23/10/2009 by admin.

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

22/10/2009 by Becky.

Hi I am so pleased to be asked to be your guest blogger this month and to describe my journey into motherhood and consequently becoming a writer. It took me about a year to get pregnant which seemed like forever at the time. When I finally found I was, I was utterly elated. As I prepared to go on my maternity leave work kept talking about when I came back and I just pushed that thought right to the back of my mind.

On a routine doctors visit at 36 weeks we found my baby had stopped growing and was very small so he was whisked out by c section and weighed in at only 3lb 2. He was taken immediately to ICU and I didn’t see him for about 4 hours as I became unwell too. That was without doubt the most traumatic separation of my life. It makes me cry if I think of it, even today. We called him Franklyn after his great granddad and his which means ‘free man.’ Frankie was in intensive care for a month getting strong. I stayed there too expressing milk and pouring it down a little tube into his nose to help him grow.  I made a lot of promises to Frankie whilst he lay in his little incubator and the most important to me was that I would be by his side as much as I could.

At 7 weeks old Frankie finally learnt to breast feed directly and life began to be a lot more normal. Because he was so tiny I was advised to keep him out of nursery for the first year of his life, as he would be vulnerable to illness. Work agreed I could extend my 6 months break to a year. Unfortunately this year was so wonderful I didn’t want to return at all! Luckily I worked for social services as a training officer in social work and they have a little known 6 years career break scheme which I was able to take. We were desperately worried about how we would cope financially but thrilled to have secured this time off with Frankie.

As the main earner me stopping work was a major deal and we had to learn how to budget and be thrifty pretty quickly. We made many changes; some big such as a mortgage break and some smaller such as switching supermarkets but it was a steep learning curve. I ran a baby signing franchise 1 morning a week and took Frankie along; I sold items on ebay, at car boots and on Amazon. I borrowed, crafted, reduced, reused and recycled. I swapped the car for fresh air and I even let my husband trim my hair! Meanwhile I had all the time in the world to be with my baby and a whole community of new supportive like-minded friends. There were riches even if we had little money!

Whilst pregnant with my daughter, Annalise, 3 years later, my husband suggested I write a book sharing all the budgeting tips we had learnt and all the ways we had made some extra money. I started to write and it just flowed out of me! I so wanted other parents to know that it may be possible for them to manage on less and free up more time to be with their child too. I got an agent (after 40 attempts!) who pretty quickly saw that in these credit crunching time all parents needed some financial tips on baby budgeting whether they worked or not and she snapped me up a publishing deal with Vermilion the market leaders in parenting books (I was VERY shocked but delighted too.)

The book has had a wonderful response I have had interviews on the radio, with national newspapers even with an Australian journalist. I am book signing at WH Smiths in Nottingham on November 6^th and at Waterstones on Nov 7. Most importantly I am still getting to spend lots of time with my baby girl and am able to take my son to school and pick him up and that is definitely right for me. I have worked hard but I had some lucky breaks too. Whatever your path to parenting may it be truly blessed.I hope that if you need any budgeting tips you will check out my blog www.babybudgeting.co.uk and if you have any tips please do share them on our readers page. Take very good care of you and yours, Becky x

Posted in Motherhood, Baby budgeting, Credit crunch tips | Print | 3 Comments »

14/10/2009 by amymarner.

I am delighted to be invited as a guest blogger to this site, so here goes with my blog…It is now widely accepted that our mind affects the health of our body. The way we think and feel makes a difference to our physical well-being. It is now more common to use Mind/ Body techniques to address physical health. By Mind/ body techniques I mean exploring the health of the mind to address the health of the whole person. Research has also found that Mind/ Body techniques can support fertility. Alice’s Domar’s research has found that when women who are planning for a baby address their depression their fertility rates increase.

