30/03/2009 by admin.

There has been a lot of coverage in the UK press in the last week about the possible increased rate of birth defects associated with assisted reproduction techniques such as IVF

The HFEA (Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority) has issued a statement last week that helps to clarify things:

24 March 2009

Recent publicity regarding the risks associated with assisted reproductive technology (ART) has prompted patients to contact either the HFEA or their clinic.

We fully understand people’s concern, however it is important to put information of this type in context.

Part of the role of the HFEA is to keep research under review and it is assisted in this role by its advisory body, the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC). At its most recent meeting in January 2009, the Committee reviewed the most recent data on risks associated with ART, specifically around the chance of ART babies having birth defects. This report was published on our website prior to the meeting in January. The minutes of the meeting have also been made available on our website.

As can be seen from the papers, our advisors recommended that we revise our existing patient information on the risks associated with ART, to provide more up to date advice that reflects the latest research.

The risk of birth defects in the general population is low. Two per cent of children in Europe are born with birth defects. Some research suggests there might be an increased risk of 30 percent for babies born as a result of ART.  This would mean that the risk rises to 2.6 percent, which is still low. There is not enough data to be more precise but this is the best estimate currently available.

Research to date cannot say with absolute certainty that this increased risk is due to ART. Other causes including the original cause of infertility, the age of the patient or other unexplored factors cannot be discounted. 

In order to make sure patients understand the risks of ART as well as they can we keep research of this kind under review. And where it suggests there may be a greater risk we share this information with patients in a clear way to help them understand the risks associated with the choices they are making.  

However, we still do not know the complete picture. All we can say with confidence is that there is a small risk associated with ART in general.

We will be revising our guidance and the information we give to patients during April. This information will be available on our website.

Click here to visit the HFEA website

Posted in HFEA, IVF | Print | 1 Comment »

30/03/2009 by admin.

Here is the latest Access Diagnostics coupon code  reward

The code gives a 5% discount on goods until end of April 2009

The discount coupon may be used multiple times. Only one coupon may be used per order.

Posted in Access Diagnostics Coupon Code | Print | 1 Comment »

30/03/2009 by admin.

Pre-Seed is a sperm friendly lubricant designed for couples who are trying to conceive.

When Pre-Seed is inserted deep in to the vagina (using the vaginal applicators) it works in the following ways to aid conception:

• Pre-Seed does not harm sperm ie it is sperm friendly
• it is ph balanced to be sperm friendly (similar to cervical mucus)
• sperm can swim freely in PreSeed ( unlike some other popular lubricants which impede sperm)
• its consistency is similar to cervical mucus

Click here for more information about Pre-Seed

Posted in Sperm Motility, Sperm, Cervical Mucus, Pre-Seed Lubricant | Print | 1 Comment »

27/03/2009 by admin.

There are times in life when we really need the support of our friends and family. But does the quality of this support make a difference. Simple answer is yes-hugely so. When you are going through a stressful or difficult time in your life for whatever reason you need friends who will support you, listen to you and be there for you.

Are your friends drains or radiators ?

A friend of mine recently apologised for being a drain and not a radiator. At least she had incite !

The company of some friends makes you feel great, while others leave you feeling drained or even angry or sad. Of course we all have our off days, and no one can be a radiator of joy all the time but some friends are just plain exhausting.

What kind of friend are you ?

Characteristics of radiators;

• Their positive upbeat attitude pulls you up even when you are feeling down.
• they are good listeners
• they do not hog the conversation (conversation should be a two way thing)
• they are not totally self absorbed
• they like people
• they see the good in most situations
• they are up more than down
• you feel great after you have been with them
• you enjoy their company

Characteristics of drains:

• they have a negative attitude to lots of things
• you feel exhausted, angry or sad in their company
• they hog the conversation
• they are totally self absorbed
• they put other people down frequently (if they do that to others they probably do it about you)
• they do not really like people
• they see lots of negatives in a given situation

Try and make sure that you have plenty of radiators around you, and that you do your best to be a radiator to others.

Trying to conceive for some can be a very stressful time if things seem to take longer than you had hoped, and often it is difficult to talk to family or friends about the stresses that you are under. Where can you go for support and friendship then ?

A lot of women find the support and friendship they crave in the fertility forums. Here you can talk anonymously to others who are going through a similar situation to yourself and share in their highs and lows. Seeing others succeed can be very encouraging and also you can pick up lots of useful tips from others trying to conceive.

See the links at the side of this blog for links to the UK fertility support forums

Posted in Fertility Support Sites, Fertility Support, Fertility Site, Fertility & stress, Fertility Forums, Friendship & support, Fertility Sites | Print | 1 Comment »

26/03/2009 by admin.

Have you visited Access Diagnostics new google checkout fertility website yet

It is very quick and easy to navigate with the same low prices on fertility tests and fertility products, and great service we know you expect

Click here to visit Access Diagnostics NEW fertility website for fertility information, pregnancy tests, ovulation tests, fertility tests, fertility supplements, Pre-Seed and lots more fertility products

Posted in LH Tests, Ovulation Microscopes, Pregnancy Supplements, Fertility Test Site, Ovulation Kits, Tests for Health Professionals, Ovulation Tests, Pre-Seed Lubricant, Fertility, Pregnancy Tests, Zita West, Vitamin & Mineral Supplements, Male Fertility Test, Fertility Tests | Print | 1 Comment »

26/03/2009 by admin.

