fertility Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

9 IVF Facts You May Not Know

Paula — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 12:23:28 +0000

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 interesting little knowledge nuggets that I found while reading. I thought they were interesting, so I’ve put them all together here just so everyone can learn a little more about IVF. This year on July 25, 2018 Louise Brown turns 40. That’s 40 years of successful IVF treatments globally. AMAZING!! IVF Stands For… Okay, this is an easy one, but not everyone knows it. And what better way to start out the trivia than with what IVF stands for – In Vitro Fertilization. This means the egg is fertilized outside of mom’s body and then reintroduced to the womb. Infertility Isn’t Uncommon Although it can feel like you’re alone, you’re not. 12% of the world’s population suffers from infertility. In Canada statistics are often quoted as 1 in 6 couples. In the USA 1 in 8 couples of childbearing age struggle with infertility. To read more about Infertility check out any of my 9 Things We Want You To Know About Infertility post. Acupuncture Helps with IVF Specialized acupuncture used before, during, and after IVF cycles has been shown to increase IVF success rate. The Age of the Eggs is What Counts Often the general public with limited infertility experience and knowledge might think infertility is related to age. Women waited too long to have babies. We’ve heard all of that before. It’s not technically Mom’s age, but the age of Mom’s eggs that matters. Egg Health is a big factor impacting rates of conception. A woman in her 40’s who uses the donated egg from a woman in her 20’s will have a much higher success rate of getting pregnant. More Sleep Equals Higher Success Rates Studies have shown that getting a good night’s sleep increases the success rate of IVF. Too little OR too much sleep reduces your odds. IVF Rarely Produces Quadruplets or Higher A common misconception in IVF facts is that it can produce a high likelihood of multiples. Actually, the likelihood of twins is the only one that increases. Triplets, quads, and other high multiple pregnancies are usually the product of a completely different procedure (IUI or fertility medications). WHEN IVF is coupled with a single embryo transfer policy the success rates for a health viable pregnancy and healthy baby are high and the process is fairly controlled. Not All Eggs are Good Eggs Just like with unassisted pregnancy, not all eggs will be good candidates for insemination. Out of the 10 to 20 eggs harvested, only a few may be viable for IVF. This may sound frustrating, but the same can be said for natural conception. The percentages are higher with IVF. Other Countries Could Learn from Australia Australians struggling with infertility have an easier time with IVF treatments. Australian Medicare and their Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme subsidize IVF cycles. Australia has been supportive of IVF process for many years now. In Ontario, we have the Ontario Fertility Program which helps people become parents by financially alleviating the stress of the first cycle. The Proper Term is NOT Test Tube Baby You’ve all heard someone use the term TEST TUBE BABY. It’s actually offensive to infertile people and it’s inaccurate as well. Babies aren’t conceived in test tubes. With IVF, sperm and egg are introduced in a Petri dish and then left to do their natural job of creating an embryo. A healthy embryo is then transferred into the uterus. Louise Brown was the first IVF baby for her parents and for the world. Four years later, her parents used IVF to conceive her baby sister. Interesting IVF Facts for a Ground-breaking Subject I’ve always found the idea of IVF fascinating. Many of my friends have been through the treatment and successfully built their families in the last 40 years. Having the technological and medical skills to fertilize an egg and transfer an embryo, which will one day become a human, is amazing. I hope you found these IVF facts fun and interesting. This procedure changes lives for the better and really is a miraculous advancement. This post contains affiliate links as a service to my readers. I receive a small commission from purchases made via these links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for reading.

