29/09/2008 by admin.

Just read this article below from telegraph newspaper about the new Clearblue digital pregnancy test with conception indicator.

Revolutionary kit takes just three minutes to tell a woman both if she is expecting and when she fell pregnant.

The test by manufacturers Clearblue could end bitter paternity disputes by identifying the number of weeks since conception.

Women use the Conception Indicator in the same way as a normal pregnancy test.

A sensor in the test stick can detect the pregnancy hormone hCG from women’s urine samples.

A digital screen displays either ‘Pregnant’ or ‘Not pregnant’. For positive tests, it also tells users whether they are one to two weeks, two to three, or over three weeks pregnant.

Laboratory trials have shown that the test is 99 per cent accurate in identifying pregnancy and 92 per cent accurate as to time of conception.

Clearblue’s Dr Jayne Ellis said: “As a company, we pride ourselves on providing women with innovative products and solutions that address the issues that are important to their health and well-being.

“This will offer women more valuable information about their pregnancy as soon as the ‘pregnant’ result is confirmed.”

 Click here to buy Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator Online in UK

Click here to see our full range of Clearblue pregnancy tests & ovulation tests

Posted in Clearblue digital pregnancy test with conception indica, Conception indicator, Clearblue Pregnancy Test, Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test conception indicator, Clearblue, Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test, Pregnancy Tests | Print | 1 Comment »

27/09/2008 by admin.

Caesarean section rates show no signs of coming down, according to official statistics, in spite of concern that they are too high.

The NHS Information Centre said yesterday that just under a quarter of deliveries, 24%, were caesareans in 2006-7, as they were the year before. About half of those were emergencies and the rest pre-planned. Efforts to persuade more women and their doctors to attempt a normal delivery seem to have had little impact. The UK rate is considerably higher than the World Health Organisation’s target for no more than 10-15% of deliveries to be by caesarean section.

The Royal College of Midwives said the rate was “worryingly high” and linked it to a shortage of midwives. “There is clear evidence that some caesarean sections are unnecessary and put women and babies at risk,” said Cathy Warwick, general secretary designate of the RCM.

The National Childbirth Trust agreed the rate was too high. It was also concerned by figures from the NHS Information Centre showing women were going home sooner after caesareans - just over a quarter spent four days or more in hospital, compared with just under a third in the previous year. “Women who are recovering from caesareans will need more help and support and guaranteed midwife home visits, especially if they have had previous health problems,” said chief executive Belinda Phipps.

Posted in childbirth, Pregnancy | Print | 1 Comment »

27/09/2008 by admin.

When I was pregnant with each of my children I was very anxious, and worried a lot. I used to worry that the baby had died, which resulted in several trips to hospital to be reasured by hearing the babies heartbeats. My other half was very patient throughout as there was no other option at that time.

In the last couple of years fetal dopplers have become available for home use and at very reasonable prices. I just wish they had been available when I was last pregnant-would have saved us a lot of trips to hospital.

A work colleague of mine whose daughter is pregnant has been using the Angelsounds Fetal Doppler and has found it very good. It has also meant that family members can also listen to the babies heartbeat.

Click here for more information or to buy a Fetal Doppler

Posted in Angelsounds, Fetal Doppler, Pregnancy | Print | No Comments »

27/09/2008 by admin.

Just come across this product. Not tried them myself yet.

Instead Cup (Softcup) holds rather than absorbs menstrual fluid, you should be able to wear the Softcup twice as long as a tampon up to a maximum of 12 hours.

INSTEAD Cup (Softcup) has a flexible circular rim which is approximately 7cm in diameter. When compressed for insertion, INSTEAD is about the same size as a tampon - approximately 1-2cm wide and 9cm long. One size fits nearly all women for excellent leakage protection, even on heavy days.

Click here for more info or to buy Instead Cups

Just read online that some women are using Instead Softcups to aid conception. They are inserting the instead cups after intercourse to help keep the sperm close to the cervix. They combine this with laying down after intercourse. That’s certainly lateral thinking. I will research and see how successful it is.

