Happy New Year!

For some interesting history on New Year's celebrations, click here:

www.wilstar.com


Wishing you a safe holiday.

HELENA BONHAM CARTER, CELEBRITY PREGNANT OVER 40

Having A Baby Naturally Over 40, Helena Bonham Carter

I confess, I really didn't know who Helena Bonham Carter was until I read this article.

 But, of course, anything having to do with natural pregnancies over 40 usually catches my eye. I thought I'd share this article from people.com on how this actress tried many traditional and non-traditional fertility treatments only to conceive naturally. As I've written before, this is becoming a very familiar scenario. Read more:
 Think being an actress over 40 is a challenge? Try having a baby, says Helena Bonham Carter.
When the actress, 41, and her husband, director Tim Burton, 49, decided they wanted a sibling for their 4-year-old son, Billy Ray, the couple did battle with some conventional – and unconventional – fertility treatments. 

SEE ALSO: CELEBRITIES PREGNANT OVER 40 (getpregnantover40.com)

Fearing that, like most women over 40, she wasn't ovulating regularly, Bonham Carter, a devotee of alternative therapies, decided first on a fertility drug called Clomid to stimulate egg production.

"I had a terrible reaction to it. It turned out I was ovulating anyway," the actress told Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper Monday.

"It stressed me out beyond belief. Hormonally, I was all over the shop and I got really low emotionally. Lots of people don't have that reaction, but on the internet I found a Clomid Club, with people who react to the stuff discussing it online," she said.

After going to a North London acupuncturist who supplied a variety of teas to "build my strength up," Bonham Carter, also tried Tui Na (literally "push and grasp"), an acupuncture-related Chinese massage for patients who prefer to avoid needles.


Nature had Other Plans
But with her biological clock ticking loudly in her ear, she realized Oriental medicine wasn't the solution she'd hoped for – and the next viable option was In vitro fertilization.

"We might have gone for a round of IVF," Bonham Carter said. "There was an argument for just having one child, because we thought if that's the way it's meant to be, so be it." But the pregnancy came naturally, under the intense pressure of making a movie musical.
While being directed by Burton alongside Johnny Depp in the title role of Stephen Sondheim's musical Sweeney Todd, Bonham Carter discovered she was pregnant . 

(photo: celebrity baby blog)

from:  (www.people.com)

Happy Holidays!

Here's hoping you receive that which you want the most.

Have a safe holiday. Be back 12-26.

Fertility and The Law of Attraction

Trying To Get Pregnant Over 40? The Law Of Attraction Can Help

I wanted to write one more post about my surprise pregnancy. Then I'll move on - I promise!
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 I got to thinking how strange it has been that I tried so hard to get pregnant in my late 30's and early 40's and was unable to achieve a pregnancy even after pulling out all the stops and jumping into the high tech world. Obviously I was able to get pregnant on my own when I had my daughter, but this last pregnancy was soooooo very surprising.

Here I am, 49 years old, one fallopian tube, having infrequent intercourse due to a flu bug that hit all of us in the house, passively avoiding pregnancy, and I get pregnant. I got to thinking about something that I've believed in and studied for over 20 years and that is the law of attraction. This whole concept went "mainstream" when Oprah did a show on "The Secret" which essentially talks about how the law of attraction can work in your life. So what does this have to do with my current situation? Well, here's how I see it. After I had my daughter, I was encouraged to write a book by many people who knew my story - so I did. Because I love to write, I started researching and writing three different blogs on fertility, pregnancy and miscarriage. Most of my blog postings are about how to achieve pregnancy, what to avoid, and how to overcome miscarriage. The law of attraction says that you will attract to you that which you focus on and that which you are. Here I am, writing about how it is possible to get pregnant later in life and what happens? You know the rest of the story - even though I miscarried, I find it amazing that this pregnancy found me, I didn't pursue it.

So what does this have to do with you? Keep your thoughts positive, know that this can happen to you. Positive thoughts of pregnancy and fertility may help to attract your dream into your life.

49 and Pregnant Again Part II

You Can Get Pregnant At 49

It's official: I miscarried. I'm sad but not devastated like I have been in the past.
 My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 I started to bleed somewhat heavily on Monday and never went to the doctor - just to a nurse to get a Rhogam shot (Rh negative blood). My body seems perfectly capable of dealing with this without medical intervention.

Click Here To Read Full Article: 49 and Pregnant Again

49 and Pregnant Again?

 Positive Pregnancy Test At 49

Whoa! You'll never guess what...even after writing a book on getting pregnant over 40 and writing/researching my blogs on fertility, pregnancy and miscarriage, I was completely and totally taken by surprise when I had a positive pregnancy test last Friday.
http://www.getpregnantover40.com

Unfortunately, I don't think this pregnancy will make it because I had a light "period" two weeks ago which makes me think I may have miscarried (the pregnancy hormone (hCG) stays in your system for a while after a miscarriage which could be why I had a positive pregnancy test). Aside from sore breasts (which I attributed to the chest presses I did in my weight lifting class) and some light spotting now, I don't have any other symptoms. The only reason I did a pregnancy test is because I had the spotting at an odd time in my cycle (which I've had with all my pregnancies - including my successful one).
  Click Here To Read The Full Article: 49 and Pregnant Again

Meditation To Help Pregnancy After 40

Meditation And Visualization Can Help You Conceive

I made visualization and meditation part of my "pregnancy protocol" both while I was trying to conceive and after I became pregnant.  I developed a meditation and visualization CD for those who are trying to conceive.  See more information here:
Meditation and Visualization (www.getpregnantover40.com)

 I found another great resource on meditation. It includes 7 steps be sure to click on each of the steps:

http://www.soulcomfortonline.com/welcome-to-soul-comfort/empowerment/meditation-and-the-7-steps-to-inner-peace/

Wishing much relaxation, stress reduction, and, of course, fertility!

Pregnancy Rates After Tubal Ligation Reversal

Pregnancy After Tubal Ligation - Success Rates After Reversal

I hear from a number of women who have completed their families, have a tubal ligation, but then decided to have another child. 
http://www.getpregnantover40.com 
 Sometimes, it's because they enter into a new relationship, and other times it's just because they want another child.  Here is a site which completed a study on tubal ligation reversals and subsequent pregnancies (please note, these statistics appear to be only for the Chapel Hill Reversal Center, but it may give you an idea about the success of the procedure):
 
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center

The pregnancy rate after surgery ranged from 82% for women under 30 to 41% for women 40 years of age and older (Table 3).

