http://www.iparenting.com/ Latest articles from preconception to the teenage years. http://www.preconception.com/articles/6295.php When a couple discovers they have fertility issues, their first question is often "Why us?" Sometimes the issues are random. Other times the couple has to look no further than their own family history. Kerrie Spencer from Saskatchewan, Canada, knew where her fertility issues came from�� her mother... Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:43:53 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/504.php Understand the process. Don't be embarrassed. Remain positive. Participate. Don't be afraid to seek outside support. This advice is from a dad who has been there, done that: "that" being going through the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) with his wife... Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:51:58 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/3028.php After each failed attempt to conceive, couples often feel themselves becoming more and more disheartened. Yet many do not find success until their second or even third attempt to conceive. Even though some things may get easier after doing them over and over, IVF � in many ways � is not one of them... Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:15:33 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/3720.php With more than six billion people on the planet, you can't help but think that having babies is easy. After all, women are born with around 400,000 eggs, and you would think that one of them could easily become fertilized. But for many people, it just isn't that easy, and they need to work a little harder to get pregnant... Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:24:14 -0500 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1222.php In the Ladies Room by Misty Pellett We were at our favorite restaurant, eating our favorite meal and talking about our favorite subject -- the baby we wanted! I think it just must have been telepathic or something, but half way through my prime rib and his fettuccini, we ended up in the ladies room! And the best part -- besides our dinner being still warm when we got back -- IT WORKED!!! Our next pregnancy test was POSITIVE!!! Now we go to that restaurant even more often, but just for the nutrition and memories! :) Of course! Dinner and a Baby by Alana Oberhamer My fianc� (at the time) and I are somewhat religious, but not over the top... Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:27:58 -0500 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1276.php Are cold medications safe for the baby you may be carrying, and if you're not already pregnant, could these medications reduce your chances? In terms of fertility, your answer is fairly simple. According to Dr. R. Don Gambrell, an OB-GYN and a clinical professor at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, very few over-the-counter medications have been shown to reduce fertility... Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:50:45 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1483.php Moms want the best for their babies. From quality skin care products to a baby-proof home, you're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure your child is healthy. But all of this can only begin with you. If you don't take care of yourself initially, your baby may never get the chance to do the things you so desperately hope for... Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:44:29 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1254.php "To this day, I'm sure my caffeine intake had something to do with the fact that I couldn't get pregnant," says Josee* of Montreal, Canada. "I was 23 years old and in relatively good health; my husband Claude was 30 years old and also in good health... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:03:02 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1299.php Used primarily to prevent miscarriage, DES�diethylstilbestrol (Di-Ethyl-Stillbestrol)�was a common medication administered by doctors in North America, Europe, and Australia for more than 40 years. Aggressive marketing pushed DES to be used for more than 100 additional medical conditions, exposing approximately 10 million Americans... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:58:14 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1410.php The luteal phase refers to the span of time in the menstrual cycle between ovulation and the onset of the next menses. Most women have a luteal phase that lasts 10 to 14 days. If the luteal phase is shorter than 10 days or longer than 14 days, you may have a luteal phase defect (LPD)... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:52:21 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1344.php Think of male fertility problems and chances are, you'll think of sperm. But when Mitchell and Cheryl Tepper of Bridgeport, Connecticut, decided to have a baby seven years ago, sperm count was the least of their worries. Injured in a diving accident in 1982, Tepper was left with little sensation or motor control below the neck... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:42:21 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/3727.php Marlene Clark, a registered dietician who specializes in eating disorders at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and co-author of Carrying a Little Extra: A Guide to Healthy Pregnancy for the Plus-Size Woman , says that eating disorders can affect a woman's fertility, but the desire to become pregnant is so powerful that many women can overcome their problem�at least long enough to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:27:49 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/4012.php Checkups have become standard throughout the course of pregnancy, but how many women fully assess their health and lifestyles� before they become pregnant? Women often don't assess their health until they encounter problems conceiving. This can lead to undue stress and wasted time... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:23:28 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1461.php More women are seeking acupuncture to help boost their fertility and enhance their overall health. "Today you can scarcely pick up a magazine publication without some mention to the benefit of acupuncture for various illnesses and conditions," says Jennifer Hanbury Pobiak, a licensed acupuncturist at OneMedicine Associates in Rockville, Maryland... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:17:11 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1408.php Low-carb eating has been hailed as a cure not only for obesity but for a number of other medical problems such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. But a number of experts believe that low carb diets may be just the ticket to solving some women's infertility issues... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:13:39 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1355.php Tracy Rasmussen of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, thought conceiving children was going to be a breeze, but Rasmussen and her husband began having fertility problems soon after trying to conceive. Eventually, it was determined that she had endometriosis. "I thought I had a lot of time to conceive, so we tried some conventional therapies to shrink the endometriomas (the tumors associated with endometriosis) but it didn't work, so I was recommended for surgery," Rasmussen says... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:09:41 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1436.php Micha�l Alegria of Spokane, Washington, has had severe asthma since she was 2 years old. When she and her husband were expecting their first child, her pulmonologist sent her to an allergist to get better continuity of care. "The new doctor immediately wanted to put me on prednisone, as my asthma was exacerbated at the time," she says... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:59:30 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1456.php Are you considering planning a pregnancy with a friend? Are you uncertain as to what to expect? There are pros and cons to consider in sharing this very personal experience. The Pros Barb Hall of British Columbia, Canada, planned a pregnancy with a close friend and co-worker... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:55:19 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1239.php Barrier methods of contraception (diaphragms, condoms, sponges, etc.) provide the perfect alternative for women who are interested in protecting their fertility,�but they are less likely to prevent pregnancy than hormonal methods. If the idea of messing around with your hormones isn't exactly appealing but the low success rates of barrier methods is off-putting, fertility awareness method (FAM) may be the right choice for you... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:51:22 -0400 http://www.preconception.com/articles/1357.php A healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals is very important if you want to start your pregnancy right. In addition to eating right, there is one vitamin that is crucial as you try to conceive: folic acid. This little vitamin is so important that 15 of the nation's leading organizations have joined together under the March of Dimes to help spread awareness to women who could become pregnant... Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:38:49 -0400