Recent research from university of California, Berkeley found that the hormones produced when stressed suppress fertility by reducing the production of hormones needed to stimulate a healthy reproductive system. Therefore it makes sense to address stress levels to support fertility.Fertility Solutions is a programme that supports fertility with the use of Mind/ Body Techniques. It was developed by Tracy Holloway, an experienced hypnotherapist, psychotherapist and Theta Practitioner. The Programme uses hypnosis and Theta DNA Healing to address emotions such as depression, stress and bereavement. This in turn can bring the body back into health allowing conception to occur. Using Theta Healing it is also possible to address physical symptoms such as Endometriosis, POCS, Fibroids and other female complaints. Men can deal with low sperm count or low motility with the support of Theta DNA Healing. The Programme aims to support couples on their Fertility Journey encouraging feelings of peace, releasing stress and addressing physical symptoms. The programme allows couples to lead fulfilling lives rather than their fertility journey taking control. It reconnects people to their power, which has a positive effect on all areas of their life. This support allows couples to gently shift and release issues that are known to affect fertility, giving them their best chance of conception.

Posted in Guest blogger, Fertility Blogger, Alternative medicine, Stress relief, Stress, Alternative Therapies & Fertility | Print | 3 Comments »

14/10/2009 by admin.

Use online coupon code AD2  before mid-night on 15th October 2009 to receive a 10% discount at any of our sites below when spending over £5

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

12/10/2009 by Tums2Mums.

I’ve been wondering what I could write that would be useful for the readers of this blog and as a lot of what I get when I mention that I am a Hypnotherapist is “oooh, that’s not for me.  I don’t want to be out of control.  I probably can’t be hypnotised anyway”.  I thought that it might be useful to write a series of posts that will take you through what Hypnosis for Fertility sessions might involve for you. All treatment plans are devised based on the individual so your sessions may not follow exactly the same path but these posts will hopefully give you an idea of what to expect and clear up any myths or concerns you may have or heard regarding hypnosis.

Actually, although this is about session one there is some stuff that goes on prior to me ever meeting you and so I will mention this first. Normally there will have been a first phone call or at least an email. Someone will have read about HypnoFertility and probably have had a look at my website www.tums2mums.com and found out a bit more about me and the way that I work. The phone call / email enables them to ask any initial questions to make sure that they are comfortable with booking their first session. Once this has then been booked I send out an ‘Intake’ form for them to complete and return to me prior to attending. I also send them a stress buster and progressive relaxation mp3 to start listening to.

Session one itself is all about information giving on both sides. I spend time explaining how hypnosis supports fertility (both natural and assisted conception), how the mind works and its impact on the body both positive and negative and what being in the state of hypnosis feels like (not what you would expect from a stage hypnotic show - just a nice relaxed feeling mainly). We will review the information provided in the intake sheet and most importantly discuss your goal of therapy.

Now you might well say “but you know my goal - I want a baby”. But goals need to be SMART (I’m drawing on my days as a trainer here). Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound. Now whilst I do spend time with you helping you to imagine what it will be like to be pregnant, holding your baby in your arms, feeling positive about you ability to have your baby. Because we actually have no control over timescales or achievability for this it is not a goal we can measure. What we will be aiming for is creating the best possible circumstances which themselves will support fertility.

This in turn means that the feedback I get from clients is that they feel more in control of their lives than they have for years. Friends and family are saying that they look more relaxed and happy. They are feeling less obsessed and more able to enjoy life. Things that had been bothering them for a long time now don’t seem significant at all. And many other positive changes particular to them. These things in themselves help to return the body to a state of normalcy and give the best opportunity for having their desired baby.

There may or may not be time to actually carry out some hypnosis during session one but if there is it will be something gentle introducing them to how it feels and starting the process of restoring balance in their lives.

In part 2 of this series I will be taking you through the next steps as we move on to Session two.

If in the meantime you have any questions based on what you have read about Session one please post a comment and I will answer them.

Dany Griffiths

Hypnotherapist specialising in

Fertility, Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond…

www.tums2mums.com

Posted in Hypnofertility, Infertility & Stress, Hypnotherapy, Alternative medicine, Stress relief, Alternative Therapies & Fertility | Print | 1 Comment »

07/10/2009 by admin.

Just read a really interesting article at BBC online. It seems that since the changes in 2006 (sperm donors no longer anonymous) fewer men have been coming forward to donate sperm to sperm banks. This means many fertility clinics are having difficulties, & couples are have to go on waiting lists for sperm.