Posted in instead cup insemination, instead cups for conception, Instead cups for fertility, Instead Cups, Fertility File, Trying to Conceive | Print | 1 Comment »

25/09/2008 by admin.

Just found these useful webpages from the BBC website on fertility issues. Covers such issues as assisted conception, fertility facts, ethical issues in fertility treatments, specialist advice. You can even have fertility advice sent straght to your mobile phone !

 Click here to visit the BBC Fertility Pages

Posted in Fertility File, Fertility Tests | Print | 1 Comment »

24/09/2008 by admin.

Clearblue has launched a new digital pregnancy test with a conception indicator showing how many weeks it is since conception. The test can also be used up to 4 days before your period is due. For most accuate resuts the first urine of the day should be used. easy to read results appear in the window within 1-3 minutes.

 Click here for more info or to buy Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator

 Information from the manufacturer below

Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator is a unique innovation in pregnancy testing – the only test that answers the first two questions women ask when they think they might be pregnant. Am I pregnant? And when did I conceive?

It provides an unmistakably clear result in words - ‘Pregnant’ or ‘Not Pregnant’. And if the result is ‘Pregnant’ it also provides the additional benefit of displaying how many weeks ago you conceived – ‘1-2’, ‘2-3’ or 3+’.

The new test is easy to use, and the ‘Pregnant’/’Not Pregnant’ result is over 99% accurate when used from the day your period is due. It provides reassurance throughout the testing process by displaying clear symbols on the digital Display, showing test progression and any error messages.

Click here to see the full Clearblue range of home pregnancy tests, ovulation tests & the fertility monitor

Posted in Clearblue Pregnancy Test, Clearblue digital pregnancy test with conception indica, Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test conception indicator, Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test, Pregnancy Tests, Clearblue, Trying to Conceive | Print | 5 Comments »

23/09/2008 by admin.

Episode 3 of 6

Time 8pm Tuesday

I have watched the first 2 episodes with great interest, and found them to be highly informative and very graphic (you have been warned)

Childbirth is the subject of tonights show with Anne Richardson visiting the maternity ward at The Countess of Chester Hospital to reveal the realities of the delivery room. Gordon Ramseys wife Tana, mother of 4, also describes her personal experiences of childbirth.

 Previous episodes of The Sex Education Show may be viewed online here

Posted in Sex Education, Pregnancy | Print | 1 Comment »

23/09/2008 by admin.

Just spotted this while surfing online and thought it was very useful. I dont know if it is regular feature or not. They have collected all their recent fertility related articles together. Well done Times Online

Click Here To View The Times Online Fertility File

Posted in Fertility File | Print | 1 Comment »

23/09/2008 by admin.

This weekend I went out to dinner with a friend who is newly pregnant. It is a much longed for pregnancy after many years of TTC.

I was talking to her about which foods she has to avoid and realised how much more complicated the whole issue had become since I was last pregnant. I decided to do a little research on the subject and found this great webpage that I wanted to share with you all

 It is a very comprehensive and imformative guide to which foods to avoid during pregnancy & breast feeding from the Food Standards Agency, and is presented in an easy to follow question and answer format. You also have the option to e-mail questions in and have them answered if you can not find the answer to your question there.

Click here to visit Food Standards Agency Pregnancy Page

Posted in Pregnancy, Folic Acid | Print | 1 Comment »

23/09/2008 by admin.

Folic acid supplementation is very important in early pregnancy & when trying to conceive
Folic acid( a B vitamin) is the only vitamin supplement that is recommended to be taken before pregnancy for women who are otherwise eating a balanced diet.

Folic acid is needed for the development of healthy red blood cells. An adequate intake of folic acid in the mother also decreases the chance of her baby being born with a defect of the neural tube, where the baby’s brain and spinal cord are formed. One well known example of a neural tube defect is spina bifida, where an area of spinal cord is not properly enclosed. This can cause problems such as paralysis of the legs and lack of control of bladder and bowels. The baby’s neural tube is completely formed by the fourth week of pregnancy - when many women have not even realised they are pregnant.