Fertile cervical mucus it seems is very important when trying to conceive. 

I always knew the appearance of the fertile cervical mucus (CM) signified the fertile time of day but until I watched The Great Sperm Race the other night, I had not realised just how important it was in aiding the sperm in entering  the cervix.

It sees the sperm need the fertile CM in order to be able to swim up into the cervix. Fertile cervical mucus is clear, slippery and often described as being like raw egg white in consistency and appearance.

The fertile cervical mucus (CM) helps the sperm in several ways:

• it actually helps the sperm to pass through the vagina and cervix and into the uterus (shown as being like a ladder in the show)
• it provides nutrients for the sperm
• the sperm can move through the fertile cervical mucus more easily than they can move through the non fertile mucus
• it helps alter the ph of the vagina in favour of the sperm (if the ph in the vagina is too acidic it is not sperm friendly)

When you have this fertile cervical mucus it means that this is your most fertile time of the month.

This fertile mucus is produced by the cervix at and around the time of ovulation, and not at any other time of the month. For hundreds or maybe even thousands of years women have used this sign as a natural sign of fertility.

Many women are really good at spotting when they have this fertile mucus, for others it can be more tricky.

I am fantastic at spotting it when we are having sex using a condom. However when we are having unprotected sex (ie when we are trying to conceive) I find it much harder, as the fresh sperm also has a  similar apperance to my fertile mucus, and thus makes it harder for me to spot the change in my cervical mucus.

I am very lucky in that I have plenty of cervical mucus but what do you do if you have very little cervical mucus ?

That is the subject of a whole new post

Posted in Sperm, Cervical Mucus, Pre-Seed Lubricant | Print | 1 Comment »

26/03/2009 by admin.

I have heard this phrase bandied about quite a lot recently as a credit crunch beating tip.

 I must admit we have cut down on how often we eat out as have many of my friends, & we do all tend to go for special offers & deals such as early birds or lunchtime offers.

I do like to have one night off cooking at least once a week. We used to go out but recently i have been buying the meal deals from wither M&S or Tesco. You know the ones-dine in for 2 for £9-£10 (including bottle wine and desert) 

 M&S started the trend & Tesco quickly followed. M&S even did a meal deal for 4 for mothers day-what a good idea-my brother bought one to cook for his wife & kids (he rarely cooks)

 My dh is a great cook-much better than me, but I do most of cooking in the week & I like a night off. For the last 6 weeks or so I have added a meal deal to my weekly shop, and we have not been out in the evening for a meal since Valentines day ! We are loving it so far and we are saving about £30 a week by not eating out that one evening a week!

We have been out for lunch which is usually much cheaper. I am a huge believer in making time to date your partner. For one the chances of having sex are greatly increased after you have been out for dinner or had a relaxing ‘date at home’

These dine in for two are a great stress free way of having a romantic meal in with no stress. There is very little washing up & they offer really excellent value for money.

Posted in Credit crunch tips, Stress relief, Marriage, Keeping the romance alive | Print | 1 Comment »

25/03/2009 by admin.

I watched the show on Monday with my dh and made notes:

Here are some of the TTC tips for helping the sperm on their way that I wrote down. If you have any more please leave them in comments for us.

1) Have sex about every 2-3 days. there is no advantage to saving your sperm up. Fresh sperm are better than old sperm.

2) Avoid sperm hostile lubricants. The sperm can not swim as easily through them and may get stuck. Even saliva can be hostile to sperm.

3) Enjoying sex is important for both partners and may increase the chances of conception

4) When a man is highly aroused he ejaculates more sperm, so it is important to have ‘gourmet sex’ rather than just going through the motions.

5) Female orgasm is also though to be important and increases the chances of conception. It may work by altering the ph in the vagina to be more sperm friendly, and also by contractions that help the sperm on their way. Another older theory, and actually my favourite, is that after orgasm the female usually falls asleep, meaning that she stays horizontal and this may make the journey easier for the sperm.

6) Cervical mucus (CM) is very important as it allows the sperm to swim up into the cervix. For this the mucus needs to be stringy and of ‘egg white consistency’. This is what is known as fertile cervical mucus.

I hope you find these tips helpful.

If you missed the show it is worth watching on your computer-link in previous post.

By the way one of the shows narrators  Dr Joanna Ellington is a sperm physiologist. She with a colleague invented a product called Pre-Seed which is sperm friendly lubricant and also mimics fertile cervical mucus. Find out more about Pre-Seed here

Click here to buy Pre-Seed

Posted in Sperm Motility, Sperm, Sex, Pre-Seed Lubricant, Trying to Conceive | Print | 1 Comment »

24/03/2009 by admin.

I watched it last night with dh and we both found it very informative & quite awe inspiring.

What those sperm go through to fertilise the egg is amazing. It is a true miracle of nature they even reach the egg. Good job I’m not a sperm-I think I would give up at the start-lol

Dr Ellington (Sperm Physiologist & CEO of ING Fertility the makers of Pre-Seed) was one of the narrators and did a great job.