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Happy Holidays From Conceivable Dreams Families #IVF4ON

Paula — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 17:41:51 +0000

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 remarkable. In year one, we had about 6500 patients access Ontario’s IVF funding program. The Ontario Fertility Program’s second year has meant watching many more of our Conceivable Dreams infertility patients access this program. It has given us so many more Conceivable Dreams families. Last year we had a few pregnant stomachs and newborns to illustrate our Christmas card. The process of IVF takes time and it can be emotionally, physically and financially draining. But two years ago the government funding program started and the financial toll on patients was greatly alleviated. This year our Conceivable Dreams families are flourishing. You can see their beautiful stories and holiday wishes on our Instagram page too. Families like Alison and Andre, Taunya and Rob, Joanne and Daren. Cassandra and Sarah, Adrianna and more celebrate babies first Christmas this year. While many have been able to start their families, others have had a chance to grow theirs. Taunya and Rob for instance had their baby boy in October, making their beautiful daughter a sister. There’s no gift bigger than that! 2017 has simply been such a rewarding and wonderful year of growth. Now the first patients who accessed the IVF funding have children that are learning to walk and talk. In fact, some are toddlers. And in the last six months we have seen so many healthy infants as a result of this program. It’s been such a joy watching so many become families after years of miscarriages and failed attempts at less expensive treatments that were often not what was needed in order to succeed at conceiving. Right now as we head into 2018 Conceivable Dreams is mindful that the Ontario Fertility Program is a beautiful thing. AND there are still goals for this advocacy organization in the next year. What’s left for Conceivable Dreams in 2018? Accessibility in Northern Ontario is not as good as it should be. Many patients in Thunder Bay and Sudbury area drive for hours to get to a clinic. The cost of fertility drugs continues to be an issue. We will keep advocating with employers to build better benefits packages for employees. After all, the government is doing its part to support healthy families in Ontario. Businesses have a role to play as well. And we will always keep advocating for greater support, education and awareness. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead. [tweetthis]Merry Christmas from Conceivable Dreams on the 2nd anniversary of the Ontario Fertility Program #IVF4ON [/tweetthis] Merry Christmas from Conceivable Dreams families! I am community manager for this group and as such I am compensated. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

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Father’s Day Male Fertility Facts #IVF4BC

Paula — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 15:05:00 +0000

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 these male fertility facts and share them widely. And share your stories too. With 40 % of infertility as male factor, Men’s fertility and infertility stories are so important too. Awareness and education can help infertility patients dramatically. Please consider joining and following IVF4BC.ca. More men and women should have the chance at building a family in BC. Sign the petition too. And follow this patient group on Twitter too @IVF4BC #IVF4BC. This is a sponsored post which means I received compensation. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful. This post contains affiliate links as a service to my readers. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you when purchases are made.

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Infertility Statistics in British Columbia – It’s Time for Accessible Health Care #IVF4BC

Paula — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 13:45:31 +0000

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 in vitro fertilization. Share this infographic. You can have your iPad near by with the infographic loaded. The visual helps. [tweetthis]Four provinces in Canada have an IVF funding program – BC does not #IVF4BC #bcpoli [/tweetthis] Let them know that these are the infertility statistics in BC right now. Remind them also that other provinces have a funding program that is working and saving money as well. In fact four provinces have some level of IVF funding program. BC does not. Then remember to tell your story. And the second event is Canadian Infertility Awareness Week from May 7 to 13. That’s also a time to tell your stories and advocate for change. More Infertility Statistics and Facts: Even though only 4 provinces provide public funding for IVF, more Canadians are covered than are not! Population wise more people in Canada have access to funding for IVF than not. That means BC is in the minority of Canadians. A round of IVF can cost $7,000 to $10,000. When people struggle to pay that cost, they will often transfer multiple embryos. While multiples are adorable, they also carry greater lifetime health care costs. Twins and triplets are often born prematurely and spend weeks in the Neonatal ICU (NICU). Maternal health can also be compromised. The optimum health outcome for women and infants is single embryo transfer with public funding for IVF. Healthy children are the future for every province. Children grow into smart consumers, taxpayers, caregivers, policy makers, politicians and business owners. They build the future. That’s why it’s so important to keep talking about funding IVF with single embryo transfer. IVF funding with SET builds healthy babies, healthy families and healthy futures. [tweetthis]59 % of BC infertility patients say cost was a barrier to treatment #IVF4BC #bcpoli [/tweetthis] What You Can Do To Help: Be sure you are registered to vote in the upcoming election. Talk to representatives when they come to the door. Tell your story and ask them where they stand on IVF funding. Sign the petition if you have not already. http://bit.ly/2kaoQx0 [tweetthis]Follow @IVF4BC for more about this subject and conversation. #infertility #IVF4BC #BCPOLI [/tweetthis] Follow – > http://www.twitter.com/ivf4bc/ Follow or join the Facebook conversation here _ https://www.facebook.com/ivf4bc/ I work with IVF4BC to share their advocacy work and as such I am compensated. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