It is therefore important to start taking folic acid supplements while preparing for pregnancy or as soon as you realise that you are pregnant. 400 micrograms (mcg) is the recommended daily dose, which is over and above the usual recommended dietary intake of 200 micrograms. Folic acid occurs naturally in fresh dark green vegetables such as broccoli, peas, green beans and spinach. Many breakfast cereals are fortified with folic acid and it is also found in wholemeal bread. You should continue to take folic acid tablets for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy even if you eat a good diet.

A higher dose of folic acid is recommended for some women. It is very important that women who have previously had a baby with a neural tube defect, or who have epilepsy or diabetes, consult a GP about folic acid supplementation before trying to conceive.

Click here to see a range of leading brands supplements all containing the recomended dose of folic acid and ideal when trying to conceive

Posted in Folic Acid, Trying to Conceive | Print | 1 Comment »

18/09/2008 by admin.

Last night I went out with a group of girls, and the talk turned to men and relationships as it often does when groups of women get together with no men, no kids and lots of alcohol. We were discussing how important it is to keep the romance alive, when you have been together for a while.

 Trying to conceive can be a fun and exciting time for many couples-for many it is the first time they have been able to have sex without using contraception-the novelty of this alone can add to the romance, let alone the excitement of creating a new life. If conception occurs quickly ie within 3-4 months the whole process is fairly stress free, but when conception takes longer it can become a cause of stress and disapointment for some couples, which may start to take the fun out of it.

 When I was trying to conceive my first child I assumed wrongly that as soon as we stopped using contraception I would conceive, after 3-4 months of trying I was starting to get anxious and insisted that my partner took a male fertility test (with hindsight I did rush him into a bit-but being an obliging chap he took it, and it came back normal much to our relief !) We then carried on with the serious business of making babies while having fun at the same time.

Last night my friends and I talked at length about keeping the romance alive in a relationship, and the importance of ‘dating your partner’

Plan a date with your partner ideally at least once a week-take the time to be together, just the two of you, as if you were on a date. You do not actually need to go out. We have had many date nights at home which have been just as good and a lot cheaper. Here are the some suggestions for dates:

• Meal out in the evening-just the two of you-get dressed smartly, do your make-up etc, make it special
• Watch a film together-choose something you both like, either at the cinema or on dvd/video. Make a proper date of it. If you have kids get them to bed first or get a babysitter if you are going to cinema. We like to have popcorn or chocolates-sometimes both but I’m just greedy !
• Cook a meal together at home. If you have kids feed them and get them settled 1st. Choose something nice and easy to cook but that is a bit special-in our house steaks are always a favourite for a date night meal, served up with a really large salad and a glass of wine. Cooking together in a relaxed way can be very bonding. Make an effort with your appearance as you would do if you were going on an outside date.
• Go on a walk together, just the two of you-ideally somewhere beautiful and on a sunny day if possible-really lifts your spirits, as well as being great exercise-a proven stress buster
• Sit out on a sunny evening togther, maybe with a glass of wine-just the two of you and chat about your passions, fun things you have done together and stuff you would like to do together
• Go to a posh coffee bar for lattes/ cappucinos-whatever your favourite tipple is, and chat and just watch the world go by together
• Meet for lunch somewhere nice & talk about all the good things in your life
• On a clear night go outside and stare & wonder at the stars together
• Take up a hobby together-ideally something that you can both be passionate about-it gives a shared interest & something to you can talk about together when you are on your dates ! As they say ‘variety is the spice of life’

These are just a few of the suggestions we came up with, I’m sure you can all come up with lots more

Posted in Keeping the romance alive, Trying to Conceive | Print | 2 Comments »

18/09/2008 by admin.

I’ve just found the original published research article from The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine which makes fascinating reading. Click on the link below to read it-I promise its not a long article, fairly concise and to the point for a medical research article IMO

http://www.jabfm.org/cgi/content/short/21/5/375

 These quotes are from the article above  it seems NPT is a ’systematic medical approach for optimizing physiologic conditions for conception in vivo’

 ’couples were taught to identify the fertile days of the menstrual cycle with the Creighton Model FertilityCare System, and most received additional medical treatment, including clomiphene (75%)’

 Next question-what is the Creighton Model FertilityCare System ?