If you missed the programme you can view it online at channel 4-link below

Watch The Great Sperm Race online

Posted in Sperm Motility, Sperm, Sex, Male Fertility Test, Male Fertility Issues | Print | 1 Comment »

23/03/2009 by admin.

Channel 4 9pm tonight-make sure you watch it-sounds fun

Here is what The Observer newspaper said yesterday about the show:

‘Wild, energetic sex is key to conception’

Men usually produce about 250 million sperm during intercourse. But those who are fully stimulated because they are enjoying “gourmet sex” will ejaculate up to 50% more than that, according to research revealed in a Channel 4 documentary tomorrow. An extra five minutes of sexual activity before ejaculation can produce an extra 25 million sperm, said Pacey. That, plus the fact the extra sperm released are of a higher standard, means there is a greater chance of the sperm and egg fusing to create a new life.

“The better the sex, the better the chances of conception,” Dr Joanna Ellington, an American expert in reproductive physiology, says in the programme, The Great Sperm Race. “One of the things that men don’t realise is that the more excited they are, the further back in the testicle they are going to draw on reserves [of sperm]. So if you have what I call ‘gourmet sex’, where you really spend time and you make it fun for both partners, that is going to make the man more stimulated and he is going to ejaculate more and healthier sperm.”

Click here to read the full article

Posted in Sperm, Sex | Print | No Comments »

20/03/2009 by admin.

As its nearly the weekend I feel in need of a little pampering & relaxation so am going to post my best stress bsuting tips here.

1) Get yourself some flowers-at this time of year the gardens and verges are full of spring bulbs and they are available everywhere to buy. Daffodils are such cheery happy flowers I can’t help but smile when I see them, and smiling is good for us. Fresh flowers really lift the spirits

2) Get out in the sunshine and walk this weekend. Fresh air, exercise and daylight is great for our bodies and minds, especially if you have been cooked up in an office all week. The forcast for Saturday looks good so get out and enjoy the sunshine.

3) Have breakfast in bed and read magazines or books with your significant other-dream a little, plan your next holiday or project together

4) Plan to have a romantic meal together-cook something special or go out. It does not have to be dinner-you could do it for breakfast, brunch or lunch. There is a little cafe near us that does lovely sunday breakfasts of toasted bagels with scambled eggs and salmon-yummy

4) Treat yourself to a magazine or book-maybe something different to what you would normally choose and just escape into it. I love charity shops-they are a great resource for finding books and when you have finished reading them you can donate them back to the shop or pass them onto a friend

5) Pamper yourself with a manicure or pedicure. (or go for it and do both) This is easy & inexpensive to do at home or you could splash out and have a professional one. You will be amazed at how good you feel when you see you neatly groomed and polished nails-it will make you smile evry time you see them

6) Watch a great film-my favourites are romantic comedies-I love to laugh-did you know laughter releases endorphins-the happy chemicals. I recently went to see the Shopaholic film at the cinema with a friend-it was great-a real feel good film

Posted in Stress | Print | 1 Comment »

20/03/2009 by admin.

I decided to write about ovulation kits today. There is such a huge choice of ovulation kits available now, that it can be quite confusing which one to go for.

What are ovulation test kits ?

They all work by testing urine for the presence of Luteinising Hormone (LH). LH is the hormone that is released just prior to ovulation and the ovulation test kits detect the LH surge.

This is great because it gives you prior warning of when you are going to ovulate. Research has shown that if you have intercourse just prior to ovulation the sperm are waiting for the egg and that this can increase the chances of conception. This also gives you opportunity to have intercourse on the 3-4 most fertile days of your cycle which again increases the chances of conceiving.

Urine LH test kits are not to be confused with other ovulation detectors that tell you that you have ovulated but do not give you prior notice (ie basal temperature monitoring and saliva ovulation microscopes)

What types of ovulation kits are there ?

There are 3 basics types of urine ovulation kit. They are midstream ovulation kits, cassette ovulation test kits, and ovulation test strips.

The midstream ovulation test kit is the most expensive type of kit. In a midstream ovulation test kit the strip is enclosed in a plastic casing and the user urinates directly on to ovulation tester.Advantages of the midstream test kits are that they are discreet. You do not need to collect a urine sample and they can be performed easily (by most women) in any toilet. Only fiddly bit for some can be directing the urine stream onto the tester without getting splashed with urine (I speak from experience-lol)

The urine is then absorbed by the test strip encased in the sampler and the result read after several minutes. Most tests are interpreted using the appearnace of two lines, except the digital ovulation test kits which give a definite yesy you have ovulated rather than two lines for you to interpret.

 Ovulation Test Cassette Kits are a mid price test. They are more complicated to use than the ovulation midstream or ovulation test strips, however there is less likelyhood of user error performing the test as you use a pipette to add exactly the correct quantitiy of urine. They are very popular with research labs or clinics performing multiple tests as they are highly accurate and give consistent results.

Ovulation Test Stips are the cheapest type of ovulation kits and for some the simplest. You simply dip the test strip into a fresh urine sample, and read the result, after the set time, by interpreting the appearance or not of two lines on the test strip.