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On The Road to Planning A Family #ChurchandDwight

Paula — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 13:27:29 +0000

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, and they have a few products that can help you if you are planning a family. Here are a few questions and answers to get you on the right track when Planning A Family. 1. How can I keep track of my cycle? Simple! Pick up a First Response® Digital Ovulation Test, which predicts your most fertile days based on your personal LH surge. Remember that the best time to start tracking your cycle is before you start trying to conceive. Your two most fertile days begin with the LH surge and you are most likely to get pregnant if you have intercourse within 24-36 hours after you detect your personal LH surge. A lot of my regular readers know very well what an LH surge is and the role it has in planning a family. But don’t panic if you’ve never heard of your LH surge before! If you’re curious, visit firstresponse.com for more info. 2. How Long Should it Take to Conceive? This depends on a lot of factors, such as age, and health. Did you know that chances of conceiving on any given cycle, if you are healthy, and under 28 years old are about 25 %? As you get older it can take longer. Don’t be discouraged. Be attentive and keep a diary/ journal of when you really started trying to conceive. It might help if you encounter any fertility issues. If it takes longer than a year to get pregnant you should consult a fertility specialist immediately. And if you are over 35 and it’s taking longer than six months to conceive then you need to find a specialist. 3. I am thinking about adopting. How long does it take? There’s no one answer to that question either. If you are trying to do a straightforward adoption and you’ve done all the courses and the home study it can be anywhere from a few months to a few years. This also depends on the type of adoption you are seeking – international, domestic or private. Adoption timeframe also depends on the age group you are seeking. If you are only wanting to be matched with a healthy baby girl stat right from the hospital then be prepared to wait. 4. I think I may be pregnant. Now what? First of all congratulations! Second of all, you can use The First Response™ Early Result Pregnancy Test to tell you if you’re pregnant up to six days before your missed period. If you’re interested in sharing the news with friends and family, how you share it is up to you! But I love these adorable pregnancy announcements. 5. Who will take care of me during my pregnancy? That’s up to you and your partner. Midwife, doctor, doula – these are all options you can choose to care for you during your pregnancy. Do some reading and ask your friends who they trust, or what worked for them? Pick the person who you feel most comfortable with after gathering all the facts. 6. What should I pack in my hospital bag? Dozens of blogs out there can help you decide what needs to go with you. Pick a list that feels right to you and start shopping/collecting the items. You’ll want to have the bag packed and ready to go well before your bundle of joy arrives. FYI if you are adopting you might need to wait. We picked out a range of things for baby’s arrival. Although we stipulated that we would adopt a child under the age of 2, there’s a huge difference between a newborn and an 18-month-old. It’s hard to be prepared for all the possible scenarios and ages when you adopt. 7. How else can I prepare? Make sure to take time for yourself! Unwind after a busy day with a good book and a cup of tea. There won’t be much reading for awhile once baby arrives. Plan a weekend getaway. Curl up on the couch and watch your favourite movie. Make sure to exercise regularly. If you are pregnant the nine months will go faster than you think. Same can sometimes be said for adoption. Time can go quickly whether you adopt or conceive and give birth. Being prepared is essential, especially as you tackle sleepless nights and dozens of diaper changes! Stock up on some of the essentials – blankets and bottles are a must. Decide whether you will cloth diaper or use store bought diapers. And get the room ready. Keep a journal if waiting is not your favourite thing. That helped me when we were waiting for our first daughter during the adoption process. Don’t forget to also stock the medicine cabinet with diaper cream and something to help with colic, such as OVOL™ Drops, which is a simple, alcohol-free solution that can be added to a bottle or used on its own. It helps relieve discomfort caused by trapped gas, making it easier for babies to pass gas and burp at feeding time. Our daughter was 6 weeks old when she joined our family and she definitely was a baby who used a lot of OVOL™ Drops. Don’t forget to ask your doctor first to find out if this product is right for your new baby! Do you have a story about pregnancy or adoption? If so, I’d love to hear it. This post was sponsored by Church and Dwight. I am a brand ambassador with Church and Dwight and as such I am compensated. My opinion is all my own and it is truthful.

