Why is it more likely for 3 of the same sex???

[Three Graces]

Hi,
I've read and/or heard from friends' obs that if you already have 2 children of the same sex, that you're more likely to have a third child of the same sex?
Does anybody know why that is? There was an article in the weekend Age a few weeks back and the author's obs said she would have an 80% chance of having a third boy (and she did). But I've never found out what's the reasoning behind this and are the odds really that high?
I must have bucked the trend when we got DD after two DS.
Anybody know?

[Catastrophic]

Pretty sure it's 50% each time...

[Sagres]

I have heard a theory that it is more likely, not sure I would have thought 80% more likely though.....

But basically I think the theory is if you have the same environment 3 times (same sperm with the same characteristics i.e. some people say male athletes are more likely to have girls, so something about their sperm makes it more likely to have a girl, same pH level in the uterus, other variables the same) then the same sex sperm is likely to be successful each time.

But personally I would think that these types of things would only have a really really small impact (if any at all) on what sex you get

[Phteven]

You would think it was 50% each time but it's not. Once you have 2 the same the odds of number 3 being the same go up. I've read that men with stressful jobs are more likely to have daughters and if you can diet to sway it's possible that you do so unintentionally

[Tanya]

The odds are on the in-gender website -- take a look...

[ladybirdflies]

I have three of the same!! Apparently after two of the same your chances are higher for the sex you already have..... I will have a look and see if I can find where I read that!

[Lily Dust]

I remember reading an article about this years ago, mentioned it to family and got my head bitten off for being 'so stupid. Everyone knows its a 50/50 for each'. I thought it was something like 80% chance of the 3rd being the same sex and 97% chance of the 4th being the same again Obviously there is always the 20% or 3% for each time. But yeah, it would change if you have a different partner etc. Its pretty interesting IMO

[ashie]

I have 3 boys everyone including dr's thought ds3 would be a girl lol. Didn't it shock a few people i had one family member buying pink! Chances are having the same sex again are slightly higher but only like less then 5% of 50/50 but swaying a few things can bring those odds back to 50/50 and maybe slightly better?

[Anila]

I always just thought it was luck of the draw..
But look at myself and AmandaJ, we both have 6 kids, but she has all boys and i have 4 girls and 2 boys....so yeah i dunno how it works lol

[BrightSparkles]

Maybe this is why DH is so determined he doesn't want another baby - cause he'd have a higher chance of another girl (personally I don't care what sex it was!)

[Freya]

Your also more likely to have the opposite gender after 3 girls than you are after 3 boys.

[ladybirdflies]

Your also more likely to have the opposite gender after 3 girls than you are after 3 boys.

Oh really??? You got me interested in this again now Freya.... Where did you read this?? I just keep thinking we will have 4 girls as we have s many already!! Not that I care, but I do find it interesting how the % changes!

[Lolpigs]

Its so interesting. I thought the odds were slightly higher to have a girl than a boy first time? 51% to 49% or so? As this is the difference in women vs men alive on earth.

What is the chance 2nd baby will be the same sex?

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[megs]

I have heard/read the same. As you can see I have 4 boys so I knew my odds for a having a girl weren't very high, even with trying to gender sway.

Freya I hadn't read about having 3 girls more likely to have a boy, but that being said I see a lot more of that combination. in my area there are a lot of us that have 4 boys.

[black_rose]

I have heard that each time you have a boy the chemicals and hormones change so you are more likely to have another boy. That said we have two girls and a boy and so does my SIL, same combo girls first. Dh's grandparents have 21 great grandkids and only 3 are boys so that seems to hint at something!

[kelsbels]

I was told 50/50 for first child, 60/40 for second child and 80/20 for third child, in favour of the first gender born then it goes back to 50/50 for subsequents. No idea how true that is.

[Julie Doula]

I had three girls (bliss) - and then, 8 years later, a boy!

[Freya]

Oh really??? You got me interested in this again now Freya.... Where did you read this?? I just keep thinking we will have 4 girls as we have s many already!! Not that I care, but I do find it interesting how the % changes!

Will have to do some google later but it was some research done last year I think, there was a story done on it but cant remember whether it was on TV or magazine. They had been studying gender dynamics in families and worked out that you have better chances of having a boy after 2 or more girls than having a girl after 2 or more boys. I had a friend link me to it because we have 3 boys, but now I cant find the link.