Table 3. Pregnancy Rates by Age Age Total Cases Pregnant (No.) Pregnant (%)
<30 460="" 558="" 82="">
30-34 1496 1130 76%
35-39 1465 978 67%
40+ 506 207 41%
Total 4025 2775 69%

Philadelphia Area Women Needed For Interview

I received this request from a writer for Philadelphia Style magazine. If anyone is interested, the contact information is listed below:
______________________

I'm a writer for Philadelphia Style magazine, and I'm
working on an article about fertility and how women of
different ages are affected. I'm looking to interview
a woman from the greater Philadelphia area in her late
30s or 40s who had a relatively easy time conceiving
(it could even be a surprise baby), either on her own
or through natural methods. I will be asking about how
she reacted to the pregnancy, if there were any
challenges with age, and if she plans to have more
children. If someone is interested, please contact me
at rebeccar415@yahoo.com.

ED Drugs Can Harm Men's Fertility

Men:  Watch Out For ED Drugs If You're Trying To Conceive

 My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
Obviously, if a man is suffering from ED this could hurt a couple's chances of conceiving. However, some ED drugs may actually contribute to infertility in men. Read more:


Infertility Due to ED Drugs (www.buzzle.com)

From the article:

The men who are suffering from impotence and who take ED drugs also face slight risk to infertility. As it is seen that anything in excess will harm, so is the case with ED drugs. ED drugs stop natural flow of the blood in the human body. This action sometimes destroys veins and muscles and creates other problem. Excess use of Drugs also decreases formation of sperms and causes infertility in men.

Alternative Treaments For Infertility: Accupuncture

I did try a few trial treatments of acupuncture when I was trying to conceive, however at that time, I had decided to stick with completely natural methods which did not involve paid professionals. However, according to many articles I've read (including the one below) acupuncture can be an effective treatment to enhance fertility. Read more:

More turning to acupuncture for fertility treatment (www.kvue.com)

From the article:

By ERIN OCHOA
KVUE News

With more women postponing marriage, a growing number of couples are relying on fertility treatments to help them conceive. Many are also turning to more alternative methods to increase the odds of becoming pregnant.


According to the Texas Center for Reproductive Acupuncture, one in six couples suffers from some sort of fertility problem, but the group says it's helping a growing number of women -- not only to become pregnant -- but to successfully deliver healthy babies.

Christy Martin, 36, and her husband spent more than two years trying to get pregnant. She said medical fertility treatments didn't work.

“We were at the maximum amount of dosage of shots and they told us, 'you're done. You're not even stimulating your eggs anymore....'” said Martin.

After a hitting a heartbreaking hurdle, Martin kept trying.

“I just wasn't ready to accept defeat yet,” said Martin. So she turned to reproductive acupuncturist, Kirsten Karchmer. Five months later, she was pregnant.

“I cried a whole lot that day,” said Martin.

“If we work on the assumption that your body communicates with electricity, that neurons travel along nerves via electricity, when you put a needle in your body, which is metal, it disrupts that movement,” said Karchmer. She believes reproductive acupuncture, including Chinese herbal medicine, nutritional counseling, and stress management, can significantly improve a woman's chances of becoming pregnant.

MEN'S FERTILITY AFTER CHICKEN POX

Chicken Pox and Male Factor Infertility

I always think of chickenpox as a childhood disease. However, adults can get it too and, although rare, it could affect sperm production in men a couple of ways. 
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com

Chicken pox is caused by the herpes virus (varicella-zoster). It is an infectious disease, contagious, and can spread either through direct contact with the affected person or through the air. Chicken pox frequently affects preschool and elementary age children, however, men and women can get it too and it can be more severe in adults.

picture: Adult Male With Chicken Pox 

 CDC.gov

Click Here To Read Full Article

 

Fertility Home Screening

When I was trying to conceive naturally (after my difficult and unsuccessful years of assisted reproduction), I didn't want any medical information "messing with my mind". I didn't want to know my FSH levels or anything else because I thought it might only discourage me (and in retrospect, I'm glad I never knew how supposedly dismal my chances were of getting pregnant). For me, ignorance was bliss...I went on my merry way, knowing somehow, some way I would have a baby.

However, many couples want or need to know information about hormonal levels and other fertility markers. Now you can test and get results in the privacy of your own home. Here is an article from US News and World Report about a new product called "Fertell" which makes at-home screening possible. As the article points out, the test has some limitations, but it may give couples the information they're looking for. Read more:

New Home Screening Test for Infertility
By Deborah Kotz (www.health.usnews.com)

Infertility Ain't For Sissies

I was watching "The View" last week (well, since I use my TV more like a radio, I should say I was "listening" to The View) and Elizabeth Hasselbeck was talking about how she was going to be taking her maternity leave and how everything worked out for the best with the timing of her pregnancy. Her husband, a pro-football play is going to be playing for a different team and she'll be going with him while she is out on leave. She then goes on to explain how they had such a hard time getting pregnant. Now, in all fairness, I have no idea how long she was trying to conceive and I don't know if she went through any sort of assisted reproduction, but I do know that she has a daughter somewhere around 2 to 3, so she couldn't have been trying for that long (maybe a year?). I surprised myself with my sarcastic cynical reaction (i.e. what a sissy!) me of all people should be understanding about the trials and tribulations of trying to conceive. It's just that when you hear people who have so much and then they complain about a small little blip in their "life plan", it's hard to muster up sympathy. I would have been jumping for joy if it only took a year to get pregnant and I hear from women every day who would consider one year a drop in the bucket.

Okay, I'm just being honest here. I realize people in the fertile world just expect that they're going to get pregnant "on schedule" and their lives will go on perfectly. But if you're one who has struggled for a longer period of time, you learn that even though you have a plan for your life, your baby will come when they're good and ready. You learn how to be patient and how to appreciate everything you have. Getting pregnant may be more of a gift than an entitlement.

Fertility and Menopause: Affected By Season Of Birth

Well...none of us have any control over our month of birth, but this article still may be of interest. Apparently, according to a study done by Italian researchers, women born in early spring may enter menopause before those born in the fall. Read more:


Season Of Birth Influences Age Of Menopause, Say Italian Researchers (www.sciencedaily.com)

A study of nearly 3,000 post-menopausal women showed that the earliest age of menopause was found in women born in March and the latest among those born in October. On average there was around 15 months' difference, with women born in October reaching menopause at over 50 years compared with under 49 years for women born in March.

Writing in Europe's leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction, lead author Dr Angelo Cagnacci said that the findings reinforced the concept that prenatal environmental factors affected a baby's adult life.

"Mothers should be aware of this, considering that during pregnancy they are going to influence, not only the health of the newborn, but also the health and reproductive life of their child during adulthood," he said.

Is Infertility Becoming More Of A Male Problem?