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Five Reasons IVF Funding Matters to BC #IVF4BC

Paula — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 14:02:22 +0000

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 BC: The Savings: IVF Funding Programs Save Money. (see point five for more on that) Why? Because when couples spend thousands of dollars on IVF treatment, they often transfer multiple embryos thinking they will maximize their chances. That approach often leads to multiples. While twins and triplets are adorable, they are often born pre-term and spend time in costly NICU. Multiples come with higher risk of health complications to Mom and baby. Multiple births cost much more to the health care system than healthy single births do. Successful funding programs, like the one in Ontario, mandate SET (single embryo transfer) which helps to save health care money and assets. Maternal Health Outcome: IVF Funding Coupled with single embryo transfer policy is Best for Maternal Health and child health as well. Multiple pregnancy is the most powerful predictive factor for adverse maternal, obstetrical, and perinatal outcomes. Single embryo transfer provides better outcomes. One healthy singleton birth is much less taxing on mother and the health care system. Smart Policy: The BC economy is in good shape. This is a smart health policy initiative to invest in. Provinces that invest in families creating good health policy now, build healthier futures for everyone. In fact, healthy children become taxpayers and politicians, parents, doctors, and teachers too. Accessibility: It’s 2017 and four provinces have some level of funding in Canada. Quebec offers some financial support through its continued fertility drug coverage, and sliding scale tax credit for expenses related to IVF, which is based on income level. Alberta and BC have no coverage, despite advocates striving for support there for many years. Manitoba has a tax credit and New Brunswick has an IVF grant up to $5,000. Proven Success: IVF is a highly successful treatment with success rates as high as 70 % per cycle when fresh and frozen cycles are combined. ( cumulative success rates.) A Melbourne study indicated that IVF resulted in higher pregnancy and live birthrates and was almost five times more cost effective than intra-uterine insemination (IUI). The Royal Women’s Hospital and Melbourne IVF study put the cost per live birth at $8735 for IVF versus $42,487 for artificial insemination. IVF Funding Programs Save Money The World Health Organization recognizes infertility as a complex health care issue. Four Canadian provinces know infertility patients need access to the right treatment at the right time. IVF funding programs save money while creating healthier moms and babies. It’s time BC also understood and implemented an IVF funding program. [tweetthis]It’s 2017 and it’s time BC had accessible fertility treatment for patients in need #IVF4BC #BCPOLI[/tweetthis] I am working with BC patient advocates to share their stories, and as such I am compensated. My opinion is my own and it is also truthful.

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Happy Anniversary to Ontario’s Fertility Program Twitter Party #IVF4ON

