pregnancy Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

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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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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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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6 Female Fertility Facts You May Not Know

Paula — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 14:39:33 +0000

How much do you know about your own fertility? Chances are some of these female fertility facts will be new to you even if you consider yourself to be well informed. Female Fertility and Infertility is something we don’t seem to ask about or inquire into until there is a problem. Let’s change that. If you’re trying to have a baby, you need to know these female fertility facts. You may know some of these, but all of these female fertility facts can give you a better chance of making a little bundle of joy without so much of the worry and stress. Female Fertility Facts to Help You Conceive All of these female fertility facts are big helps to getting pregnant. I’ve talked to so very many people who struggle trying to conceive. It’s common to know when something is wrong with regards to fertility and infertility but knowing what to do to enhance or protect fertility is much less common. [tweetthis]A few interesting things you should know about female fertility if you are trying to conceive #fertility #health [/tweetthis] The Best Time to Start is Before Ovulation We all know that ovulation is the best time to try to get pregnant, but did you know that the five days before you ovulate is the perfect time to really rev up the baby making process? It’s true. When your egg leaves your ovary, sperm has between 12 and 24 hours to fertilize the egg. Here’s the interesting part. Sperm can remain viable inside you for several days to weeks after you have sex. So the more you have sex in that period before ovulation, the more sperm are there to increase your odds. Your Nose Knows You sense of smell is enhanced when you’re ovulating. So if you notice that everything smells stronger to you, it might be time to head to the bedroom and make time to focus on baby making. Stress Free is the Way to Be Female fertility is enhanced when you’re stress free. In fact, a Harvard study found that 55% of women in the study who engaged in a mind and body program got pregnant, while only 20% of those who didn’t got pregnant. A stress free life is the life to have if you’re trying to have a baby. Of course that’s pretty much impossible but there are ways to limit and temper stress. Chances are Slim for Everyone The 30s seems to be the decade when a lot of people are trying to get pregnant. That’s why it’s important to know that couples over the age of 30 only have about a 15% chance of conceiving each month. That’s nothing to worry about. It holds true with all couples, or singles, of that age. So don’t be discouraged, and keep trying. A Healthy Mouth Makes a Healthy Baby It’s true. Studies have shown that gum disease can lead to premature delivery and low birth weight in babies. Female fertility may not be enhanced by a trip to the dentist, but the chances of a healthy baby will be. Fat-Free Milk is a No No Research shows that one or more servings a day of full-fat diary helps decrease the risk of infertility. So if you want to maximize your female fertility, indulge in the full-fat diary without guilt. It can be anything from whole milk to delicious ice cream. Female Fertility Facts to Help on the Road to Conception Chances are you may not have known many of these, and that’s why I wanted to get this out there. It’s important to know all your can about female fertility when you’re trying to get pregnant. Knowledge of female fertility is a powerful thing when you’re trying to get pregnant, and these female fertility facts should give you a nice head start on your pregnancy journey.

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Christina Knows Best – Candide 3 in 1 Pillow Review #Baby

Paula — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 15:29:10 +0000

Christina now has a baby girl! That’s great news, right? So life for this new Mom has been a bit busier to say the least. Anyways, a few months ago she was sent the Candide 3 in 1 pillow for review and baby was not yet out of her “baby house” as her Mom called it then, so she used the Candide first as a pregnancy body pillow. Now that baby is here and making her personality and presence known to the world well life, and the Candide, have taken on a different shape. See what I mean when you watch this video. We were sent this for consideration here on the blog. Don’t forget to subscribe to Christina Knows Best on Youtube and on Twitter. She is a hilarious new Mom and also an actress. Bet you didn’t know that. For more about Candide 3 in 1 pillow check this Candide Baby site out. The Candide 3 in 1 pillow is a pregnancy pillow, a breastfeeding pillow and also a relaxing cushion to prop baby up on after they arrive and are ready to explore the world a little bit more independently. Smart products for new Moms and Dads are multi-purpose because let’s face it there’s a lot of equipment that comes with a new baby. So this Candide 3 in 1 product makes sense and is practical. It would also be a great gift for a baby shower. Christina was sent this Candide 3 in 1 pillow for consideration of review. Our opinion is all our own and 100 % truthful. If you want to connect with Christina for baby product reviews or topics please send an email to me at inkscrblr@rogers.com. Many thanks to Christina for sharing this with us!!