I'm guilty of it myself, assuming that a couple's failure to conceive lies with the woman. I guess I always think of the female reproductive system as more complicated and more prone to something going wrong. However, even though sperm are produced in much greater numbers than eggs, their production can be affected by lifestyle and environmental factors. The article below suggests that male infertility may surpass female infertility. Read more:

New Report Suggests Infertility Could Be Affecting More Men Than Women (www.sciencedaily.com)

From the article:

Until now, approximately 40% of infertility cases have been linked to medical problems in men and 40% to medical problems in women, with the remaining 20% due to joint problems.

However, a report from the ESHRE committee that monitors assisted reproduction in Europe, has shown that ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) overtook conventional IVF techniques as the most commonly used assisted reproductive technology used in Europe in 2002.

There were more than 122,000 ICSI cycles and nearly 113,000 IVF cycles according to figures reported from 24 European countries in 2002. During the time that the committee has been collecting figures, the numbers of ICSI cycles have risen steadily: in 1997 the proportion of ICSI cycles versus IVF cycles was 43.7%; in 2002 it had grown to 52%.

Dr Anders Nyboe Andersen, Head of the Fertility Clinic at the Rigshospitalet at Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark, and co-ordinator of the ESHRE IVF monitoring committee, said: "We do not really know why ICSI has become more prevalent. There are probably many reasons. One of them could be that the relative causes of infertility are shifting. We see less and less infertility caused by severe tubal problems in women, probably because of better sexual protection due to the risk of AIDS during the last 15 years. But male subfertility seems to be increasing. Perhaps the data on declining sperm quality are true, and maybe environmental factors are playing an increasing role as the planet becomes more polluted and factors that disrupt the endocrine system enter the food chain."

Infertility On Oprah

I made a point of watching the Oprah show yesterday when the show's subject was infertility. The show covered everything from hiring surrogates from India to couples going through the rigors of IVF. One guest on the show was Martha Stewart's daughter who is currently 42, and going through assisted reproduction. She pulled out a huge box of drugs and needles and stoically spoke of her TTC journey (one which she admits she treats like a "job" and is costing her $28,000 per month !!???!!)

After my journey through fertility treatments and all my associated complications, I'm certainly more of an advocate of natural methods (especially since that is what worked for me). However, I must say that I do not pass judgement on the path that other women or couples choose to parenthood. Depending on their diagnosis, high tech treatments may be the only option.

Since Oprah is seen by women all over the world and is one of the most influential shows on television, I only wish that some mention had been made about the possible complications of fertility treatments and how there are natural methods to enhance fertility even for women over 40. The impression I was left with after this show was that if you're over 40, good luck - you'd better run, not walk to the closest fertility clinic. Wouldn't it be fun if Oprah did a whole show on women who conceived naturally over the age of 40? There are plenty of us out there, but lets face it, it's just more exciting to peer into the world of space-age babymaking techology. Besides if she did a show on women conceiving naturally over 40, the critics would claim we're giving everyone "false hope".

I love Oprah's show, it's one of the few good things left on TV, but I only wish that this particular show had taken a broader view. Focusing on the high-tech fertility treatment industry only gives couples the impression that there's only one way to go. Unfortunately, many of these couples will spend their life's savings and walk away empty handed. And then there's people like me, not only did we spend tens of thousands of dollars, but I experienced a number of complications from fertility treatments which only further derailed us from our goal of getting pregnant. The natural route may not work for everyone, but I truly believe everyone should know all their options before making any decision - especially one that may compromise their health and financial condition. Yes, you do have to try harder to get pregnant over 40 and it may take longer...but it's not impossible. As a matter of fact, the rate of unintended pregnancies in women over 40 is second only to teenagers...obviously, they weren't trying at all!

TTC - Storyline On Journeyman

I have to mention here that NBC has a great new show on Monday nights called "Journeyman" (and no, they didn't pay me to say so). I never outgrew my obsession with "sci-fi" programs and movies. I devote so little time to TV viewing so when I watch something, it better be good. I love this show. It's kind of a "Quantum Leap" of this decade (and if you don't remember Quantum Leap, you're too young to be reading my blog!) Anyway, the story is about a guy who travels back in time and tracks people to change some part of their life for the better. Even though the concept is a little "out there" somehow when you watch it, it's believable.

The last episode brought back a number of my TTC memories. The main character and his wife were trying to have another baby. She would announce when she was ovulating and she and her husband would go on a "procreation vacation" of sorts. The only problem is he would beam back in time and miss the opportunity. The airport security personnel started interrogating his wife because he got on the plane and disappeared. When security asked the purpose of their trip, she wryly says, "to have a lot of sex". The security guy says, "I'm not joking" and she says, "neither am I". Hey, at least the rest of us never had to deal with time travel in the midst of our TTC journey.

To view episodes on-line, click here:

Journeyman

Natural Conceptions Over 40

Pregnancy Over 40 Naturally

I am going to be doing a series of posts on real women (from all over the world) who conceived naturally and had a baby over the age of 40. If you are interested in being a part of my series, please send me the following information:

-Your name or a name you would like to be identified by (please let me know if the name you provide is a real name or a pseudonym)

-How you conceived your baby - we're you trying or was it a surprise? Had you previously undergone fertility treatments? If so, which ones?

-If you were trying, how long did it take you to conceive?

-How did your pregnancy progress? Did you have any complications? Did you have a C-section or a vaginal delivery?

-How would you describe your experience as a mother over 40? Do you have other children?

-Please send a picture in a jpeg format of you and your baby/child which I can post on my blog with your story

Use my email address which can be found by going to my website:

www.getpregnantover40.com - contact page

Please note, by sending me the above information/picture, you are authorizing me to post it.

Thanks!!

More On Enhancing Men's Fertility

I've written a little in the past about enhancing male fertility with zinc and folic acid, but I think there's a lot more that can be done. Here is a good webpage to review some natural ways to enhance male fertility (it has a lot of information for women too):

Environmental Causes Of Infertility (www.chem-tox.com)

Some of the major things to avoid include: alcohol, cigarettes, pesticides, solvents, paint chemicals, car exhaust, flavor enhancers (like MSG), many illicit drugs, and even though this article doesn't mention it, laptop computers and even mobile phones have been associated with decreased fertility in men. I found it interesting that miscarriage was found to be more common in couples where the man had a low sperm count.

It seems like our environment can be a very dangerous place. But if we at least have the knowledge we can do our best to dodge some of the major environmental culprits.

Fertility and Alternative Therapies

Although I didn't rely on herbal therapy or accupuncture when I was trying to conceive my daughter, I do believe these therapies can be very effective. In my case, I didn't want to spend more money on paid professionals since we had spent so much money already on fertility treatments. But for those of you interested, here is an article about how complementary/alternative treatments can be very effective.

