What Affects Fertility?
As many couples know, becoming pregnant is not simply a matter of having intercourse near a selected date.
Fewer than two-thirds of couples trying to conceive succeed within six months. Fortunately, 90% of women trying to get pregnant do so within 18 months.
There are dozens of factors that affect the odds of conception, some more important than others.
Caffeine intake does affect fertility for both men and women. Brewed coffee has between 100-300 mg of caffeine, while cappucino has between 300-400 mg and decaf (not surprisingly) has only 1-8 mg. Those concerned that caffeine might be an issue should limit themselves to no more than two cups per day.
Conditions in both men and women are about equally likely to be the reason pregnancy doesn’t occur.
A small percentage of men have low sperm motility, a condition in which sperm cells don’t actively move enough to make the trip up to the egg. Caffeine or excessive alcohol consumption can have some small effect on this, but in general the condition is either genetic or a temporary condition due to disease.
Or, a man may have a low sperm count, though again this is true of fewer than 10%. Heavy alcohol use can be a factor, but here again it’s generally the result of inheritance or recent illness. In some cases this is due, for example, to high fever.
That’s the true part of the statement that heat causes low sperm counts. This is temporary, though. The mythical part of the ‘heat produces low sperm count’ is the belief that hot tubs or underwear affects sperm count.
The myth grew out of common laboratory observations that high temperature reduces sperm count in tests. But the temperature required is much higher than the shift produced by wearing jockey shorts or other lifestyle choices.
Fertility odds can be affected by issues women may experience, as well. ‘Infertility’ is often a matter of degrees. Very few women are completely infertile. For some women, the uterine environment causes implantation to be less likely.
Endometriosis, a condition in which tissue from the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, is responsible for about 15% of low female fertility. Irregular ovulation is a problem for others. In about 20% of low fertility cases, some issue with the fallopian tubes is responsible.
For some, it’s simply a matter of keeping better track of the menstrual cycle. Maintaining an accurate chart of basal body temperature and monthly events can help. They should be recorded at least once daily, preferably twice - once in the morning, once in the evening.
Being considerably overweight reduces a woman’s chances of pregnancy, since it affects ovulation and overall hormonal factors. Body fat levels 10-15% over the normal range produces excess estrogen, which affects fertility.
Hormonal imbalances in general, producing an irregular cycle or very heavy periods, can shift the odds. Anti-depressant and other medications can affect female fertility, as does heavy tobacco or alcohol consumption.
For those cases where the condition is not temporary, fertility treatments are an option. Most physicians won’t intervene, however, unless the couple has been trying natural methods for at least 18 months. Fertility treatments themselves are not foolproof, nor are they entirely without risk.
If you’ve been trying to become pregnant for over a year without success, your first best course of action is to consult a physician.
Babysitter or Daycare
Consider all your options when you have to find some help with your children. Keep in mind that hiring a babysitter and daycare are two possibilities.
Read this to find out how these options are different”¦
When you hire a babysitter you can do that just for the time that you need the help. You can go for this option when you want a live in nanny to help you take care of your children all the time, when you want somebody to come and take care of your children when you want a weekend off, or just occasionally when your boss wants you to do overtime.
Often daycare is a more consistent solution.
You can just arrange that your children are being taken care of by these specialists that do that kind of work in a daycare center.
Your child will learn how to interact with children their age and will get better at coordination and motor skills. Basically it means that you extend your children’s school experience by bringing them to a daycare.
What are the benefits and disadvantages of both these solutions?
The cost of that kind of service depends really on what you need. When you hire a babysitter that comes to your house you will have to pay accordingly. They come and help you out for a day or sometimes just a half day and besides doing whatever basic care is needed they will also assist with other activities: rides to activities after school or homework help. Overall it is more expensive to bring them to the home of somebody who babysits several children at her house.
They will have to share the attention of that babysitter with several other children and they will learn how to associate with their peers, just like at a professional daycare. The lady who babysits at her house will not have as many children as what they take care of in the daycare so this option is still more personalized. These babysitters can only take care of four children at their home at any given time, while professional daycares accept ten to twenty children per teacher.
Daycare providers have to interact more professionally and you are the one that will have to pay for that. It is a good idea to have all the facts clear about expectations and commitment. They also have to know all the individual aspects of your child’s care. It has to be understood very well what the structure is of the employment, including hours and scopes, and both the parent and the provider have to agree on limitations. Make sure that you take care of all the paperwork that needs to be done. After all we are talking full time jobs here.