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Christina Knows Best – Prenatal Pregnancy Fitness Videos

Paula — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 13:51:39 +0000

It’s been several weeks since we’ve heard from Christina here and there’s good reason for that! She had her baby! A baby girl. So super exciting. And of course she has been busy getting used to life with baby. BUT, I wanted to share this one with you today, because this is a post she did about Pregnancy Fitness Videos before baby was born. I love this lady because she makes me laugh so hard. Can’t wait to see what she says next week about a new baby seat. [tweetthis]Have you ever wondered about prenatal pregnancy fitness videos? Christina breaks it down here. [/tweetthis] Christina is Thrifty Momma’s Tips Baby Vlogger contributor. If you have something you want to share with her, or something you would like her to consider for review send me an email here at inkscrblr@rogers.com and I will connect you both. I have a video coming for you next week as well from this funny new mom. This is her Youtube channel. She shared her thoughts a few months ago regarding the Diono Travel changer. Follow her on twitter too @crissyknowsbest is all about adjusting to life as a new Mom and finding out which products are best suited to her newborn. Thanks to Christina for sharing! Congratulations on the new baby girl! We can’t wait to see more soon.

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Christina Knows Best – On Maternity Wear and What Not to Do

Paula — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 01:02:53 +0000

Alrighty Christina is getting so close to having this baby girl it’s officially super exciting! I can’t wait for everyone to meet her. But in the meantime she’s talking about maternity wear. Follow her advice. It just makes sense. Save money with maternity wear? Um, yes please because babies are expensive and by the way so are teenagers. Just saying. Have you seen Christina’s first video for Thrifty Momma’s Tips? Here it is again in case you want something else to watch because maternity wear is fabulous and all but Christina makes me laugh out loud at this review of a Diono changer Do you have any maternity wear thoughts or tips? Share them here.

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Getting Pregnant – 5 Things to Do for You and Your Baby

Paula — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 06:20:35 +0000

If getting pregnant is something you’re thinking about, there are a few things you should do to ensure that when you become pregnant, both you and the baby can be as healthy and as happy as possible. Getting pregnant is about more than just conceiving. It’s also about preparing for what comes next. So do what you can to get your body and mind ready for the coming nine months and beyond. Getting Pregnant Prep Getting pregnant should be approached with a clear idea of what you’re getting yourself into. Pregnancy is nine months of being uncomfortable. It’s also nine months of monitoring everything you take into your body – longer if you decide to breastfeed. After that, you’ve still got to think about finances, as well. It pays to be forward thinking when thinking about getting pregnant. [tweetthis]There are many ways to prepare your body for pregnancy. [/tweetthis] Stop Smoking Smoking can cause severe issues for unborn babies including: Lower available oxygen Increased heart rate Increased chance of miscarriage and stillbirth Increased risk of premature birth and lower birth weight Increased risk of lung problems Increased risk of birth defects Increased risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Of course, everyone thinks they’ll simply quit when they get pregnant. However, if you are actively on the path to getting pregnant, why not go through the strain of quitting now, rather than doing it when you are actually pregnant. That way, there’s no chance of your baby getting any of the harmful effects of smoking. [tweetthis]If you are considering getting pregnant stop drinking. [/tweetthis] Stop Drinking Even if you stop drinking the moment you know you’re pregnant, remember that you’ve already been pregnant for a while before you know for sure. Alcohol is a terrible thing for a fetus to be exposed to even for one night. Symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome or spectrum disorder can include: Physical disability Learning disabilities Attention deficits Hyperactivity Issues with impulse control, language, memory, and social skills So if you’re planning on getting pregnant, it pays not to drink. There is no safe time, amount or type of alcohol that can be consumed during pregnancy. It’s best to stop drinking well before you get pregnant. Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins You won’t overdose on any specific vitamin if you take prenatal vitamins without being pregnant. If you are planning on getting pregnant, take prenatal vitamins throughout the process. Your body will be primed to deliver the best nutrition possible from the moment your baby is conceived, getting your little son or daughter off to a good start. Get Your Finances in Order I have kids, and trust me, they’re expensive. Its starts a birth and just keeps going until they’re out of college, so doing what you can to get your finances in order from the get go is always a good idea. Go over your expenses and cut out any non-essentials that don’t make you incredibly happy. Of course, you don’t want to completely deny yourself, but every little bit you save now is more that you’ll have later. Lean on Your Family Getting pregnant can be hard. It can take time. It can be frustrating. Through all of it, remember that your family is there for you to lean on. They’ve been through it. They will be more than happy to give you a hug, a shoulder, a high five – whatever you need. You’re not in it alone! Getting Pregnant is a Journey Getting pregnant can be a long road, but it’s worth it. These 5 tips can help you when you make the decision that it’s time to try getting pregnant. Remember, the last one is the most important. Your family is there to encourage you and to help you if you need it. Getting pregnant is an adventure, so enjoy it.