The new fertility rites
Would-be moms turning to complementary medicine
Katherine Dedyna

Having Babies Over 40 On The Today Show

The today show aired a piece on 9-19-07 about having babies over the age of 40. I feel close to this story because the producer, Margaret Pergler had asked me to assist her in finding women in the LA area to interview for her piece. I posted her request on my blog, and I hope some of my LA readers contacted her. Anyway, I watched the piece (link below) and I thought it was well done. I actually felt the piece was very positive. Yes, they mentioned some of the risks involved with getting pregnant over the age of 40, but by and large the piece was encouraging.

Watch the video:

The Today Show
(you may have to watch a short commercial before viewing the video)

More ICSI With IVF---Is It Medically Justified?

I found the following article about how ICSI (when the sperm is injected directly into the egg) is being used even when there is no diagnosis of male factor infertility. Of course this procedure comes with a high price tag and, as the article discusses, it may be of questionable benefit. Read more:

ICSI Male Infertility Treatment Up
Dramatic 5-Fold Increase Coupled With IVF During Last Decade
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News

From the article:

In 1995, just 11% of IVF cycles included ICSI, but the percentage had risen to 57.5% a decade later.

The report appears in the July 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

The findings suggest ICSI is increasingly being used in conjunction with IVF for conditions other than male-factor infertility, says researcher Tarun Jain, MD, who is an assistant professor of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Illinois, Chicago.

Jain tells WebMD that it is not clear if the benefits derived from ICSI justify the added cost and potential risks for couples without a diagnosis of male infertility.

“Those studies haven’t been done,” he says. “More research is needed to determine if routine use of ICS for nonmale factor conditions is beneficial.”

IVF: Attempts To Reduce Twin Prgnancies

Back when I started fertility treatments I thought having twins would be the greatest thing in the world. What could be better than an instant family? In retrospect, I'm so glad I only had a "singleton" pregnancy. Even though most twin pregnancies can result in good outcomes, the rate of complications and premature births is much higher. Here is an article about how IVF is starting to be regulated in some countries to avoid multiple embryo transfers and the resulting complications. Read more:

Fertility treatment
Quality, not quantity (www.economist.com)

From the article:

Sharing a womb is not an ideal start to life. Twins who survive their much higher rates of miscarriage are often born early and small, which puts them at higher risk of cerebral palsy, low IQ and even death during their first year. Their expectant mothers are more prone to high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems. Around half of all twins are transferred to intensive-care units soon after birth.

Now the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which licenses fertility clinics in England and Wales, has decided enough is enough. On April 4th it started a three-month consultation on changes in the way fertility treatment is carried out. The new rules, due to come into force in October, aim to halve the number of twin IVF pregnancies

Enhancing Male Fertility

I've read a number of articles that talk about how zinc and folic acid taken together can increase male fertility. The following article says these two nutrients can increase normally formed sperm by 74%! Wow, that's significant. Read more:

Zinc and Folic Acid Found to Increase Sperm Count

According to the article, the zinc and folic acid need to be taken together for maximum benefit. I've always known that these nutrients were important for women, but it sounds like men can benefit too.

If you prefer to get these nutrients from foods rather than supplements try these:

Folic Acid: found in green leafy vegetables, oranges, legumes, fortified cereals and grains

Zinc: found in red meat, poultry, and fortified cereals

I usually write about fertility from a woman's point of view, but there are two parts of the equation when it you're trying to get pregnant. In general, I've found that the same things that a good for female fertility are also good for men.

IVF Abnormalities Part IV

The following article discusses how the process of culturing embryos in the lab could cause genetic errors. Although much of this research is preliminary and not all of it may translate to humans, some abnormalities have been found more often in babies conceived through IVF. Read more:

Researchers Zero In On Genetic Errors From IVF

From the article:

Researchers from UCLA dropped a bombshell at the recent European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference, declaring that the conditions in which embryos are cultured in the lab during IVF could be causing genetic errors that are associated with certain developmental syndromes and other abnormalities in growth and development, such as low birth weight...

...This is not the first study to suggest that culturing embryos in the laboratory during IVF could be affecting embryos adversely. "Emerging new evidence shows that some neurological and behavioral abnormalities are associated with assisted reproductive techniques. Cases of Angelman and Beckwith-Wiedeman syndromes in humans, which are due to aberrant genomic imprinting, and other abnormalities in growth and development in mice have been described after culture in vitro," said Rinaudo.

Angelman syndrome is characterised by severe mental retardation, speech impairment, balance disorder and a happy, excitable demeanour; it occurs in about one in 10,000 to 30,000 of the population. Beckwith-Wiedeman syndrome is characterised by overgrowth, with an abnormally large tongue, umbilical hernia, neonatal hypoglycaemia and a predisposition to certain tumours.

Other possibly IVF related anomalies were identified in the genes responsible for T cell development (part of the immune system), tumor suppression, amino acid transport, Silver-Russell syndrome (a growth disorder) and McCune-Albright syndrome (involves bone, hormone and skin abnormalities).

IVF Abnormalities Part III

Here is the third article in my series on IVF outcomes. This article discusses something called BWS or Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome which is six times more likely in babies conceived through IVF. Read more:

IVF May Be Linked To Birth Defects

From the article:


Scientists from Johns Hopkins and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered that in vitro fertilization (IVF) appears to be associated with a rare combination of birth defects characterized by excessive growth of various tissues.

After studying data from a national registry of patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), the researchers found that IVF-initiated conception was six times more common than in the general population. The findings are slated for the January issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics, and should be online by the end of November.

Children born with BWS, which may predispose them to Wilms' tumor, hepatoblastoma, neuroblastoma and other cancers, would likely represent only a tiny fraction of babies conceived via IVF if the findings are confirmed, the researchers emphasize. The results should stimulate further investigation, not change parents' decisions, they say.

IVF Abnormalities Part II

To continue with my series of IVF abnormalities, here is an article about how a bladder defect is seven times more likely in babies conceived through IVF. Read more:

IVF May Be Linked To Bladder Defects

From the article:

Information collected on 78 children with cloacal-bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex treated at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center from 1998 to 2001 shows these birth defects are approximately seven times more widespread in IVF children. An estimated 12 percent to 14 percent of the children born each year with exstrophy-epispadias in the United States are evaluated at the Children's Center. The findings are reported in the April issue of the Journal of Urology.

"What we are seeing now is simply an association between this group of birth defects and IVF births," said the study's senior author, John P. Gearhart, M.D., director of the division of pediatric urology at the Children's Center. "Further research is needed to verify these findings and understand this association. These defects are extremely rare, and our preliminary findings should not alone discourage couples from undergoing IVF."