Advantages to this type of ovulation test kit is that they are much cheaper to manufacture and therefore much cheaper to buy, although usually just as accurate. Disadvantages are that they require you to collect a urine sample into a container. If you are at work or out and about this is going to be trickier unless you have a very big handbag. If you are testing at work it may be simpler to use a midstream ovulation test kit !

My top tips for performing urine ovulation test kits

1) Always make sure you read the instruction for the ovulation test kit that you are using, before performing the test, as they do vary from test to test, and the time at which you read the result is of significance.

2) Use a timer if possible so you read the test at the correct time. This could be trickier if you are doing it in the toilet at work ! Some of those timers are very loud-lol

3) As you will be performing the ovulation tests over several days, try to perform the ovulation test at the same time each day

4) I have found that it is best not to have a drink for 2 hours before I perform a LH test

5) make sure the place you are performing the test is well lit-this helps in two ways-you can see what you are doing so the likelyhood of getting urine all over the floor or all over you is reduced, and it makes interpreting the test much easier if you can see it properly.

6) If you are testing over several months, it may be worth trying different type or brand of ovulation test kits each month until you find the one that suits your needs & your budget the best.

Posted in Ovulation, Ovulation Kits, LH Tests, LH Surge, Ovulation Prediction, Ovulation Tests | Print | 2 Comments »

18/03/2009 by admin.

Just been asked this very question

I did a pregnancy test recently and it was positive, then 2 days after I did another one just to verify and it said negative ! What does this mean ? Can the pregnancy test be wrong ?

Possible explanations for getting a positive home pregnancy test followed by a negative

1) You may have made a mistake interpreting the test

This is more common than you may think. Pregnancy tests should not be left for too long before reading the result. Make sure you read the instructions and use a timer if possible. we all have busy lives & it is so easy to get side tracked (for example by the phone, the postman or the computer or just life in general) while waiting for the pregnancy test result and then read it too late.

You can not interpret a positive home pregnancy tests result that appears outside of the test time. If this happens the pregnancy test should be discarded and another test performed (ideally on a first morning urine sample-hcg usually more concentrated)

On some home pregnancy tests if the test is left too long a faint line can appear due to the dried urine on the test. This is known by many as an ‘evaporation line’ & can cause confusion .

 If you have concerns about interpreting the results of the home pregnancy test then go for a brand with a digital readout such as the Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test

Click her for more information on Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test or to buy

2) False positive pregnancy test.

Possible causes of a false positive on a home pregnancy tests are:

• recent miscarriage
• some hormone treatments used for infertility treatments eg hcg injections. If you are having fertility treatments check with your clinic as to whether these can cause a false positive on a pregnancy test
• recent pregnancy (ie postnatally)

3) You have had a very early pregnancy that was picked up on the pregnancy test but has sadly failed.  This is known as a ‘chemical pregnancy’

Home pregnancy tests now detect very low levels of hcg so these very early failed pregnancies are now picked up more often. This is quite common. Often the pregnancy test is positive before we have even missed a period. In our mothers day they would not even have known they were pregnant. This can be one of the down side to testing before you have missed your period.

Posted in Negative pregnancy test, Positive pregnancy test, Pregnancy Tests | Print | 1 Comment »

18/03/2009 by admin.

How long do I take Pregnacare for ?

My currently pregnant friend (lucky girl) who is 11 weeks pregnant with her first child is taking Pregnacare vitamins and she has recently seen in 2 magazines to stop stop taking folic acid at 12 weeks

 She asked me ‘is this right or can I keep on taking pregnacare right up to the birth ?’

 Knowing that I spend a lot of time reading up on these things online she thought I would be able to advise.

Simple answer to the question is yes, Pregnacare has been designed to be taken by pregnant women throughout their pregnancy and not just for the first 12 weeks. In fact some women continue to take it after the pregnancy and while breast feeding.

For more detailed answer see below

There are now 4 pregnacare products for different stages of your pregnancy journey

• Pregnacare Conception
• pregnacare Original
• Pregnacre Plus
• Pregnacare Breastfeeding

Here is what I find out about Pregnacare from the manufacturers website:

Pregnacare^® is the UK’s most trusted range of supplements, specially formulated for before conception, throughout pregnancy and whilst breast-feeding. Each product has been carefully developed based on the latest scientific research, and provides key nutrients to safeguard the health of mum and baby.

Click here for more information on Pregnacare or to buy Pregnacare

Posted in Pegnacare, Pregnacare Plus, Folic Acid | Print | 2 Comments »

18/03/2009 by admin.

One of my ttc friends has just tried using these to help her conceive. Idea is that the instead cup helps to hold sperm close to the cervix. She inserted the cup immediately after intercourse (while she was still lying down in fact-sounds a wee bit tricky to me but I’m willing to try anything once)

She has been using the instead cups for her periods so is pretty adept at using them. This is the first month she has tried this so I will let you know how she gets on. She also inserted pre seed lubricant prior to sex .

She then inserted the instead cup  (while lying down !) using a small amount of pre-seed to lubricate the cup and stayed in bed. In the morning she removed instead cup. So cross fingers.