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Introducing My New Contributor – Baby Product Vlogger Christina

Paula — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 14:54:55 +0000

I am super excited to share this news with you. As some readers know my girls are in the double digits now. One is a tween and one is a teenager and they keep me every bit as busy as they did when they were small. It’s just a different kind of busy. For a time I had a baby blogger here, but even her babies have grown up a lot. I know this audience still wants to read about baby news and baby products too. I can tell that when I run analytics here sometimes. So how does that work? I can’t authentically write or review baby products when I have an 11 year old and a 13 year old. SO, I started a hunt earlier this year for someone to contribute to this space in a very special role as a new Mom or Dad. Thanks to everyone who applied! Happily, I introduce you all to Christina Nicolaou. (I hope I spelled that right) Christina and her husband Blair are expecting their first baby girl in July. Super exciting, right? Also Christina and her husband are part of that 1 in 6 who struggled with infertility before experiencing success! I can’t tell you how happy I get every time I read that someone new has made it through that dark lonely time as an infertility patient and reached the other side to become a family. Christina is going to start VLOGGING here as my new contributor, covering baby products and brands. We know how many people enjoy baby product reviews by Moms. In fact it’s pretty much the best way to share your brand with the world. Word of Mom is powerful and it’s how we determine where we spend our money. [tweetthis]Meet my newest contributor for baby product reviews – VLOGGER – Christina[/tweetthis] Here are a few words about Christina: Christina is an actor, writer and improviser. She holds an Masters of Arts in Political Science and English from McMaster University and an Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Washington’s Professional Actor Training Program. She and her husband Blair are co-founders of Spite Media Productions. Together they have created short films and web series that have been featured online and in festivals. Their most exciting project to date is arriving in July 2015…a baby girl. I hope you all welcome her to this space and love watching her videos. She is clever and funny and simply beautiful so I look forward to watching her share the latest and greatest baby products with you. I can’t wait to meet her baby girl soon on video or twitter or however else she shares the arrival with us. Welcome, Christina. If you have a product you would like considered please email: inkscrblr7@gmail.com

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Nine Things We Want You To Know About Infertility – #IVF4ON #ONPOLI