PCOS, Fertility and What You Can Do

SEE ALSO: FERTILITY FOODS AND MY ENTIRE SERIES ON ENHANCING FERTILITY WITH DIETARY CHANGES (getpregnantover40.com

What Is Ultrasound and What Are They Looking For?

Pregnancy Over 40, Many Ultrasounds Performed

Between my fertility treatments and pregnancies, I had so many ultrasounds that I actually got pretty good at reading them.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 There were a few times I really thought I knew more than the technician performing them (I had everyone from PA's, nurses, nurse practitioners, and ultrasound technicians doing the ultrasounds). Here is a video that explains more:

Understanding Ultrasound (www.sciencedaily.healthology.com)

Some High Tech Procedures Make Pregnancy Less Likely

Natural Pregnancy After Being Told To Use Donor Eggs

I know a woman from the infertility support group I ran who was told by her reproductive endocrinologist to consider either donor eggs or to have her embryo's analyzed prior to implanting them.
 My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 She couldn't afford either one, so she took a break while she and her husband tried to save up the money. Guess what? She got pregnant naturally and wound up having a second. Well...according to the article below, pre-implantation genetic procedures may actually reduce births! Read more:

www.sciencedaily.com

From the article:

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis may actually reduce births by one third, reported researchers at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands. They studied 408 women between the ages of 35 and 41.

The findings are a setback for the increasingly popular procedure, which involves removing a single cell from a 3-day-old embryo to look for potential birth defects, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

The test, developed in the United States about 17 years ago, is based on a theory that one cell can be removed from the eight cells in a 3-day-old embryo and the remaining seven cells still will grow into a healthy baby, reported New Scientist.

Scientists don't know why the test lowers the birth rate, but they do not believe that removing one cell lowers the viability of the embryo.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.

The Conception Kit - Another Natural Alternative To Fertility Treatments

Natural Insemination

I saw a review of a product called "The Conception Kit" on pregnancy.about.com.
 http://www.getpregnantover40.com
 It sounds interesting and it seems to have some fairly good success rates. I cannot vouch for this product because it didn't exist when I was trying to conceive, however, I probably would have given it a try if it did.

I'm all for anything that doesn't involve drugs, surgery, or exhorbitant amounts of money. Actually this product sounds like a "do it yourself insemination" except it concentrates the sperm around the cervix.

Read more:

pregnancy.about.com

New Mothers At 45 & 46: Reunion Re-cap

Pregnant At 45, Pregnant At 46

Well, I wasn't the one with the youngest daughter at my 30 year high school reunion.
 My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 Another one of my classmates (female) had an "oops!" baby at 45. There was another guy who I've known since elementary school who had a 7 month old. He has an interesting story. His first wife underwent IVF some years ago and had a problem with toxemia in her pregnancy. After she delivered and went home from the hospital, she had a stroke (a few days later) and tragically died (it sounds to me like the hospital discharged her too soon or failed to recognize the severity of her condition). He remarried and he and his second wife have a new baby together. But guess how old she was when she had her baby? 46! I was dying to ask if it was a naturally conceived pregnancy, but I felt that would have been way too personal! It also appeared to be her first baby. These examples of "older women" having babies just keep coming.

People were pretty surprised when I showed them pictures of my daughter - "you of all people" I heard over and over. It was kind of fun really...the shock value and all. As I suspected, they couldn't even imagine starting over with kids at this age. But I think it's different when you start out having kids young vs. old. I truly believe it's easier when your older. Even though you may get a little more tired, you make up for it in wisdom and patience. In retrospect, even though it's probably easier to get pregnant in your 20's, that's usually the time you are establishing your career, you might be struggling financially, and you're still working out your own insecurities. All in all I'm glad the way things turned out in my life. Even though I went through the agonizing trials and tribulations of trying to get pregnant, if I hadn't, I probably would have had some other challenge.

Here's to another 30 years!

Over 40...Another Reunion

Pregnancy After 40 and High School Reunions

Well...I guess my age is no secret.
 http://www.getpregnantover40.com
 My 30 year high school reunion is this weekend. It's funny, we had a 25 year reunion and that's just about the time I decided that a baby was not in my future. I truly was comfortable moving on to "childfree" because I had gone through so much in terms of fertility treatments, recurrent miscarriage and all the agonizing years of waiting and disappointment. With the exception of one person, I never confided in old school friends about how I was trying to conceive because most of them had grown kids and were becoming empty nesters (even at the 25 year reunion). I was known as the one who didn't want kids - I was almost embarrassed to admit I had changed my thinking. Besides, since everyone knew that I supposedly didn't want kids, they quit asking if I had any...(and by the time the 25 year reunion comes rolling around, everyone figures you're too old). As I'm sure you know, it helps not to have those probing questions hurled at you all the time.

Hmmmm...I wonder how things will go this weekend. I found out I was pregnant with my daughter exactly one month after my 25 year reunion. It just goes to show you, you never know what's around the corner - the future is so unpredictable. I'm sure nobody is as concerned with my family life as I am, but it is kind of awkward around people my age who can't even imagine starting over with baby & toddler phase.

Stay tuned...I'll let you know how things go...

Fertility Treatments: Safety and Outcomes

 Get Pregnant Naturally vs. Fertility Treatments

If you've visited my website or read some of my entries on this blog, you probably know that I am an advocate of trying to conceive naturally.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 I tried the high tech assisted reproduction route and I experienced everything from hyperstimulation of my ovaries to an ectopic pregnancy which had to be removed surgically. Not only did we spend $25,000 of our hard earned money, but we also paid a high price physically and emotionally. And for all this, no baby (until I got pregnant naturally). In hindsight, I am saddened that my husband and I got caught up in all the hype about how 'older' couples should RUN NOT WALK to the closest fertility clinic.

In addition to the physical and mental trauma many couples experience when going through fertility treatments, I've also read that there can be a higher incidence of birth defects with some assisted reproduction techniques:

Here is an article that tells more:

Risks of Birth Defects and Other Adverse Outcomes Associated With Assisted Reproductive Technology

It's a little scary, isn't it?

I also wonder about what all those fertility drugs did to my system. I've always been one who has lived a 'clean life'. I rarely take any kind of drug and I feel guilty for consuming diet pop or caffeinated coffee. It scares me to think what I might have done to myself with all those injections associated with fertility treatments. I can't change the past but I can live my best life now.

I realize that fertility treatments may be the only option for some couples, but like most major life decisions, you should carefully evaluate your options. Just because 'everybody's doing it' doesn't mean it's safe. Now that I have the benefit of hindsight, I would have trusted my inner voice. I knew deep down I could have a baby naturally, and I did.