I will let you know how she gets on

 She has also heard of people also using them to actually insert the sperm ! Not really sure why though

Click here for more information or to buy instead cups in UK

p.s Just had a thought-if you have had a success using instead cups while trying to conceive please post your success story in comments

p.p.s While researching more information on the instead cup fertility as a fertility aid, I just found this interesting question and answer session about Instead Cups on the manufacturers website:

Question

 I am trying to get pregnant. Would inserting an INSTEAD® Softcup® Immediately after intercourse help trap sperm in place to help increase the probability that I get pregnant?

Answer

INSTEAD, Inc. has not studied the post-intercourse placement of an INSTEAD® Softcup® as a method to help improve the probability of conception. The use of the Softcup® as a pregnancy aid has not been cleared by the FDA.

Click here to visit the Instead cups question and answer session-the trying to conceive question is at the bottom of the page

Posted in instead cup insemination, Instead cups for fertility, Instead Cups, Trying to Conceive | Print | 3 Comments »

16/03/2009 by admin.

Found this heart warming PreSeed Testimonial on the manufacturers website and wanted to share it with you

Dear Preseed,  I highly recommend this product to people trying to conceive. I thought I could not get pregnant after being with my husband for eight years. We were not trying but we decided we wanted to give it a shot around the end of 2007. We tried for at least six months and nothing. So were thinking one of us has an issue. So I looked online on how to conceive, did a lot of research and I found Preseed! Sure enough after the second tube of lube I became pregnant! We now have a very healthy baby girl. She was born Nov. 20th 2008 weighing 7 pounds. She is three months now and she weighs 16lbs!! Thanks Preseed for the spark we needed! ~ J.S, Richmond, CA 12/3/09

Click here for more info on PreSeed or to buy PreSeed

Click here to read more Pre-Seed success stories & reviews

Posted in pre-seed lubricant reviews, Pre-Seed success stories, Pre-Seed reviews, Pre-Seed Lubricant | Print | 1 Comment »

16/03/2009 by admin.

I was thinking today about my friend who had the recent miscarriage and wondering how long her pregnancy test will stay positive for after the miscarriage.

 As she is 40 this year, she wants to start trying for a  baby again as soon as possible. Problem may be if she does not have a period before she conceives.  This may cause two problems, dating the pregnancy as she will not know when she ovulated, and also knowing how to interpret a positive pregnancy test.

The pregnancy test can stay positive for some time after the miscarriage due to hcg levels still being elevated in the body. As pregnancy tests these days are more sensitive than they used to be, they can detect even lower hcg levels after miscarriage.  

Many hospitals advise to do a home pregnancy test about 2 weeks after the miscarriage. If the home pregnancy test is negative then it means the hcg levels have dropped and so a positve test after a negative one should mean a pregnancy as long as the same sensitivity of pregnancy test is used at the same time of day (1st morning void).  

I was not able to find an absolute answer on this. It depends on the levels of hcg at the time of the miscarraige and this varies enormously. General advice seems to be to give it at least 2 weeks after the miscarriage for the home pregnancy test to become negative. By then most home pregnancy tests will be negative.

Click here to see home pregnancy tests

Just a thought-if you get pregnant again before you have a period you could use a Clearblue Digital with Conception Indicator to date the pregnancy. If you do get pregnant before you have a period do not worry-the dating scans at the hospital are now very good

Posted in hcg levels, Miscarriage, Recurrent Miscarriage, Pregnancy Tests | Print | 4 Comments »

12/03/2009 by admin.

Just read this article at times online fron 20th Feb 2009. It seems that the governement guidelines on who is elligible for IVF under the NHS are about to be revised.

Currently many primary care trusts refuse to treat smokers or obese women (BMI over 30). Under the revised guidelines PCT’s will not be allowed to refuse IVF treatment on the basis of these lifestyle factors.

Here is an extract from the article:

The new guidelines  will reinforce NICE recommendations that a woman should be aged between 23 and 39 to qualify for IVF will also recommend that clinicians have the final say on treatment. Older people, the overweight and those who smoke should not be excluded, but be considered case by case.

Click here to read the full article

Posted in IVF | Print | 1 Comment »

11/03/2009 by admin.

Just also found this article from September 2007 while researching miscarriage on the NHS.uk/news website (a very useful site for information on health issues inthe news)

Pregnant women who do strenuous exercise, such as jogging or playing racket sports and ball games, more than treble their risk of miscarriage, newspapers reported.

The newspapers said vigorous high-impact exercise within the first few months of pregnancy was associated with the highest risk of miscarriage. Exercise in the later stages of pregnancy did not affect the risk.

The reports are based on a study on more than 92,000 women in Denmark that looked for a relationship between exercise and miscarriage. The study performed different analyses on the results, which resulted in conflicting findings. As a result, the researchers are themselves cautious about suggesting a link between exercise and miscarriage.

The relationship between exercise and miscarriage has not been proven beyond reasonable doubt by this study.

Click here to read the full article

Posted in Miscarriage, Pregnancy | Print | 1 Comment »

11/03/2009 by admin.

