Where do Babies Come From – It’s inevitable. Most parents that have a young child will be face with this question at one point or another. It may be an especially tempting inquiry if their mommy is pregnant again, and a new sibling is on the way. The good news is, this question can generally be answered quite easily, in a manner that they can understand. As a general rule of thumb, if they’re old enough to ask the question, they’re old enough to know the answer.
First of all, be aware that each situation will be unique, and each age group will more often than not be handled differently. For obvious reasons, answering the questions of a three year old will likely be different than answering the questions of a child that is six. The older the child gets, the more they are able to comprehend. For this reason, you may want to start by questioning your child, which has a two-fold agenda. It will help you to determine their level of understanding and keep you in control of the discussion, ultimately determining its direction.
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Birthing plan options
Once you’ve considered all your antenatal care and birth options, it’s worth preparing a simple birth plan in consultation with your doctor and midwife. This should be kept with your hospital notes. Wait until about 32-36 weeks pregnant, as by that time you’ll probably have discovered whether there are any special factors in your pregnancy that might affect some of your requests. You also need to be prepared to be flexible because thing may not go according to plan on the day. Your sample birthing plan might include things like:
- Who you want to be present at the birth with you.
- Your views in interventions, such as induction, the artificial speeding up of labour and fetal monitoring.
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BOY OR GIRL?
Nature does well in maintaining a balance of about 103 boys to 100 girls. With ultrasound and fetal cell investigations, you may be able to find out the sex of your baby during pregnancy – if you want to.
Men produce sperm with 22 chromosomes plus either one X (female) or one Y (male) sex chromosome. Woman’s eggs also have 22 corresponding chromosomes, but they only produce and X sex chromosome. A zygote fertilised by an X sperm grows up to be a girl; a Y sperm results in a boy.
Although no method with any scientific validity has been developed, by noting the different characteristics of X and Y sperm, it’s possible to suggest a way of increasing your chances of conceiving the gender you want:
- X sperm are larger and slower than Y sperm and X sperm live longer than Y sperm.
- To increase the chances of a girl, intercourse should be 2-3 days before ovulation, as only X sperm survive long enough to meet the egg when it’s finally released.
- There’s a higher chance that a Y sperm will fertilise an egg on the day of ovulation because it will reach the egg more quickly and the baby will be a boy.
- Frequent ejaculation lowers the proportion of Y sperm, so a girl is likely. Infrequent sex increases the proportion of Y sperm and the chances of a boy.
Pick The Gender Of Your Baby
INCREASING CHANCES OF CONCEPTION
The following tips might help you conceive more quickly:
- Try to have intercourse during your most fertile period. This period is signalled by the texture of your cervical mucus, which becomes clear, thin and slippery, making it easier for the sperm to swim up through your cervix. Ovulation usually occurs 24 hours after this type of mucus is at its most profuse.
- Avoid love making for a couple of days before your fertile period to help build up to an optimum number of sperm.
- The ‘missionary position’ may be most effective for conception, particularly if you lie down for half an hour afterwards.
- Cut down on caffeine. It’s possible that it interferes with the embryo’s ability to implant in the wall of the uterus.
Becoming Pregnant – Overcome Infertility The Natural Way
PREPARING
Pregnancy is an exciting time for you both, but your excitement can also be tinged with apprehension, uncertainty, and – if the pregnancy is a surprise – even dismay. Each person’s reaction to the knowledge that he or she is going to become a parent is different, but luckily nature has made sure that there is plenty of time to get used to the idea during the 40+ weeks from conception to birth. Pregnancy is not an illness, but it does put a lot of strain on a woman’s body. So if you’re planning to become parents it makes sense to think abut fitness well before you conceive and to look after yourself during the pregnancy. Once the pregnancy is confirmed you will both feel happier if you follow its progress by attending antenatal checks and finding out as much as possible about how your baby develops in the womb. It will help you both to understand the minor discomforts and emotional ups and downs that a pregnant woman sometimes feels, and to face up to the slight possibility of something unexpected happening.
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