Ripley's Fertility Statue

Pregnancy Over 40 With The Help Of A Fertility Statue

Years ago, when I was trying to conceive, I recall seeing a re-run of the TV show, "Unsolved Mysteries".
 My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
The segment that caught my eye was about the African fertility statue which had supposedly helped quite a few women get pregnant. I don't know what made me think of it, but I thought I'd post a link to the Ripley's site for anyone interested...you never know!


Ripley's Believe It or Not!® Museum
http://www.ripleysnewsroom.com/statuesorlando/

"Do You Have Children??"

Trying To Conceive Over 40, Pregnancy Over 40, Dealing With The Intrusive Questions

I heard an old saying once:

When you're in your 20's, you care what everyone thinks
When you're in your 30's, you don't care what anyone thinks
When you're in your 40's, you realize nobody was thinking about you anyway!
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
I found this to be true now that I'm well into my 40's. Why do I bring it up here? When you're trying to have a baby and you're not succeeding, it seems like everyone else out there blinks their eyes and presto! They're pregnant. You're left feeling like a failure and some kind of social misfit who can't peform the most basic of all human functions. You dread the "Do you have children?" question and you feel like everyone is trying to figure out if you're selfish for not having kids or if you should be pitied because you can't have any. In hindsight, I must say that most people out there aren't half as interested in your life as you think they are. I'm not saying that you aren't an interesting person, but honestly, most people are so wrapped up in their own day to day drama they don't have the time to delve into your reproductive physiology.

So the next time you fall into the trap of wondering what everyone is thinking about you, remember that everyone has their challenges in life, and they don't always share them with others. You can't control what others think, so why even spend time worrying about it? Almost without exception, whenever I have been envious of someone else's life, I later find out about some challenge they've gone through (or are going through) that makes my life seem like a walk in the park. Count your blessings - there's more on the way!

Pregnancy Over 40, Never Finding Mr. Right

Trying To Conceive Over 40...With The Right Man

Many women who are trying to conceive over 40 didn't mean to wait that long, they just never found Mr. Right until later in life.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 I know that was true for me. I frequently write about couples who are struggling with infertility, but there's a whole other segment of the population single without kids. Some of these people choose to be single and don't want children, others would like to have a family but haven't found someone they want to settle down with. Here is an article about life without children written by one of those people:

Life without children

Jan Masters always thought she'd become a mother. Now 43, with no 'baby on board', she speaks candidly of expectations, loss and the deceptions of serial monogamy (observer.guardian.co.uk)

From the article:

Sure, at 43, I have the home, and there's often been a man in the picture, but as for children, there are none. Not because I ever had to face learning I was infertile. Neither did I postpone pregnancy to concentrate on a career, only to thud back down to earth on finding the egg-timer had run dry. It's just that while navigating my way through the thoroughly modern maze of serial monogamy, with all its deceptive bends and dead ends, I never reached the let's-make-babies stage with anyone. Not even when I was married - a brief, precarious union in which it seemed unwise to use parenthood as Polyfilla..

Beautiful Video About One Couple's Journey Through Infertility

Trying To Conceive Over 40, Infertility Video

I found this link to a video which beautifully puts into words and pictures how infertility affects couples.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 I'll worn you, it's very emotionally charged and you will feel somewhat tearful watching it. But it does help to know that you are not the only one feeling devastated by wanting something that seems so unattainable (at least for now). This would be a great video to share with others who may not understand your struggle.

Empty Arms (www.tearsandhope.com)

Infertility and Baby Mania

Pregnancy Over 40, Trying To Conceive Over 40 Can Be Hard With Our Media

I found this great article about trying to conceive in a media obsessed culture which seems to be focused on which celebrity is pregnant and by whom, etc. etc. etc.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
These beautiful celebrities parade around in their cute "maternity wear" creating an image of pregnancy that none of us could ever obtain. While I was struggling with infertility, I would imagine what I would look like when I was pregnant. I planned out my maternity wardrobe and looked at all the cute baby stuff. I guess in some ways I was putting myself through unneccessary torture, but in other ways, I think it may have contributed to my success (i.e. visualizing what you want). I guess these media images allow us to live vicariously through others. Is that bad? I don't know, it's probably an individual thing. Here is one perspective on trying to conceive in a baby-crazed world:

Infertile in a baby-crazed world
What’s it like to not be able to get pregnant in a culture filled with “bump watches,” Hummer-size strollers and haute couture maternity wear? It’s hell, says writer Lynn Harris in Glamour's September issue. Here's why every woman should be wary of the new baby mania.
By Lynn Harris

Vacation and Infertility Memories

Trying To Get Pregnant?  Try A Vacation

I need a vacation from my vacation...I'm back and had a great time, and it's good to be home.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 But going on vacation brought back many infertile/miscarriage memories. It seems, in the past, most of our vacations were taken after a miscarriage. I sort of took on the "what the hell" attitude, "let's go on vacation...if I'm not pregnant, I'm going to live it up---besides it's easier to travel without kids, right?"

Infertility casts a dark cloud over many of the things in life that should be enjoyable. My suggestion is, if you are struggling with infertility, take vacations that aren't "family oriented". There are many package deals and destinations that are geared toward adults. It will help you from focusing on what you don't have and help to lift your spirits (and you just may get pregnant). I never believed this when people said it to me, but you really should enjoy your free time now, in the future, when you succeed in becoming pregnant, traveling with a child is more stressful (not to mention the nasty looks you get on an airplane when people cringe at the thought of sitting next to a small child). I'm not complaining one bit, just giving the facts.

Whether you take your time off at home or go to a vacation resort, know that it will be your turn one day. Enjoy your life now, you never know what's around the corner. I certainly didn't.

Infertility Stress Syndrome

Infertility and Fertility Treatments Add More Stress!

I didn't realize there was a term for it, but the stress women and couples face from infertility can be overwhelming.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 Here is a site which discusses "infertility stress syndrome". Although the link below is an adoption advocate site, there is some interesting information about the stress associated with infertility:

www.adoptionadvocatesonline.org

From the site:

Infertility Stress Syndrome

Infertility Stress Syndrome is comprised of a group of stress symptoms arising from the infertility experience. These symptoms are similar to many of the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, particularly in regard to the experience of intrusive thoughts and feelings regarding the experience, and efforts to ward off or avoid those thoughts and feelings. Problems with sleep, work, relationships—especially the marital relationship—are common. Painful sensitivity to any environmental stimuli which is related to reproduction is also found in patients who are suffering from ISS such as:

being near a woman who is pregnant
receiving birth announcements
noticing strong genetic resemblances between parents and their children, etc. 