Paula — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 15:17:55 +0000

It must be spring because everyone is suddenly pregnant, or posting a photo of their new arrival on Facebook. At this time of year with Spring, plus Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Infertility Awareness Month all wrapped up in one big bundle, family is everywhere. The triggers for infertility patients are seemingly endless. Even I am feeling it this year and we adopted our children 13 years ago. I guess that’s proof the emotions of infertility never go away. With spring comes the constant reminders of people who have suddenly succeeded at getting pregnant. That’s hard for so very many people waiting, or in the process of undergoing treatment for infertility. Excruciatingly painful for people who have just experienced a miscarriage too. When the winter clothing comes off, the pregnant bellies are everywhere. Other people have a choice in how and when they start a family. Some people get to choose to have 4 children, or 5 children, even just one child! For infertility patients, choice and control disappears. This year I decided to ask infertility patients in Ontario what they want people to know. They had so much to say that I am going to break this into a two or three part series. This is part one: Nine Things We Want You To Know About Infertility: These are their words: 1. Jill – I’m not embarrassed. I just keep it from people because it seemed like too much pressure when we are going through treatment. [tweetthis]Jill – I’m not embarrassed about infertility. I just kept it from people because it seemed like too much pressure when we are going through treatment #IVF4ON #onpoli [/tweetthis] 2. Mel – It affects every single aspect of a couple’s life, stress, health, finances….it can be incredibly isolating at times. To have even one of those stressors removed for example, the financial burden, would help exponentially. [tweetthis]It affects every aspect of your life #IVF4ON #onpoli [/tweetthis] 3. Emily – It seems so taboo.. But once we mentioned that we did ivf, it must’ve just opened up the flood gates for questions and inquiries.. And it gave them hope, even just a glimpse of a positive light, and reassurance that there’s nothing to be ashamed of.. We are beyond grateful and blessed with twin girls. 4. Stephanie: So many people say “why don’t you just adopt?” Adoption can be a very expensive, long and invasive process too. Sometimes longer than fertility treatments, and much like fertility treatments- you are guaranteed nothing. We also want the opportunity to experience pregnancy.. Rather than suggest adoption – which we all know about, ask us if we have explored other avenues? [tweetthis]Stephanie – Rather than suggest adoption – which we all know about, ask us if we have explored other avenues? #ivf4ON #onpoli [/tweetthis] 5. Jennifer – it’s not always a female problem. Almost half of infertility is male factor. Let’s get talking about that too. [tweetthis]it’s not always a female problem. Almost half of infertility is male factor. Let’s get talking about that too. #ivf4ON #onpoli[/tweetthis] 6. Lara – Never ask ANYONE “when are you going to have kids?” Since 1 in 6 have problems with infertility, you can be pretty much guaranteed that you’re going to make this comment to an infertile couple eventually, and it’s like a kick in the gut every time. [tweetthis]Lara- never ask anyone when are you going to have kids. 1 in 6 struggle with infertility – at some point you will ask someone this will hurt. #IVF4ON #onpoli[/tweetthis] 7. Christina – it is not God’s wish that I be childless. Stop saying things like – maybe it’s meant to be… [tweetthis]Christina – it is not God’s wish that I be childless. Stop saying things like – maybe it’s meant to be…#ivf4ON #onpoli[/tweetthis] 8. Erin – People who have had a child still suffer the same emotions as those who haven’t. Secondary infertility is just as devastating. [tweetthis]Erin – secondary infertility is just as devastating #IVF4ON #onpoli [/tweetthis] 9. Emma – The insecurities, stress, and overwhelming emotions with the illness of infertility don’t just disappear after you have one child (especially if conceived with help- IVF). Are we blessed to have one? ABSOLUTELY! Does that mean our hearts don’t want more? Heck no. The struggle doesn’t end- it’s still there taunting and haunting you. [tweetthis]The insecurities and overwhelming emotions of infertility don’t disappear when you have a child. They are still there #ivf4ON #onpoli #IVF #TTC[/tweetthis] In Ontario Infertility patients have a group called Conceivable Dreams to help advocate and support people going through the process. If you are struggling with infertility in Ontario you can follow this group on twitter (@IVF4ON ) We tweet and share our messages with #ivf4ON #onpoli hashtags. You can follow some of the advocacy and events for infertility patients in Ontario by watching this site: http://www.conceivabledreams.org/ I am community manager for this group and as such I am compensated. I support infertility patients in Ontario. All of the patients mentioned here were happy to give voice to some of their feelings this month. If you want to be added to our private Facebook support group email me inkscrblr@rogers.com please indicate subject line (Infertility) in your email.

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