The Fertility Journal
Posted on July 18, 2008
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Congratulations to Rachel at Just Another Mom Blog for winning the fertility journal. Please send me an email with your address so I can send it to you.
» Filed Under contest | Please Share Your Thoughts; Leave a Comment!
Size May Determine Risk of Prematurity After IVF
Posted on July 18, 2008
A new study printed in the Washington Post may provide the answer that can reduce the risk of a woman delivering premature twins after a successful IVF. Aaron and Malky over at The Second Time Around posted a link to this article the other day and then discussed it in their most recent podcast. So, yes, I’m copying their material.
What I love about this study is that it is a proactive approach to managing prematurity associated with fertility treatments. Wouldn’t it be great to know in advance that your uterus is too small to carry multiples? Then you could use this information to discuss the BEST treatment option for you and your soon-to-be child(ren). With this knowledge, RE’s could help reduce the rate of infant mortality and prematurity. Shouldn’t this be part of their responsibility anyway?
But, will it really change the outcome? A friend of mine called me last night to tell me that she was pregnant and that she was hoping for twins this time (she has two other children). I said, “After reading my book and knowing what we went through you really want twins?” Of which she said, “Yeah, that kinda scares me, but I’d really love to have twins.” The reality is that she is less likely to give birth prematurely because she has carried two other babies full-term. So, if she is in fact pregnant with twins, I suspect (and hope) that she’ll carry them to at least 36 weeks.
Even knowing the risks, we are so fascinated by twins that we’ll assume the risk of prematurity. Until we experience prematurity first hand (similar with infertility too), we have no idea how devastating it can be. I’m lucky, as are most women who give birth to premature babies, that my girls are healthy today. However, what about those who are not so lucky. This is about preventing unnecessary suffering for women and their babies.
Will this information change how you approach your fertility treatments?
» Filed Under Infertility, Premature Births, pregnancy | 2 Comments
Does your RE …?
Posted on July 16, 2008
Today I had a lovely conversation with Renee, a RESOLVE volunteer in Georgia. She and I talked for at least 90 minutes! She was fun to talk to and gave me a lot of information about advocacy and other infertility related topics. One thing she said during our conversation was so ingenious that I knew I needed to share it.
Renee said that when she was interview REs for her IVF she would ask them, “Do you support the idea of insurance coverage for fertility treatments?” If the RE answered “No,” she would thank them for their time and demand that her consult fee be waived. She found a doctor that answered this question, “Yes.” She mentioned that she was happy to give her hard earned money to a doctor that held similar beliefs as her. He’s not out to make a fortune, instead he wants to help his clients/patients create a family.
So, the next time you are at your RE’s office or when you are out interviewing REs to see which one you want to hire, this is a great question to add to your already long list.
I’ll be interviewing Renee in August about how each of us can take small steps to advocate for our family building journey. You’ll love her energy and passion for the topic!
» Filed Under Infertility | 2 Comments
Take Action!
Posted on July 15, 2008
| Reprinted from the March of Dimes (please click this link to take action and help fight prematurity):Call Your United States Representative! Give FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products |
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Over the next couple of weeks the House of Representatives is expected to debate the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1108). If enacted, this bill would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate the manufacture, distribution and sale of tobacco products.Smoking during pregnancy accounts for an estimated 20-30% of low birth weight newborns, up to 14% of preterm deliveries and some 10% of infant deaths. Giving the FDA new authority to restrict deceptive marketing practices, limit children’s access to tobacco products and prevent advertising campaigns that mislead women about the risk of smoking could help in the fight to reduce preterm births.
This bill is an important step towards reaching the goals of the Prematurity Campaign and we ask you to contact your Representative today!
» Filed Under Premature Births, pregnancy | Please Share Your Thoughts; Leave a Comment!
Go Canada!
Posted on July 14, 2008
The Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services have created a 12 panel of experts to address fertility and adoption at a governmental level. The panel will provide advice to the government on: 1) improving access to fertility treatments and monitoring fertility so that women would learn if they might have problems getting pregnant, and 2) improving Ontario’s adoption system.
In Ontario the rate of infertility is 1 in 10 for women under age 30 or 1 in 6 for women over 30. In 2006 there were 850 adoptions through the Ontario’s children aid societies. Statistics not much different than in the US.
Why can’t the US create something similar? Is Ontario more concerned about their future population or are they just more compassionate than those in government here? Do you think something similar would ever be established in the US?
» Filed Under Infertility, adoption | 1 Comment
Prepare for Fertility Treatments: A Nurse Practitioners Perspective (Twin Peas Pod Episode 13)
Posted on July 11, 2008
How well has your OB/GYN helped you in your efforts to become pregnant? Has your OB/GYN offered to run common tests to determine if you or your partner have any risks for infertility? Are your hormone levels normal? If you are in your 30’s, has your doctor talked to you about your family building plans?
Mary Ann is a Physician’s Assistant with the Center for True Harmony Wellness & Medicine. Prior to joining True Harmony, she worked with two different RE clinics. She gained insight from those experiences and determined that women need to be educated about their family building options before they seek the help of a RE to help them become pregnant (and at a much younger age).
