t make you a bad one. Here are some tips on how to deal with being a new mom.

Give yourself time to adjust.
Babies don’t have a fixed schedule. They don’t know that night time is for sleeping, or that mommy can’t hold him now because she has to take a shower (her first in a week). Trust us: it will be frustrating and annoying. And it’s okay to feel that way. The key is to accept that you are now on a different time zone—your baby’s—and that you’ll have some adjusting to do. Over time you’ll get used to this, and soon develop a routine with the little one that works for both of you.

Stick to your guns.
New moms are always surrounded by people who believe they are experts in raising children. From the cashier at the supermarket to your very own grandmother—everyone has their own opinion on how you should raise your child. First things first, stick to your own instincts. You were able to keep your child alive in you for nine months, we’re pretty sure you are capable of keeping her alive well after that. Take other people’s opinion with a grain of salt, and shake off advice (whether asked for or not) that you don’t believe in. And never, ever feel bad about not taking someone’s advice. What works for them may not work for you.

Learn to delegate let go.
Your number one priority right now is taking care of your newborn: everything else can wait. We’re talking about the laundry, the dishes, and those curtains in the living room that you’ve been meaning to replace. Thinking of so many things at home (and work) will only cause you stress. Learn to delegate tasks to your partner, your friends, or your helper. Too tired to cook? Have food delivered. Dishes piling up? Consider using disposable plates in the meantime. Big project happening at work? Maybe its time to let the new kids step up. You can switch back to career mode or turn into a Real Housewife of Insert-City-Here once you’ve adapted a new routine. In the meantime, don’t feel bad about accepting help, and asking for it.

Meet other (new) parents.
Unless you and your close group of friends popped out babies at the same time, it will be hard for them to relate to your new-mommy woes. Not everyone can understand your colic issues…except for other new moms! Making friends with new moms can be a big help—you can share each other’s ups and downs, and be reassured that what you’re feeling and going through is perfectly normal. Plus you won’t feel guilty about showing off those ten million photos of your little one napping.

Have some “me” time.
Taking care of a newborn baby is exhausting. You will eventually get to a point where you’ll look in the mirror and wonder how you “lost” yourself in this new stage called motherhood. We hear you—and we’re telling you that it’s very important that you find pockets of “me” time to do the things you love and calm you. It could be as short as a five-minute walk around the block, or maybe an hour or two to get an express spa treatment. Get your partner, mom, or friend to look after the baby. Or hire a baby-sitter. It’s very important that you show yourself some love—a baby feeds off his mom’s energy, meaning happy mom equals a happy baby!

To all moms out there, what advice can you give new moms?

Weekend Activities for the Family

By Maui V. Reyes for Yahoo! Southeast Asia – Fri, May 17, 2013 2:23 PM PHT

For most families, weekends are considered golden: it’s the only days of the week where kids and their parents are free from school and work to enjoy each other’s company.

Thing is, weekend “bonding moments” can get a bit monotonous. Those two days are either spent running errands together (think grocery shopping), or having lunch at the mall.

Spice up your weekend with the fam with some of these activities!

Learn something
A trip to the museum can be boring for some kids—why have all those pretty items on display that you can’t touch? Take them to an interactive museum, like Museo Pambata, where they can learn about science, nature, Philippine history, and even the Rights of a Child via fun, hands-on exhibits. More into science and technology? Head on over to the Mind Museum, a science museum that houses 250 interactive spread within five huge sections to explore (Atom, Earth, Life, Universe, and Technology.)

Museo Pambata is at the former Elks Club Building on Roxas Boulevard corner South Drive, Manila, Tel. 523-1797/98, 536-0595
The Mind Museum is located at JY Campos Park, 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Tel. 909-6463

Get crafty
Gone are the days when crocheting and knitting were considered “granny activities.” Arts and crafts become fun when done with the whole family, so release your inner creative self in a workshop with the kids! Don’t know where to start? Check out Craft MNL’s workshop schedule at craftmnl.com/workshops and pick a class you and the family will enjoy!

Craft MNL is at 7274 Malugay St., Brgy. San Antonio, Makati City

Also read: How To Make The Most Of Your Weekends

Ride a horse
Who says you need to go to the mountains or be part of an exclusive country club for the kids to see horses up close? Pook Ligaya is a stable located in Quezon City that offers riding classes for beginners and pros. But you don’t need to be an equestrian at heart to visit! Families are welcome to see the horses, and even go for a mellow ride on them, during weekends.

Pook Ligaya is at No. 1 Ligaya St, Isidora Hills Subdivision, Diliman QC, Tel. 9315643

See art in 3D
See an exhibit worthy of Instagram selfies: the Seri Fantasy World is a mini “theme park” patterned after the Seogwipo Seri World park in South Korea. The place has a trick art museum that features freehanded-3D artwork, a mirror maze, and a 3D cinema.

Seri Fantasy World is at Second Floor Manila Ocean Park, Behind Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park, Manila. Tel. 5599563 / 6228253