The Outside World
Positions aside, there are also the old wives' tales that take into account completely external factors. According to some, you shouldn't sweep under the bed if you're trying to get pregnant. And since sex during the day with the lights on and the windows open, despite entertaining your neighbors, is said to prevent a baby, couples trying to conceive should consider a bit more discretion. While you're at it, you might as well also go on a cruise, plant a rosemary bush, give a gift of silverware, have Mistletoe in the house, and/or rub a pregnant woman's belly. But please, ask her first.
You Are What You Eat
Then of course there are the dietary intake fables. Allegedly, eating red meat and salty snacks like pretzels, pickles, and processed foods will lead to a boy, while fish, vegetables, and chocolate will net you a girl. By this logic, a chocolate-covered pretzel or surf-n-turf platter will undoubtedly cause fraternal twins, so by all means, watch what you eat!
But while these food tips may seem among the most ridiculous, they might in fact be scientifically sound. A recent study linked higher energy intake at the time of conception to the birth of sons. The study suggests that the number of boy babies is in decline in developed countries as a result of low-fat diets and women skipping breakfast. In other words, women who eat more calories, a higher range of nutrients, and yes, perhaps more meat and salty snacks, are slightly more likely to have sons. And who knows, maybe some day more of these so-called old wives' tales will also be proven true.