Paula — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 00:33:40 +0000

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 the program began. Toronto infertility patient, and now soon to be Mom, Jacquie, also shared her infertility success story here with readers last week. She is expecting her baby in January. Many patients have received calls to start their funded round in January. So the New Year brings a fresh wave of hope and it marks a full year of accessible health care treatment for infertility patients in Ontario. Conceivable Dreams patient group celebrates every one of the success stories, and every one of the journeys to get here. The patient group that advocated for many years for reinstatement of an IVF funding program will join Linked Moms on Wednesday to celebrate one year of building healthy families in Ontario. And one year of accessible treatment for infertility patients in this province. A Few Facts about Ontario’s IVF funding program. The Ontario Fertility Program: The Ontario Fertility Program has enabled thousands to pursue their dream of a family, or of expanding their family. [tweetthis]Since its launch in Dec. 2015, the Ontario Fertility Program has funded over 4,700 rounds of IVF #IVF4ON #onpoli [/tweetthis] This year, 4700 rounds of IVF have been done as a result of the Ontario Fertility Program. One in six people of reproductive age struggles with infertility. The first babies to be conceived through the program have just been born at end of 2015. It’s important to remember that before Ontario’s fertility program existed many patients gave up. Some took out two mortgages, or high interest loans in order to afford treatment prescribed to help them conceive. The Ontario Fertility Program’s single embryo transfer policy is helping reduce the number of multiple births. born through IVF and making treatment safer for Moms and children. [tweetthis]Join me Weds Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. EST for a twitter chat celebrating one year of the Ontario Fertility Program.[/tweetthis] So join Conceivable Dreams this week WEDNESDAY, December 21st at 8 p.m. We will talk about the program so far and the patient experience. As always remember the hashtag #IVF4ON Celebrate a year of hope. A provincial government that supports healthy families. The many new families formed via the Ontario Fertility Program this first year.

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When it Comes to Fertility – Be a Badger #MyInnerPower

Paula — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 12:44:39 +0000

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 never gave up. I’d track a lead anywhere to get my story. Same can be said of the approach I took to infertility and parenting. My husband and I were roughly 28 and 32 when we first butted up against infertility. I had a complex health history that began when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory bowel disorder, at the age of 14, the same year my period started. My cycles were disrupted by illness often. Life was often put on hold for lengthy hospitalizations, medical treatments and surgeries. As a result of all the surgeries throughout my 20s, I had a lot of scarring inside my abdomen. When we started trying to get pregnant, my medical history worked against me. I was about 28 when we decided we’d love to start a family. After a year of trying, we still weren’t pregnant. But everyone else was. Everyone we knew was either pregnant or already had a baby. It was an infuriating, frustrating, and sad time. Baby showers were torture. By the time I was 29 or 30 we got a referral to a specialist. My mother had always had endometriosis, a condition categorized by heavy periods and cramping, where the endometrial lining grows outside the uterus. I was also diagnosed with that shortly after we started trying to conceive. Exploratory surgery revealed that my Fallopian Tubes were blocked, so a specialist cleared them. My husband was also tested to see if sperm motility was an issue or anything like that. His results were normal. For six to eight months we tried fertility drugs, but I had a strong feeling pregnancy wasn’t going to happen. And after going through so much hospitalization and treatment for Crohn’s, I had no desire to spend more time in a doctor’s office. Many people with Crohn’s Disease can get pregnant. I’ve also met many people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s