While I was researching miscarraige on the net I found this article from 22 January 2008 on NHS.uk/news which i thought may be useful to some of you. This may be why so many pregnant women go off coffee & tea

Drinking coffee can double the risk of miscarriage reported The Guardian and many other news sources yesterday. “Pregnant women who consumed two or more mugs of coffee a day were twice as likely to miscarry than those who abstained from caffeine,” The Guardian said. The media coverage suggested that pregnant women may wish to reduce or stop drinking drinks containing caffeine, including coffee and tea.

The newspaper story is based on a study in 1,063 pregnant women in San Francisco. The study found that women who drank more than 200mg or more of caffeine a day – the amount contained in two or more regular cups of coffee or five 12oz (330 ml) cans of caffeinated drink – doubled their risk of miscarriage compared with women who drank no caffeine. However, this study has some limitations, including difficulty in making sure that the results are not affected by other factors that are known to increase the risk of a miscarriage.

Overall, the advice that pregnant women should avoid drinking too many drinks containing high levels of caffeine while they are pregnant seems sensible. Currently in the UK, the Food Standards Agency recommends that women limit their caffeine intake during pregnancy to 300mg a day.

Click here to read the full article

Posted in Miscarriage, Pregnancy | Print | 1 Comment »

11/03/2009 by admin.

I have just googled miscarriage and found a very useful website from the Miscarriage Association with lots of information and support-link below. 

It seems miscarriage occurs in about 1 in 4 pregnancies. In the UK there are approximately 250,000 miscarraiges a year.

Another 1% of pregnancies are ectopic ie the pregnancy occurs in the wrong place-outside the uterus usually in the fallopian tube-we will talk about this another time as that is a whole other subject in itself

Considering how common miscarriage is women do not talk about it that much, so where do you go for information and support. I will put some information below, for more info and support visit the miscarriage association website

When do most miscarriages occur ?

 Miscarriage usually occurs in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and miscarriages later than this are thankfully uncommon, although they can occur up to 24 weeks. Miscarriage after 24 weeks is called stillbirth.

What causes a miscarriage ?

Usually the cause is unknown which can be very frustrating and distressing for the couple. This does not mean that it is your fault-it is extremely unlikely to be anything that you have done that has caused the miscarriage.

Here is some information I got from the miscarriage association website on the causes of miscarriage :

The main causes of miscarriage are thought to be:

Genetic: In about half of all early miscarriages, the baby does not develop normally right from the start and cannot survive.

Hormonal: Women with very irregular periods may find it harder to conceive and when they do, are more likely to miscarry.

Immunological: Problems within the blood vessels which supply the placenta can lead to miscarriage.

Infection: Minor infections like coughs and colds are not harmful, but a very high temperature and some illnesses or infections, such as German measles, may cause miscarriage.

Anatomical: If the cervix (neck of the womb) is weak, it may start to open as the uterus (womb) becomes heavier in later pregnancy and this may lead to miscarriage. An irregular-shaped uterus can mean that there is not enough room for the baby to grow. Large fibroids may cause miscarriage in later pregnancy

Click here to visit the Miscarriage Association Website

How long should we wait after a miscarriage before trying again ?

There does not seem to be a definite answer to this. Everyone reacts differently to a miscarriage and some may take longer to grieve than others. For some the urge to get pregnant again straight away is very strong.

If you wait until after your next  normal period then this makes dating your subsequent pregnancy easier for medical staff as well as giving you time to come to terms with the loss of the baby and for your body to return to its pre-pregnant state.

According to the miscarriage association there is no evidence to show that when you conceive makes any difference to the risk of miscarriage in the next pregnancy. In most cases, the couple themselves are the best judges of when to try again

The good news is that most women who have a miscarriage go on to have a successful pregnancy next time.

Posted in Miscarriage, Pregnancy | Print | 1 Comment »

10/03/2009 by admin.

A friend of mine has just had a miscarriage of a much wanted pregnancy and it set me to thinking about miscarriage, and how long we need to wait before trying again.

 Miscarriage is more common than many people think. When you start to talk to friends you find out that many of them have had this sad experience.

My personal feelings are that I would need to grieve the loss of the baby & give my body  time to get back to its normal pre pregnant state, so I have always felt it is best to wait at least 3 months before trying to conceive again. However for many the urge to try again is very strong, and they start trying alsmost immediately after.

 I will research this and find out what the common consensus of opinion is, and let you know

Posted in TTc after miscarriage, Miscarriage | Print | 1 Comment »

07/03/2009 by admin.

This is a common question

Here are some possible explanations:

You did the pregnancy test and it was negative.

You then left the test in the toilet and next time you went to the toilet you noticed a very faint line had developed. What does this mean?

First thing to say is that in my experience it is best not to read anything into this if it was outside the time period during which you can read the pregnancy test. It will tell you the time in the instructions of the test. It varies slightly from test to test but most tests should not be read after 10 minutes, even less for some.

If you get a positive result within the set time that is fine-it will stay positive.

However a faint line apperaing after the test time should be ignored, and the pregnancy test repeated after 48 hours with a first morning urine sample.

You did not do the test on a first morning urine sample or the urine is very dilute

A faint positive test result within the allocated time set out in the pregnancy tests instructions may mean that the concentration of pregnancy hormone in the urine sample is fairly low (hence the faint line) Retest in 48 hours using your first morning urine sample as this is much more concentrated generally.