Here is another site which discusses PTSD (post traumatic Stress Disorder) in women following fertility treatments

http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/2932-fertility-treatment-ptsd.html 

Surviving Mother's Day While You're TTC

This article has moved.
see
PREGNANCY OVER 40 (getpregnantover40.com)

Recurrent Miscarriage and Environmental Factors

Miscarriage Over 40 and Environmental Toxins

I've come across a number of articles about how ordinary products that we use every day may be responsible for (or contribute to) infertility and miscarriage.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 One product that has gained wide spread use in the last 30 years (that may be linked to recurrent miscarriage) is plastic. I think back when I was a young child, everything was packaged in glass. We thought plastic was the greatest invention ever. But we may need to rethink the use of plastics as explained in this article:

Our Stolen Future

I have completely switched to drinking all beverages and buying food products in glass whenever possible (I've heard that even canned products may be harmful because the inside of the can is lined with plastic). It's hard to find some products in glass (even in health food stores), but do the best you can. It's a good reason to switch to fresh vegetables and fruits instead of canned. Never re-use plastic bottles or containers as the plastic starts to wear down and may diffuse into your food or beverage.

Did we all jump into fertility treatments too soon?

IVF Over 40?  Not so Fast!

When I was trying to conceive, I became the women's support group leader for my local infertility organization.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 I saw some very interesting results. Many of us got pregnant between treatment cycles! Here are some examples:
_______
Two women were told their FSH was too high and their only chance of success was to consider an egg donor. One of these women got pregnant while looking for the egg donor, the other got pregnant while trying to save up enough money for the procedure(last time I saw her, she was about 8 months pregnant with her second!)
_______

One woman (43) developed an ovarian cyst after being on fertility drugs. She was forced to take a break and got pregnant while on her "break" (she went on to have a normal pregnancy and delivered a healthy baby boy on her 44th birthday - a homebirth!)
_______

One woman finally adopted and shortly thereafter got pregnant, had a healthy baby boy and is currently pregnant again (just saw her at her son's first birthday party!)
_______

And...of course there's me, the "longshot" of the group - pregnant naturally with one tube and delivered normally at the age of 44.
_______

It's interesting that a group of women labeled "infertile" (by the medical definition) turned out to be quite fertile indeed! The BBC news published an article (also on my website) that seems to raise the question of whether or not some couples are really infertile or perhaps just impatient:

Undue IVF pressure put on couples (BBC News)


So, if you're considering fertility treatments, maybe you should consider a little longer. The best treatment may be no treatment.

Happy Easter!

For those of you who celebrate Easter...have a happy holiday!

Men's Variocele Surgery Ineffective For Infertility

One more post on men's fertility to finish out the week. If you've never heard of a "variocele", the following article talks about how it can lead to male infertility. The article also talks about how surgical repair may not significantly improve pregnancy rates.  However, the article also discusses some flaws in this analysis. Read more:

Surgery for Male Infertility Ineffective
But Backers of Varicocele Repair Disagree
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News

From the article:

"Varicoceles are enlargements of veins inside the scrotum that drain the testicles. These enlargements may lead to a rise in temperature and a decrease in blood circulation through the testes, and can hurt sperm production. But their exact role in male infertility is not known.


As many as 15% of all men are believed to have varicoceles. But up to 40% of infertile men have them.


In this review, researchers reanalyzed data from seven previously published trials assessing the impact of varicocele repair on pregnancy rates. There was a 1% improvement in pregnancy rates among the partners of men who had varicocele repair, compared with men who received no treatment. The findings are reported May 31 in The Lancet.


"There does not seem to be any value in doing [varicocele repair] as far as fertility is concerned," analysis co-author John A. Collins, MD, of Ontario's McMaster University, tells WebMD. "There is just very little evidence suggesting that it is effective."

Questionable Fertility Clinic Policies

Fertility Clinics Admission Criteria

I found this interesting article about some questionable or at the very least inconsistent policies of fertility clinics.
 http://www.getpregnantover40.com
 The article addresses everything from age limits, financial policies, marital status, and HIV status. Read more:

Fertility Clinics Have Differing Policies (PregnancyCrawler.com)

A whopping 80 percent of clinics had customers meet with financial coordinators, but only 18 percent had them see a social worker or psychologist.

"Assisted reproductive technologies are too driven by the desires of couples and not enough by the interests of children," said Arthur Caplan, bioethics chairman at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the survey's authors.

Results were published Tuesday in Fertility and Sterility, a journal of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Answering hypothetical questions, most American clinics said they'd help a 43-year-old get pregnant. One in five would refuse single women, but 5 percent don't even ask about marital status. One in four would help a woman who has the AIDS (news - web sites) virus.

"A gay couple and a couple on welfare were about equally likely to be turned away," said Andrea Gurmankin, a Harvard School of Public Health psychologist who led the study when she worked at the University of Pennsylvania.

One in 10 American couples is infertile, and their ability to get medical help to have children depends on a host of subjective criteria and attitudes about parenthood by fertility clinic operators, researchers found.

About 100,000 pregnancy attempts are made each year using in vitro fertilization, in which eggs and sperm are mixed in a lab dish and the resulting embryos are implanted in the womb. More than 177,000 babies have been born this way in the United States.

Researchers sent surveys to directors of 369 clinics or doctors' offices offering these services across the country; 210 responded.

On average, they turn away only 4 percent of potential customers each year. Only 28 percent had formal policies on who they'd accept or deny.

Asked if they believed that everyone has a right to have a child, 59 percent said yes. Two-thirds believe they have a responsibility to consider parents' fitness before helping them conceive.

Medical conditions evoked different responses. Only 1 percent said they wouldn't help Jehovah's witnesses conceive, presumably because they refuse blood transfusions that might be necessary for the mother or child.

"Three percent said they were unwilling to deal with a blind couple. We thought that was fascinating," Caplan said.

However, only 59 percent flat out refused to treat a woman with HIV (news - web sites), the virus that causes AIDS.

"I don't think the customers, or patients, understand how variable the values are," Caplan said. One clinic might refuse you, but "just down the road is another place that might take you."

IVF and Fertility Lab Mix Ups - Yikes!

IVF Over 40, Mistakes Happen!

When I read this article (link below), it reminded me of one of my insemination cycles when I was going through fertility treatments. Before we jumped into IVF, we went through seven IUI cycles.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 One of these had to be cancelled because of a mix up in the lab. The nurse jokingly says, "We wouldn't want a baby that doesn't look like you now would we?" I didn't think it was the least bit funny.

Read more about fertility clinic lab procedures and precautions:

IVF Mistakes: Making Sure The Baby Is Yours (foxnews.com)

From the article:

A New York couple is suing their fertility clinic for giving them the wrong sperm – resulting in the wrong child. The couple, Thomas and Nancy Andrews, of Commack, N.Y., claims that their daughter is too dark to be their child. They are suing New York Medical Services for Reproductive Medicine for medical malpractice and other offenses after multiple genetic tests have confirmed that Thomas is not the father of the baby.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates 1.2 million women had an infertility-related medical appointment in 2002. More and more couples are seeking out infertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). As the business for assisted reproduction technology booms, especially IVF, this lawsuit highlights the chance for mix-ups.