who struggle with infertility as well. What’s Your Inner Power? Back when we were experiencing infertility, I didn’t know any of the statistics associated with infertility. Did you know that male factor infertility happens almost as frequently as female factor? I didn’t know anything about egg health at all. By the age of 28-30 a woman’s fertility has already started to decline. I could fill a book with what I didn’t know back then. When I was in school, learning sex education as part of the Ontario curriculum in the 80s, the focus was almost entirely on not getting pregnant. Abstain. Use contraception, avoid getting sexually transmitted diseases. Meet and marry a partner and procreate. I know the curriculum has changed a lot since then, but I still feel we have a long way to go. There’s really no reason why we don’t talk about egg health, fertility and infertility in high schools. Eventually, we stopped the fertility drugs. I had been having a lot of pain in my one side. Doctors figured out that because of the surgeries one of the ovaries was sticking to my intestine. So the ovary had to come out surgically. Shortly before that we had started investigating adoption as another route to parenting. That began a new type of waiting. There were many times it felt like we’d never be parents. On the day we first called London-Middlesex Children’s Aid Society and were told there were no healthy babies available for adoption. I could have quit, but we didn’t. We would find a way to become parents. I stubbornly believed it to be true. In July 2001 I had a bowel obstruction that required surgery, and I was in a lot of pain. The afternoon right before surgery I got a call in the hospital telling me we’d been matched with a healthy baby girl. She was 6 weeks old and in foster care right at that moment. She was safe and beautiful and doing well and her birth parents had chosen us to be her forever family. The next morning I had my surgery and I was determined to race through recovery, even if my body had other ideas. Some Facts About Egg Health Did you know that 1 in 6 couples in Canada struggle with infertility? At birth a baby girl has 1-2 million immature eggs. By the time she hits puberty that same girl will have somewhere between 300,000 to 400,000 eggs left. A variety of factors can lead to female fertility problems, including age, sexually transmitted diseases, medical conditions, stress, poor diet, excessive alcohol use, smoking, and premature menopause. And many health issues like cancer, PCOS, endometriosis and Thyroid disease can affect fertility too. A woman’s body is pretty remarkable and we can often do the most incredible things. But getting pregnant is very often more challenging than expected. For 1 in 6 Canadian couples facing infertility, egg health may be a key factor affecting a woman’s ability to conceive. Despite all the obstacles and the diagnoses on the way I knew I was going to become a parent. I KNEW IT in my heart from the start. I didn’t stop or give up because I could see the goal. Our path wasn’t easy but I knew we’d find a way. We adopted our girls when they were very small. Today, my kids are 12 and 15. Today, we are a family because of my inner power, or superpower – I am stubborn, resourceful and determined. I am a Badger. If you are trying to conceive use your voice, research and always be your own advocate. If you don’t understand something then ask for clarification. Be a badger. If you want to learn about the latest tests or treatments, read everything you can find about the topic of infertility. Learn about your egg health too. There is a new campaign from OvaScience® called My Inner Power and the goal is to celebrate women tapping into their own strength when facing infertility, empower them to share their unique stories, and reinforce that infertility is an experience shared with many other women. I’m going to share my infertility story and if you’ve dealt with fertility issues too, I encourage you to share yours as well. OvaScience will make a donation to Fertility Matters Canada for the first 500 people who submit their #MyInnerPower story, video, photo, or artwork representing their infertility journey at www.egghealth.com/myinnerpower. Find your inner power and use it. I promise it will be worth it. Disclosure: This post is part of the #MyInnerPower sponsored program with YummyMummyClub.ca and OvaScience. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.