The pregnancy hormone doubles about every 48 hours in a early pregnancy so will be present in a higher concentration after a further 48 hours, and so should give a stronger line on your pregnancy test.

This is not an exact science as everyones urine concentration varies and the rate at which the hcg (pregnancy hormone) is produced can vary from person to person and pregnancy to pregnancy depending on lots of factors. You could also try using a more sensitive pregnancy test as they detect lower levels of hcg and hence may give a darker line.

It is very early in the pregnancy and the hcg levels are still very low

It may simply be that you are testing very early. We all like to see a strong dark line on the pregnancy test. It is somehow more comforting than a faint line.

If you are testing early as many of us now do then the line may be faint initially as the hormone levels are lower than if you are testing from the 1st day of the missed period

Main points I find useful to remember when doing a pregnancy test

• read the instructions that come with the pregnancy test you are using. They do vary from brand to brand and the time that you read the result can be different for different brands.
• have everything you need ready in the bathroom-some pregnancy tests require you to do a urine sample into a cup. The number of times I have got up in the morning all groggy, gone to bathroom, had a wee and then thought-OMG I was supposed to do my pregnancy test today ! Get everything ready the night before (including a timer if you have one) so its the first thing you see when you go in the bathroom-you could even put a ‘post it’ on the toilet-lol
• wait the allocated time-I find it helpful to use a timer (you are allowed to peep-it is so exciting it is hard to resist)
• I find it best not to go back to a negative test & read it again after the allocated time. I usually throw the negative test in the bin with all the rubbish, so I will resist looking at it again
• use a first morning urine sample if you can-the most concentrated of the day. This is particularly important if you are testing before your missed period

Hope you find these tips helpful

Babydust to everyone

Posted in Faint line on Pregnancy test, Pregnancy Tests | Print | 1 Comment »

07/03/2009 by admin.

Just read this great Pre-Seed user story on the PreSeed manufacturers website and wanted to share it-enjoy.

Congratulations to CRC

Thank you SO much, I’m a BELIEVER!

I don’t even know how to say this, I never really thought I’d be typing this so soon. This was our FIRST cycle using Preseed and I just got a positive test!!! I’M PREGNANT!!!! I was reading on here before with people saying they used it once and got pregnant. I didn’t think it would happen to me, but it did! I’ve been trying for close to 6 months now and BAM! This product is Amazing and I will be using it from now on. I will recommend this to anyone trying to conceive. wooooooohoooooo thanks again!!!!!

From: Firm Believer ~ CRC 1/3/09

Click here for more info on PreSeed

Click here to buy PreSeed

Posted in Preseed personal lubricant, pre-seed lubricant reviews, Pre-Seed success stories, Pre-Seed reviews, PreSeed, Pre-Seed Lubricant | Print | No Comments »

07/03/2009 by admin.

Just read this really interesting article online from January 2009 ,and wanted to share it with you.

A recent study has suggested that chemicals found in food packaging, pesticides & household items may be linked to reduced fertility in women. The study was performed on 1240 women at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The scientists found that those women with higher levels of the chemicals (PFCs) in their bloodstreams took longer to conceive than those with lower levels.

Click here to read the article

Posted in female fertility, Fertility | Print | 1 Comment »

06/03/2009 by admin.

Access Diagnostics 5% coupon code for March 2009 is thanks

Click here to visit Access Diagnostics Fertility Test Site

Coupon is valid until the end of March and gives a 5% discount on goods

Posted in Access Diagnostics Coupon Code | Print | 1 Comment »

06/03/2009 by admin.

I was thinking about this very subject this morning.

 I am one of those people who gets symptoms very early as I seem to be sensitive to the hormone hcg. Good thing about this I know fairly quickly when I am pregnant. Having said that I do seem to have symptoms that I associate with being pregnant when I am pre-menstrual to so this can be confusing.

Here are some common symptoms of early pregnancy. You may have some of them, all of them or none of them. The important thing to remember is we are all different. I have met a girl who honestly did not know she was pregnant until she was in labour. Now while I find that hard to imagine as I get multiple symptoms all the way though pregnancy, some of us fly through the whole thing with very few symptoms.

Most of the very early pregnancy symptoms are due to increasing levels of hcg (human chorionic gonadotrophin) in early pregnancy following implantation, and can be mistaken for a severe dose of PMT. When I was pregnant with my first pregnancy I did not realise straight away and thought I was pre-menstrual.

Often for many the first thing they notice is the missed period. I am just going to cover the most common symptoms and those that I experienced.

Common early pregnancy Symptoms:

Nausea & vomiting (although nausea alone is probably more common)

This varies greatly from person to person, some getting little , while others get quite severe symptoms. Interestingly nausea and vomiting is often worse in twin pregnancy due to higher levels of hcg.