In 2002, a white British couple gave birth to black twins after an IVF mix-up. While this is not a common occurrence, clearly, mistakes do happen. It is difficult to quantify how often these mistakes happen when babies are of the same race – because it is more difficult to detect.

Getting Pregnant Over 40, Will I Be Around To See My Children Grow Up?

Pregnancy Over 40, You May Live Longer

One common criticism I hear about getting pregnant over 40 is, "You may not be around to see your children grow up..."
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 Well, I realize that none of us can predict the future, but I just don't think that is a valid argument. Granted some people may die young, but that' s true of women having children at any age.

Here is an article that cites a study that says older women actually live longer:

Study Says Older Moms Live Longer (families.com)

From the article:

"In the February 25, 2006 issue of the newspaper, The Daily Mail, scientists at the University of Manchester report that the bodies of older mothers are also likely to suffer less wear and tear than younger mothers because we tend to have fewer children. By having children late, we give our bodies a burst of estrogen which in turn helps keep skin, hair, bones and blood vessels healthy and also protects again osteoporosis.

What's interesting to note is that older parents often become older healthier parents because they want to make sure they are around for their young offspring. This means making healthy lifestyle changes such as when an older mother stops smoking, starts eating healthier, loses weight, gets more exercise, etc. These factors all add to increased longevity.

Several other studies also support this idea that older mothers may live longer than their young counterparts. The British Geriatric Society reports that there is scientific evidence that women who have children late in life live longer than young mothers. They cite better diet and lifestyle as the reason. Thomas Perls, a geriatrician at Harvard Medical School found that a "surprising number of women who gave birth in their forties were more than four times as likely to live to 100."

The Bachelorette Conquers Infertility (Naturally)

Okay, I'm a little embarrassed that I watched "The Bachelorette" when Ryan and Trista found true love. Well...let me explain...I was pregnant at the time and so terribly sick and nauseated that all I could do was sit in my recliner and watch TV. I never watched so much TV as when I was in my first trimester. Reading made me dizzy, laying down made me sick and any sort of physical activity was out of the question. Enter Ryan and Trista. It kept me from going insane...I'm not complaining, I'm justifying my TV viewing habits at the time.

All that said, I just read an article about how Ryan and Trista are expecting a baby. According to the article, they tried for two years, considered fertility treatments and saw a fertility specialist, but wound up getting pregnant naturally. Read More:

Us Magazine.com

It just goes to show you that infertility knows no boundaries and jumping into fertility treatments isn't always the answer.

"The Secret" and Infertility

Pregnancy Over 40, Help From The Secret

Well...everybody's talking about it. "The Secret" was the subject of a couple of Oprah's shows a few weeks ago and ever since the creators of the video have been hitting the talk show circuit.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com
 The Secret is about the "law of attraction" which basically is a law in the universe that says you control what you attract in your life by your thoughts and feelings.

So...can this help you have a baby?? By all means, yes! I learned about the law of attraction in the early 90's, and have been trying to apply it to all aspects of my life ever since. I have watched the video and I loved it. It really does a good job of explaining how what you are living now is the result of your past thoughts. When I decided I wanted to get pregnant...I thought about how I could attract a baby into my life. I knew I couldn't force a baby to come down and be with me...I knew I had to become a mother and create the right environment (within my body, within my mind, and all other aspects of my life) so a baby would feel welcome with me. This guided me to research natural methods of enhancing fertility and it guided me to think the right thoughts and do the right things to help my body conceive. Eventually, all this led to what I call in my book, "my pregnancy protocol".

I still try to live by the law of attraction...When I'm having a bad day, I always tell my husband, "I'm negatively attracting today"...then I need to go back and figure out why - or I just decide to change my mindset so I start positively attracting. I have always firmly believed that we aren't victims of anything...we create our reality (whether it's good or bad) and the good news is, we can change it.

The Problem With Donor Eggs....

Donor Eggs Over 40, Pregnancy Over 40

First, let me say that I personally know three women who had babies using donor eggs, and they collectively have five beautiful children.
http://www.getpregnantover40.com
However, using donor eggs is a big decision which requires much thought. I was given the option of using donor eggs when I went through fertility treatments, however, aside from the exorbitant cost of paying for the donor and all the associated expenses, I couldn't get used to the idea of having a third party involved.

Here are some things to think about when using donor eggs:

1. Many fertility clinics have age cut-offs for women in their 40's unless they're using donor eggs. If you have unexplained infertility in your 40's, donor eggs are probably going to work as well in a year or two from now as they will if you used them today (assuming you are in good health). TTC naturally may be worth a try first.

2. Before you embark on fertility treatment with donor eggs, you may want to think about what you are going to tell relatives and friends about your child. Your child may not want everyone knowing that they were conceived with a donor egg.

3. Is the donor going to remain anonymous? I know one couple who found their donor through an ad in the paper and they have a lengthy legal contract with the woman who donated the eggs. They all met and know each others names, etc.

4. What about the egg donor? Many of these women are young college-age students, who may be lured in with the money and they don't really understand the risks of taking fertility drugs...knowing what I know now about fertility drugs and the complications I suffered, I would never put myself through that for any amount of money. I wouldn't want to put anyone else through it either.

Donor eggs are becoming big business - here is an article that talks about some of the ethical issues:


Egg-donor business booms on campuses
By Jim Hopkins, USA TODAY

Off Fertility Topic, But Worth Reading

I'm guessing that if you're reading this blog, you probably already have a life partner. But I wanted to pass along a book that I read a number of years ago before I was married. Please, let your single friends know about this one. The book is "Searching For Courtship" by Winnifred Cutler.

I really didn't want to get married when I was younger (and, of course, kids were out of the question), but as I got older, I realized life was going to be very lonely and empty without someone to share it with. But, when you give so much of your life to your job (as I did back then), it's hard to get out there and meet people. Even though I write and teach, I'm really quite shy socially. This book gives a step by step approach to meeting that someone special in your life. It also gives good advice on what to look for in a lifetime partner.

It was sheer luck that I happened to be off work one day when the author, Winifred Cutler, was on TV promoting her book. I immediately went out and bought a copy and I followed her methods. All of a sudden, my social life was booming and about three months later, I met the man I eventually married. All I can say is, I owe many years of happiness and maybe even my daughter to Ms. Cutler. Hopefully, someone else can benefit from this book as much as I did - so spread the word.