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Prepare for a Healthy Baby Now – When Genetic Screening Makes Sense

Paula — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 13:30:54 +0000

“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 that? What if you started thinking about conception and pre-conception planning before getting pregnant? What if you started planning by saving for the Counsyl Family Prep Screen as soon as you started planning your wedding? That’s what Mom and advocate Julie Kristof would like to see more people consider, especially when those people are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Kristof is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and is mother to a daughter born with an inherited genetic disorder and an advocate for early genetic screening as well as educating other Canadians about their options. Education is the most powerful tool in a prospective parent’s toolkit. Kristof is Mom to Mimi, who just turned nine, and is a boisterous force to be reckoned with. Mimi has familial dysautonomia, which is a serious disease that impacts the entire family. Kristof said she began advocating for genetic screening because she became aware of how little people knew about the topic shortly after her daughter was born. In high school Julie Kristof was screened for Tay Sachs, because of her Jewish heritage. By the time she was considering pregnancy she did not think she needed any more genetic screening. The ideal time to do genetic screening is before you become pregnant, according to Dr. Arthur Zaltz, the Head of Women and Babies Program at Sunnybrook. Zaltz is also Head of Core Obstetrics & Gynaecology Division at the University of Toronto. “What do we know about pre-pregnancy. We know stop smoking. We know take folic acid, but what else? We are not doing a great job at talking about pre-pregnancy counselling, ” says Dr. Zaltz. “Certain ethnic groups have a higher pre-disposition to these disorders.” Although families of certain ethnic backgrounds are usually offered carrier testing for the common conditions in their group, we know that many carrier couples are missed with this approach. In fact most children with rare genetic diseases are born to families with no history of the condition. Starting a family is a highly personal decision for a couple, hopefully resulting in a healthy pregnancy and baby. For Jewish Canadians, especially those of the Ashkenazi Jewish Community, having access to information about potential underlying genetic conditions is one way for couples or individuals to have a clear picture of the risk of specific disorders prior to conception. FACT: About 1 out of 2 people of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage is a carrier of one rare genetic condition, most commonly of Gaucher disease, cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, familial dysautonomia, or Canavan disease. More about The Counsyl Family Prep Screen: This particular prep screen is extremely simple according to Dr. Zaltz. It requires a blood or saliva test. · Flexible – can be performed before or during pregnancy · Informative – includes genetic counselling support · Quick – results within 2 to 3 weeks How does it work? A positive result means that a prospective parent is a healthy “carrier” of a genetic disease. When both parents are carriers of the same disease, they have a one in four chance of giving birth to a child that will have that disease, including Cystic Fibrosis, Familial Dysautonomia and Tay-Sachs disease, among many others. These are health conditions where advance knowledge can change the way a couple approaches family planning. The test results are kept strictly confidential and are not shared. “I think you will see over the next couple of years more and more people will start asking for this,” says Dr. Zaltz. Why the Counsyl Family Prep Screen Genetic Screening is Valuable: The Counsyl Family Prep Screen costs about $900 although some provincial and private insurance plans may cover the cost of testing. It screens for over 100 diseases and disorders. The Counsyl Family Prep Screen can help couples and individuals make informed choices about their future child’s health. “Knowing what I know now, I have to say this would be one of the tests I would have considered. The cost is well worth it. Look at it very carefully and ask yourself what your reasons are for wanting to know…I have had to watch my youngest child, who is sick every day. That kind of sucks. My advice would be get the most information you can to make an informed decision,” says Julie Kristof. This post is sponsored which means I have been compensated. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

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IVF Funding Makes Sense for Nova Scotia Infertility Patients #IVF4NS #NSPOLI

Paula — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 07:32:30 +0000

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 challenges for patients in the province. IVF (in vitro fertilization) is one of the most effective treatments for infertility and can help many couples to become parents. But IVF is also extremely expensive and that means occasionally people take risks that actually end up costing the health care system more money in the long and short term as well. In Canada, there are now four provinces that fund, or contribute to IVF funding for people needing the treatment. Depending on the province that you live in the cost of IVF can range from $7,000 to $13,000, and that rarely includes drugs. But Nova Scotia is not one of the provinces that currently offers financial support for IVF, fertility treatment. Infertility is one of the most complex health care issues this century. Funding IVF (in vitro fertilization) with SET ( single embryo transfer) saves money. When couples must pay up to $13,000 for a round of IVF that ends up being extremely cost prohibitive. Some couples borrow, some take out a line of credit and some will take on three jobs, or a second mortgage to be able to pay for costly health care treatment in order to become a parent. That’s when they often end up taking risks because of the cost involved and they transfer multiple embryos. Multiples have a host of lifetime health care needs that healthy singletons do not. Funded IVF can save up to $11 million for the province of Nova Scotia over the course of five years. with greater societal costs such as lifetime health care and social supports required when children are born prematurely (multiple births). A few more facts about Nova Scotia infertility patients. In Nova Scotia 72 % of people surveyed said they supported public funding for fertility treatments. [tweetthis]72 % of people surveyed in Nova Scotia said they supported public funding for IVF #IVF4NS #NSPOLI [/tweetthis] When people have to remortgage homes etcetera in order to pay for infertility treatment they often transfer more than one embryo. Multiples cost more to health care systems over their lifetime. There is very limited access to infertility care in Nova Scotia. In fact Nova Scotia tied for last place with PEI in a recent comparison between all of the provinces and their fertility funding programs, number of clinics and accessibility. Quite simply it is one of the two worst places to live in Canada if you need fertility care. Nova Scotia infertility patients deserve better. This sponsored post was written on behalf of East Coast Miracles Patient Group. For a brief time I was helping to tell the Nova Scotia infertility patient stories. They are active on twitter at IVFforNS.

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