Text Appeal: Don't Forget to Get Some

Discussion Policy

Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

By Monica Hesse

Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 27, 2008

Making a baby: No longer just a private event between a woman, a man, their fertility specialist, a surrogate and a baby planner.

Think more technology.

Think birds, bees, BlackBerrys.

Think Booty Caller.

This is the new service by the folks at BabyCenter.com, and it uses a woman's ovulation cycle to send a series of text-message reminders straight to her phone.

Sample messages include . . .

"Your fertile window starts in 1 week. Using a lubricant can get in the way of getting pregnant."

"Your fertile window opens today! Tender breasts are one of the first signs of pregnancy!"

"Your fertile window starts in 1 week. Vaginal dis . . . [AT WHICH POINT THIS REMINDER BECAME REALLY REALLY GROSS]."

Aaanyhoo.

"Having a baby today is almost like making an appointment," says Linda Murray, editor in chief of BabyCenter. "You have to be reminded to have sex."

Reminded up to 18 times, in fact, three texts per menstrual cycle, always ending with the cheerful "Today is your last fertile day! If you get pregnant during this cycle, your due date will be on or around [insert date here]."

CONTINUED 1 >