The care of a specialist
Your child will learn from this other adult that will be committing time. Agencies usually screen the babysitters they work with really well and so their good care is guaranteed. These are people who know what they are doing and they will respond appropriately to any kind of emergency. Overall they are not just here to help you educate your child. They soon become part of the family. They take care of all the needs of your child whether it they are at an intellectual level, emotional assistance or taking care of physical needs.
These people are usually very knowledgeable when it comes to the psychology of the development of a child. They are legally not allowed to provide these kinds of services unless they can successfully pass some testing. They will help you bring all the capabilities of your child to the right level by helping them to develop their talents.
Consistency
While children get used to changing teachers all the time, they will stay attached to their babysitters.
Daycare centers are more education oriented, but a babysitter will train your child to become a success in life. Daycare teachers are done for the day when they clock out, but a babysitter will see to it that the child is happy with all aspects of life and they will take part in the bed time ritual. A babysitter will help you raise your child as if she is taking care of her own child. A teacher in a daycare does not have that kind of commitment.
High carbohydrate diets and lack of exercise to blame for obesity epidemic
This story mentions some research on childhood obesity that further confirms the extensive problem now being experienced by the United States and other countries.
We used to hear about obesity striking primarily adults, and then more recently, obesity in teenagers. But now, we are increasingly hearing about obesity in infants and toddlers.
What’s to blame for all this obesity? As this research rightly points out lack of exercise is a major factor: apparently these toddlers are already couch potatoes, spending only 20 to 25 minutes a day engaged in some form of physical activity. But the biggest influences, no doubt, the diets of these toddlers. Many are raison candy and soft drinks from a very young age.
They’re given an access of carbohydrates from their parents, many of whom are, themselves, addicted to sugar and other forms of refined carbohydrates.
What these toddlers need is the same thing their parents need: a low-carb dietary approach that eliminates sugar from their diet and increases the intake of healthy oils such as olive oil, flax oil, and coconut oil. What these people need-both the toddlers and their parents, usually-is a nutritional plan that really works.
Note that the US government is little help in this area, since the USDA-which publishes the food pyramid guide -is essentially the marketing and advertising branch for the US grain industry and therefore heavily promotes the consumption of grains in all its forms: White flower, refined white rice, quick oats, and other foods that are increasingly being tied to metabolic disorders and obesity. As a nation, we are facing nothing less than an epidemic when talking about obesity.
The incidence of obesity continues to rise, and more and more people are interested in losing weight as adults. In fact nearly all the predictions state that the weight-loss industry will continue to expand in the years ahead, just like the waistlines of most Americans.
About the author: Mike Adams is a holistic nutritionist with a passion for teaching people how to improve their health He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, impacting the lives of millions of readers around the world who are experiencing phenomenal health benefits from reading his articles.
http://www.NaturalNews.com/000726_obesity_diets_toddlers.html
Teach Your Child to Spell and Read
This program is receiving rave reviews from professionals and parents alike from around the world. So if you are interested in helping your child with their reading and spelling and have them better prepared for school this program is certainly worth a look.
I think the best way to introduce ClickNRead and ClickNSpell to you is to let you read for yourself what some others have to say.
Technology & Learning Magazine, Product Review by Iris Obille Lafferty, Ed.D.
“ClickN KIDS newest release, designed as an intervention to support students without a solid foundation for reading, is the epitome of a captivating and systematic beginning reading program. ClickN READ’s graphics and quick animated segments are vibrant, but without unnecessary bells and whistles. The program’s uncomplicated interface falls to the advantage of less experienced computer users or learners who are easily distracted from the task at hand - focus stays on the lessons.”
Power To Learn Magazine, Product Review by Diane S. Kendall
“The program ClickN READ Phonics offers children the chance to practice the skills they need in a pleasant, non-competitive environment. Children learn at their own pace as they see and hear letters, words, and sentences on the computer and find them on the keyboard. The program’s teacher, ClickN KID, is an appealing little dog dressed like a canine of the future. He helps children gently through the lessons. If they make a mistake, he is patient, giving them the time to digest their learning.”