Posted in Natural Fertility Methods | Print | 3 Comments »

18/09/2008 by admin.

I just read this really interesting and slightly controversial article online

It is taken from From The Sunday Times  September 14, 2008

 A Dublin- based  study carried out by Utah University in America has questioned the effectiveness of IVF

Natural fertility treatment is more effective than in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), according to new research by the University of Utah in America.

It found that one in four of the 1,100 couples treated with natural methods in a clinic in Galway had successful pregnancies using natural procreative technology treatment (NPT). This compares with the most recent European success rates of 18.4% for IVF.

The research, published last week in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, has been disputed by Tony Walsh, director of the Sims Fertility Clinic in Dundrum, Dublin. He claimed the study was not scientifically sound and did not constitute proof that NPT gives comparable live birthrates to IVF. The clinic has sent a letter to the journal outlining its argument.

But the study is being hailed as a landmark paper by supporters of NPT, as it is the first research into the effectiveness of the method to be published in a peerreviewed medical journal. It also found that the number of multiple births resulting from NPT was significantly lower than using artificial methods, with only 4.6% of women becoming pregnant with more than one child.

This compares with multiple birth rates of 34% recorded in a recent American study of couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Joseph Stanford from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, the main author, said that he hoped the research would help overcome the “current information deficit” surrounding NPT.

“Many GPs and obstetricians are not aware of NPT because of a lack of published studies,” he said. “Now physicians can inform themselves of this treatment approach and hopefully recommend it to their patients.”

Read the rest of the article here  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article4749677.ece

I have not heard of NPT before so I am now going to look it up and post what I find. If anyone knows more please feel free to comment

Posted in Natural Fertility Methods | Print | 1 Comment »

18/09/2008 by admin.

Access Diagnostic New Fertility Site has a DISCOUNT coupon code for 6.5 % discount on goods until end of September 2008
Use it quick before it expires

The coupon code is AD

Posted in Fertility Tests | Print | No Comments »

13/09/2008 by admin.

MALE FERTILITY TEST-an increasing number of men are checking their fertility by using a male fertility test kit at home.

Home Male Fertility Test Kit-What should we do if the result comes back low?

First thing to say is don’t panic. A low sperm count does not mean you can not conceive it may just make it more difficult. However you do need to go and see your doctor now for examination & further sperm tests-this is very important.

Some of the following factors may be worth considering while you are waiting for the appointment to see the doctor.

1) Was the sample ideal? Did you follow the instructions precisely? It may be worth repeating to check this. Cooling the sample or a delay in performing the fertility test can alter the number of active sperm, and give a false result.

2) High testes temperature. Sperm are made in the testes which are in the scrotum. This is the body’s way of keeping the testes slightly cooler than the rest of the body which is best for making sperm. It is often advised for men who have a low sperm count to wear loose fitting underpants and trousers and to avoid very hot baths, saunas, etc. This aims to keep your testes slightly cooler than the rest of your body, which is thought to be good for sperm production. It is not clear whether these measures improve a sperm count, but they seem to be sensible. Also best not to let him sit with his laptop on his groin !

3) Smoking can affect the sperm count. If you smoke, you should stop completely for optimum sperm production.

4) Alcohol. More than 16 units per week (equivalent to about 8 pints of normal strength beer or 16 small glasses of wine) may interfere with optimum fertility.

5) Drugs and medicines. Most do not interfere with sperm production, but some may do. These include: sulphasalazine, nitrofurantoin, tetracyclines, cimetidine, colchicine, allopurinol, some chemotherapy drugs, cannabis, cocaine, and anabolic steroids. They are always finding new drugs that can affect sperm. If you have a low sperm count, tell a doctor if you take any drugs or medicines regularly

More information or to buy home male fertility test kit

Posted in Male Infertility, Sperm count, male fertility test kit, Male Fertility, Sperm Motility, Fertility Tests, Male Fertility Test, Sperm, Male Fertility Issues | Print | 1 Comment »