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9 IVF Facts You May Not Know
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first IVF baby. Since then, many people have built families via IVF, but Louise Brown will always be the most celebrated IVF baby ever. To mark this special occasion, I’ve put together 9 IVF facts that you might not know just to have a little fun. Whether you are an IVF baby yourself, or have been through the process, you can learn something here. IVF is an incredible advancement of reproductive technology and the procedure has changed so many lives in the last 40 years. Read on for more. IVF Facts Trivia These facts and tidbits are…
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Happy Holidays From Conceivable Dreams Families #IVF4ON
Merry Christmas to everyone here who ever struggled with infertility, or knows someone close to them who had difficulty building a family. The holiday season can be challenging for parents in waiting. But, this season we have many reasons to celebrate in Ontario. This year Conceivable Dreams families and infertility patients are celebrating the second anniversary of the Ontario Fertility Program. Last year, our first year of the program seemed like such a monumental occasion. After all, first birthdays are a developmental milestone as any parent knows. But this year, in 2017, on December 21st we mark our second birthday!! The second year of the Ontario Fertility Program has been…
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Father’s Day Male Fertility Facts #IVF4BC
This Father’s Day infographic sums up all the male fertility facts nicely. 40 % of infertility is female factor, and 20 % is unexplained but 40 % also is male factor. Here in Canada it has also been male health awareness month which ties in to our IVF4BC messages about awareness and male fertility. Want more male infertility information and chatter? These guys here have an awesome The Good, The Dad and The Ugly Podcast episode about infertility. There are a few things you can do to protect your health and fertility if you are a man. These simple lifestyle changes above can make a difference. So memorize…
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Infertility Statistics in British Columbia – It’s Time for Accessible Health Care #IVF4BC
Infertility statistics in British Columbia might surprise you. They might shock you. They should be repeated and shared and talked about. 1 in 6 Families in BC struggle with infertility. That means you know someone in your circle that has infertility, or has been through infertility. Maybe they shared their story with you. Maybe they struggled quietly. This upcoming May British Columbia marks two important events. The provincial election occurs May 9th, and the lead up weeks are a time to inquire where the parties stand on IVF funding. When the politicians running for office in your riding come to your door, ask them where they stand on public funding for…
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On The Road to Planning A Family #ChurchandDwight
You have reached that point where you are ready to start Planning A Family. You feel ready to start a new life together as a family and you are hoping to conceive quickly. OR you are hoping to adopt quickly. But there are a million questions still, and pregnancy isn’t always as easy as it seems on TV. So what do you need to know? My readers here know that I am an adoptive parent, blogger and social media consultant. I community manage a few infertility patient groups. I know more about fertility, infertility and adoption than I do about pregnancy, but I have partnered with Church and Dwight this year,…
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Five Reasons IVF Funding Matters to BC #IVF4BC
It’s time for BC infertility patients to have accessible, affordable fertility treatment. What does that look like? Well, an IVF funding program can take many forms. A tax credit, a full round of funding, or a grant. In fact there are numerous different IVF funding models in place in four Canadian provinces. But BC infertility patients currently have no IVF funding program. That means BC infertility patients are worse off than many others living in Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick. There are currently four provinces in Canada that offer a fertility funding program for infertility patients. But, BC sadly is not one of those. Here are five reasons why IVF Funding Matters to…
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Happy Anniversary to Ontario’s Fertility Program Twitter Party #IVF4ON
Happy One Year Anniversary! This week we celebrate the Ontario Fertility Program anniversary. This past weekend was a glorious reminder that the Ontario Fertility Program works and helps many infertility patients access treatment. This year I have seen many patients find hope as they begin their funded round of in vitro fertilization in Ontario. And this weekend, a longtime member of Conceivable Dreams messaged me to let me know her cycle worked. She is expecting in the summer of 2017. Another longtime member, Cheryl in Barrie, (shown in pink below) posted pictures of her beautiful baby girl born just one week ago. These are just two of the recent stories I have heard since…
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When it Comes to Fertility – Be a Badger #MyInnerPower
Recently someone asked me what my inner power might be…it took a few minutes for me to answer that one. I am hopeful, and I try to be positive, but is that my inner power? What exactly IS an inner power or super power? Is it strength? Is it courage? Yes, but not quite right. Is it faith? Resilience? I think it is a bit of all of that. But, my inner power is also something more than strength, courage, hope, positivity, resilience and faith. Back when I was working in a daily newsroom I had an editor who called me The Badger, because I was stubborn and determined and I…
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Prepare for a Healthy Baby Now – When Genetic Screening Makes Sense
“I don’t care if this baby is a boy or a girl. I just hope he or she is healthy.” Almost every parent, or parent to be has uttered out loud, or thought to themselves, some version of this sentiment. Healthy baby first. Gender second. So what would you do to stack the deck in favour of having a healthy child? Eat better, exercise? Some of these changes are a no brainer. But what about genetic screening before you get pregnant? When does that make sense? Most of us know there are many things you do to help grow a healthy baby once you get pregnant, but how about before…
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IVF Funding Makes Sense for Nova Scotia Infertility Patients #IVF4NS #NSPOLI
IVF funding makes sense for Nova Scotia infertility patients, who are one of the worst served infertility patient groups in Canada. Nova Scotia infertility patients face multiple hurdles accessing care they need in order to build healthy families in the province. Infertility is a challenge for 1 in 6 couples in Nova Scotia, just as it is in every other province throughout Canada. But Nova Scotians are in fact one of the worst served populations of infertility patients in Canada due to several reasons. Not only is there no funding available for patients to pursue IVF in the province, access to clinics is also poor. That leads to extreme…