The article is very interesting and highlights one way the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at Barts Hospital has dealt with the problem, by setting up their own sperm bank

Click on link below to read the article

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8292694.stm

Posted in Sperm Donors, Male Fertility Issues | Print | No Comments »

06/10/2009 by admin.

A recent rise in rates of spina bifida in Scotland has highlighted the importance of folic acid to women of childbearing age. The problem is that many women do not start taking folic acid until they are pregnant, and by then it may be too late.

Spina bifida is a defect in the development of the spinal cord. The spinal cord develops in the first 4 weeks of pregnancy. It has been shown that taking folic acid supplements  pre-conceptually greatly reduces the risk of the foetus developing spina bifida. Ideally the folic acid supplement should be taken for at least 3 months pre-conceptually to build up your reserves, and then for the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy.

Many pregnancies are unplanned, and so some experts are calling for all women of childbearing age to take folic acid supplements. The supplement can be taken on its own, or as part of a mutivitamin supplement, such as Wellwomen

If you find that you are pregnant unexpectedly, then start taking folic acid immediately

Reccomended daily dose is 0.4 mg (400 microgram)

If you have had a previous baby with spina bifida the dose is much higher (see your doctor for prescription & to discuss before you start trying to conceive)

Click here for folic acid

Click here to see range of pre-conceptual & pregnancy supplements containing folic acid

Click here for more info about folic acid for Food Standards Agency  http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/vitaminsandminerals/folicacid/

Click here to read BBC news coverage http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8232089.stm

Posted in Folic acid supplements, Folic Acid | Print | 1 Comment »

01/10/2009 by Free Spirit.

I am delighted to be accepted as a guest blogger on this site and I thought I would start by telling you a little about myself and what’s going on at present.

My name is Sarah and I have been married to my amazing husband for four years now. I turn 30 next week and he is in his late 30’s and we have been trying to conceive for about three years now.

I always thought that I would have fertility issues as I have had irregular periods before and after coming off birth control. When I say irregular, I am talking about only one or two periods a year.

About 2 years ago we decided to get medical help and I was referred to a specialist who prescribed good old Clomid. 50mg did not work but my first dose of 100mg resulted in a pregnancy around new years last year. It sadly ended in a miscarriage at the beginning of February.

I had to wait to be referred back to the hospital and now I am back on Clomid. Suffice to say, the last couple of years have been a bit of emotional roller-coaster and I never know how I am going to feel from one day to another. I am also trying to lose weight at the moment just in case I have to go for IVF. I currently have a BMI of 31 and I need to get it down to 29. I have lost about a stone and a half but I have kind of reached a plateau at the moment and can’t seem to budge my weight.
So where has that left me now?

I have so far had two more cycles on medication. One I ovulated but did not get pregnant, the second one I did not ovulate. The last time I went to see the specialist he prescribed me 100mg Clomifene (the generic form of Clomid) and this is the unsuccessful cycle on the same strength. I know both drugs are the same. However, I am going to ask my doc if he could prescribe the brand Clomid for me as opposed to Clomifene. I am not being too anal about it. It is just that you only get so many shots with Clomid and I do not want to waste them on this generic stuff if it is not going to work!

I have one sneaky lot of actual brand clomid left over from a previous doc’s appointment. So I am giving my body a break for a couple of weeks just to check I haven’t ovulated late. I am going to start Provera on about 9th Oct and Clomid on about 19th Oct and then hopefully ovulate at the end of Oct/Beginning of Nov…. In the mean time, I will go to docs and see if he’ll prescribe Clomid instead of Clomifene.

I also want to align my cycle with the moon cycle. I am at complete opposites at the moment, and would like CD14 to align with a full moon and CD1 to align with the new moon.

Please do not hesitate to ask me anything about anything I have blogged about.. Whether it is irregular periods, provera, clomid, even NHS procedure. I am becoming quite an expert on it (lol.)

I also chart and if you are interested in looking at my latest charts, you can do so at: http://forums.ovusoft.com/chart.asp?id=Freespirit

Posted in Fertility Blogger, Clomiphene, Clomid, TTc after miscarriage, Trying to Conceive | Print | 1 Comment »