True Harmony is a truly unique medical practice. They desire to help the whole woman by offering massage, acupuncture, Reiki, dance, and other alternative medicines along with traditional OB/GYN services. They offer a Fertility Assistance Program that includes massage, acupuncture, nutrition & IV therapy, and consults with the physicians.
If you live in the Phoenix Metro area I suggest you contact True Harmony. If you are outside the Phoenix, AZ area I recommend you locate a facility like True Harmony.
For more ideas about how your OB/GYN can assist you in your family building efforts, click to read the article 10 Questions To Ask Your OB/GYN When You Are Trying To Conceive.
Center for True Harmony Wellness & Medicine located at: 2152 S. Vineyard #138, Mesa, AZ 85210. ph 480-539-6696.
» Filed Under Doctors, Infertility, Podcast | Please Share Your Thoughts; Leave a Comment!
“I felt like I wanted to die.”
Posted on July 11, 2008
A woman, I’ll call her Jenny, that I met recently called me the other day and said, “Last night I felt like I wanted to die. It’s so dramatic. Do other women fell this way too?”
Jenny just recently miscarried her first child. She is older and her doctor told her that the probable reason for her miscarriage is her age. Jenny is not sure her partner will proceed with fertility treatments using donor egg. She wants a child so bad, she aches.
Can you relate?
I assured her that she is not alone. In fact there are millions of women that are experiencing the same feelings that she is. She found comfort in knowing that she is not alone. I cannot tell her that it will be okay and that someday she’ll have a child (although she is considering adoption) because with infertility, you never know. All I can do is offer support and resources for Jenny and other women like her in their quest.
When we hung up the phone she told me I was awesome. But really I felt hopeless.
Creative Commons image courtesy of MindSpigot.
» Filed Under Infertility | 1 Comment
Volunteer
Posted on July 9, 2008
Ever since I was in high school I have volunteered off-and-on in some capacity for various organizations. I took a break while in college and used that time to study and/or party. After all, you only get one chance to really enjoy being in college!
Before I started the journey to motherhood I donated my time and my money to animal causes. I preferred to help in the front office or with clerical tasks and this worked well because everyone else wanted to be with the animals. I was afraid I’d bring them all home with me if I interacted with the animals, so it was best I was in the office.
Although I still adore animals, my priorities have changed. I now volunteer with two organizations, the March of Dimes and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. I’ve been touched by both of these organizations personally and probably will continue to give of my time and money to them for the rest of my life.
Today I had a meeting with Diane at the March of Dimes in Arizona. As we were talking it hit me that these organizations DEPEND on volunteers. They have a lot of ideas, a lot of tasks, and not much money. They tend to be short-staffed so much of what they could do isn’t done. How many more lives could they touch if an addition 10 people donated 1 hour of time per week or per month?
I’ve been asked to take on more responsibility as a MOD volunteer and I’m excited about my new role. It will take more of my time, which I’m a little concerned about, but I expect the rewards will far outweigh the time I could have spent doing something else less important.
I encourage you to find a charity that inspires you. Whether it be associated with infertility, babies, animals, or politics. I believe you’ll find that by giving one hour of your time you’ll receive an amazing feeling of giving that will cascade positively into all areas of your life.
If you cannot give of your time, consider resources that allow you to give back while you’re doing what you’re already doing, such as searching the web. Check out www.goodsearch.com (it’s powered by Yahoo). When you search on the web, make sure your favorite charity is listed in the “Who do you Goodsearch for?” and money will be donated to that organization for every search you perform. I know that both the March of Dimes and RESOLVE are supported charities.
» Filed Under Personal Growth | 1 Comment
SIDS - possible reason found
Posted on July 7, 2008
Almost every single new mom (and probably every mom when a new baby enters their life) worries about their baby dying. The fear of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), no doubt keeps many moms awake. A new study may have found clues into what might cause SIDS and possible testing to determine if a baby is at for risk of SIDS. Of course, premature babies are in the high-risk category for SIDS. This article also provides tips on how to minimize the risk of SIDS.
There is a product that detects when your baby moves during sleep and alarms when they don’t move for 20 seconds, it’s call BebeSounds. I don’t remember seeing this product in stores when my girls were first born, but I can tell you I’d purchase one now (although I don’t know what they cost).
Even though I know my girls are not at risk for SIDS, they are almost 4 years old, I still check on them every night before I turn out the lights to make sure they are breathing. I’m not sure the fear of loosing your child suddenly ever really goes away. It would be wonderful if the levels of serotonin provide the answers they need to find the cure and prevent SIDS in the future! Maybe it would allow the worry-wort moms, like myself, to sleep better.
Creative Commons image courtesy of Dazed81
» Filed Under Premature Births | 2 Comments
Internet Radio Interview
Posted on July 7, 2008
I don’t go tooting my own horn very often, but today I’m linking to an internet radio interview on WnbWest.com about my book Tiny Toes. It’s about 15 minutes along. Let me know your opinions.
Creative Commons image courtesy of fatcontroller
» Filed Under Infertility, Marriage, Premature Births, Relationships | Please Share Your Thoughts; Leave a Comment!