This often improves from about 12-16 weeks gestation. I was very lucky and never vomited although the nausea was fairly unpleasant

 By 16 weeks I had very little nausea and could enjoy my pregnancy more. My friend was not so lucky and had quite severe nausea and vomiting all the way through her pregnancies. Occaisonly for some women this can be so severe that it necessitates hospitalisation (this is called hyperemesis gravidum I think)

Heightened sense of smell & taste

This is an interesting one. For me it meant that I went off large numbers of food groups. I found Thta I only wanted bland foods like mashed potatoe and roast chicken. I also went off coffee completely (which I love normally-even the thought of it made me feel sick and I could not enter a coffee shop nwithout feeling sick from the smell.

I alsio found the smell of my partner made me feel nauseous. Now he is not a smelly guy, but my sense of smell was so acute he had to shower as soon as he came in from work or I could not go near him. He also had to stop using his favourite after shaves as these made me feel ill. I still associate one particular mens perfume with that time of heightened sense of smell and nausea. I know how my dog must feel now !

There is a theory that this heightened sense of smell is protective during pregnancy to try and prevent us eating rotten food or toxins and making ourselves & are developing baby ill. It is interesting that many of the foods that I went off have since been found to be best avoided during pregnancy-there is non way I could have eaten stinky blue cheese for example.

Breast tenderness

This is a common experience & is one that is really confusing for me as I get this exact symptom with PMT. It is important to wear a well fitted supportive bra as this seems to help with the symptoms. Make sure your bra is big enough for you-most women are wearing the wrong bra size and a ill fitiing bra can dig in to your breast tissue and harm it as well as hurting .

Tiredness

For me tiredness was pretty extreme in early pregnancy and started from about 5 weeks and got progressively worse up to about 10 weeks . It then improved and was ok until about 26 weeks when I found I had to sleep in the day most afternoons-which was tricky with working full time-lol. That first 12 weeks for me was long due to the extreme tiredness. Everyone is affected differently. I am usually a pretty energetic person so for me it was very hard to deal with

Faintness and Dizziness

For me this started around the same time as the tiredness. Having low blood pressure I am very prone to faintness at the best of times ( for exampole if I stand up too quickly or get up out of a hot bath), and have fainted on many occaisons when I am really hungry or been standing for too long.

Mood swings & irritability

This is fairly common in early pregnancy and in fact through most of pregnancy. In the early stages it feels just like PMT.

Later on you find you get tearful at the smallest provocations, watching a sad film, seeing small children singing, anything to do with small children or babies in fact. I found it impossible to watch the news without bursting into tears during pregnancy (although I do cry in sad films-by the way have you seen ‘ps I love you’-I blubbed all the way through)

Changes in your skin on your face

OMG for me this was greasy skin & spots. I have always been prone to spots pre-menstrually but in early pregnancy I got more spotty. Good news is that by about 16 weeks they had all cleared up and I was glowing with not a spot in site for the rest of the pregnancy-phew

Constipation

This is fairly common . I have never beeen prone to this normally as I eat a fairly high fibre diet, but during pregnancy this was an issue for me. I simply upped my fibre intake with a high fibre breakfast cereal and tried to eat even more fruit and veg-quite tricky when your feeling sick but needs must. if it is a problem and you can’t deal with it by diet alone it is worth mentioning to your doctor or midwife. Last thing we want is piles caused by constipation !!

Heartburn

Some women experience heartburn due to acid reflux .I was lucky and did not experience this. If you do it is worth talking to your GP or midwife for advise on how to relieve it. In early pregnancy I think it may be caused by the relaxing effect the pregnancy hormones have on the muscles in the gullet, allowing the acid to come up. In later pregnancy everything is displaced by the bump so heartburn can be quite common then to.

Phew this was long-apologies for going on so much. I was hoping to cover signs of early pregnancy as well but I think this is enough for today. I am getting repetive strain from typing so much

Posted in Early pregnancy, Signs of pregnancy, Early pregnancy tests, Pregnancy | Print | 2 Comments »

05/03/2009 by admin.

You know the situation.

Your period is late and you have done a pregnancy test but it is negative-what does this mean ?

How soon should I repeat the pregnancy test ?

My cycle is fairly erratic anything from 21 days to 35 days which means I go through this fairly regularly. My DH is thoroughly fed up and just rolls his eyes every time I do a pregnancy test. I keep a stock of early pregnancy test strips in my bathroom cupboard.

I used to be really organised and keep track of my periods in my diary. As I have got older they have become more irregular and unpredictable so I dont bother anymore, as I found it just added to my stress.

Anyway here is how I handle the situation of  ‘negative pregnancy test and no period’

I wait at least 48 hours before I repeat the pregnancy test. The pregnancy hormone hcg (human chorionic gonadotrophin)  doubles approximately every 48 hours in a viable early pregnancy.

When I do retest I use an ultra sensitive early home pregnancy test that can detect really low levels of hcg. If the second test is negative which it nearly always is for me, I assume that it is probably just a late period and that I must have ovulated late. I wait another few days and if still no period I usually repeat the test. I generally carry on like this until my period starts or I get a positive pregnancy test.

When performing the pregnancy tests it is best to do them on your first morning urine sample as this is usually more concentrated.

I really should write down in my diary when I ovulate-would save a lot of stress later in the month.

Click here to see a range of cheap accurate early pregnancy tests

Posted in TTC over 35, Pregnancy Tests | Print | No Comments »