I Wanted a Daughter After Two Sons, and I'm Certain I Made It Happen

I know this might sound a bit out there, but believe me, it worked.

When my boys were ages three and one, my partner and I felt it was the right moment to try for our third child. With our first two, we let fate decide if we’d have pink or blue. I kept track of my cycle, we did the deed during the fertile window, and voila: two energetic boys. After three years filled with toy trucks and cargo shorts, I craved some balance in our family. I was ready for a girl, and I’m convinced I made it happen.

I embarked on my journey with the type of research any aspiring scientist would do: I hit up Google. I read countless articles and devoured “How to Choose the Sex of Your Baby.” After wrapping that up, I jotted down my own plan in the notes app on my phone, complete with bullet points, emojis, and random capitalization. Then it was time to put my plan into action.

Creating the Right Environment

The first step was creating the right environment to attract the kind of “clients” I wanted—specifically, X-chromosome sperm. Some scientists suggest that raising the acidity of the vaginal pH can boost the odds of conceiving a girl. I can’t say I fully grasped the science behind this, but I got the gist.

So, I downed a lot of cranberry juice—so much that I ended up with a week full of canker sores. To ensure the acidity reached where it needed to, I took it a step further. Ignoring all rational advice, I decided to squirt freshly squeezed lemon juice into my vagina using a recycled water bottle. In hindsight, it sounds pretty wild, and I’m still surprised I didn’t end up with an infection. But hey, it didn’t not work.

Timing is Everything

Next, I marked my calendar and created a tighter romantic window than usual. The idea was that female sperm swim slower and last longer. By having intercourse before ovulation (and not during), I hoped that by the time ovulation hit, the speedy male sperm would have died off, leaving the slower female sperm to claim victory. I think I had (totally spontaneous, romantic, and not at all stressful) sex for four consecutive days, stopping just before ovulation. If you take away one thing from this, let it be this step. I suspect this was my winning move.

Strategic Positioning

To ensure success, I positioned myself strategically. I read various theories about sperm trajectory but honestly found them confusing. However, many people swore that being in the top position would yield better results. Luckily for my partner, I embraced this theory and followed through. Thankfully, I didn’t come across any “enthusiasm requirements” and was able to put in just the right amount of effort—I’m usually more of a passenger than a driver in these situations.

The Result

And that’s it! Four and a half years later, my precious little girl is running around the house in worn-out tutus, cracking jokes, and calling me a “dingbat.” If you’re hoping to add a strong, spirited daughter to your family, I hope my experience helps. After all, when life hands you lemons…

If you’re interested in similar topics, check out this post from our collection here. For more authoritative insights on this journey, visit Make a Mom or refer to Healthline’s excellent resource on intrauterine insemination.

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In summary, after two boys, I decided to take matters into my own hands to conceive a daughter. By researching and implementing various strategies—like adjusting my diet and timing intimacy—I’m convinced I made it happen. Now, with my spirited daughter in tow, my family feels complete.