“ClickN READ Phonics should work well with most of the reading series that children are using in school. Teachers and parents can use the lessons to supplement textbook material, to enrich studies for those who are ahead, or to provide remedial help for those who need it. Children can use the lessons on their own with little or no parent or teacher guidance.”
Stacey Boggs, Parent, Fort Myers, FL Top
“My son started his alphabet at an early age. By 2 he knew his alphabet backwards and forwards, literally! This website has set him to reading things that just amaze me. He is 4 now. He can sound out most words he doesn’t know, even fairly complex words. He is so proud of himself and of course, I and his Daddy couldn’t be happier.
My cousin, who teaches elementary school, signed up her two boys who are three, and she loves what it is doing for them, not only in their ability to read, but also in their self esteem. This is a great site and I am so glad I checked it out after seeing the commercials.”
To find out more Click Here
Early Learning For Busy Parents
As an expectant parent working full-time, it’s natural to worry that you won’t have enough time for your new baby.
Assuming you don’t have the option of stopping work, it’s essential that you learn how to spend quality time with your baby - both before and after she is born.
Essentially, education begins from the moment a baby becomes aware of his surroundings. A baby’s sense of hearing becomes fully developed in the fifth month of pregnancy.
As busy parents, you only need to invest a little time every day in talking, reading and singing to your baby. Not only will such activities stimulate your baby’s brain, but studies have shown that babies are soothed by the sounds of familiar stories and songs. They will even respond positively after birth to stories and songs heard regularly in the womb.
The first few years of life are a critical time in terms of brain development. As synapses (connections) between neurons (brain cells) are created and eliminated at a rate never to be seen again, it is well within the grasp even of busy parents to provide high-quality, high-frequency stimulation.
Very young children have an unrivalled ability to learn, and no matter how busy parents are, it is their duty not to let this opportunity slip away.
During pregnancy, there are several simple ways to stimulate your baby’s brain that require minimal effort on the part of busy parents. For example, expectant mothers can play relaxing music while they are working. From the fifth month onwards, the baby will be able to hear the music you play, and you will both benefit from the reduction in stress such soothing sounds bring.
The benefits are there even when the music is too quiet for your baby to hear. When an expectant mother is stressed, the hormone cortisol is released into her blood, and in turn, her baby’s blood. Too much cortisol - which activates the body’s fight or flight response - is bad for the baby’s nervous system.
And it can be bad for parents too: studies have shown that babies whose mothers were stressed during pregnancy tend to be more irritable after they are born. When choosing music, it doesn’t need to be classical, but do pick something melodic and soothing, rather than frenetic or dissonant.
Aside from auditory stimulation, tactile stimulation is also valuable. Again, only a small amount of time is needed each day - and the mother can do a great deal herself, even from her desk in the office. Many mothers naturally respond to the kicks of their baby by gently pressing back.
This is a subtle yet powerful first form of communication between mother and child. Busy parents, once they are home, can also enjoy massaging their baby once the child is large enough to be felt through the mother’s belly - sometime around the seventh month of pregnancy.
Of course, it’s just as important for everyone, including busy parents, to provide a healthy prenatal environment for their child. The mother should eat a balanced diet, and should avoid smoking, drinking or taking recreational drugs. She should also check with her doctor before taking any prescription medications.
After the birth, busy parents should find a little time each day to read and sing to their baby. If and when they have time, busy parents can use massage to encourage their little one to sleep better and for longer. If at all possible, the baby should also be breastfed. The longer, the better (the World Health Organization recommends up to two years of age), but even a few weeks of breastfeeding is far better than none.
As busy parents, remember to foster the development of your baby’s motor skills as well. Give your baby regular tummy time to facilitate her crawling skills. Get down on the floor with your baby and give her plenty of encouragement.
Remember, no matter how busy you are, to leave your worries at the door and above all, enjoy your baby. Career is important, but focusing too much on your career could cause you to miss an amazing opportunity to maximize your child’s development - and smell the roses.
About the AuthorMF Patrick is a writer for BrillBaby.
Go to BrillBaby.com to learn more on early learning for busy parents.
A Time of Radical Changes
Pregnancy presents a time of big changes in every dimension.
There’s the obvious weight gain and changing shape. Over time, it will be more difficult to maintain a regular exercise regimen of the same type as before pregnancy.
Less obvious changes are taking place, too. Estrogen and progesterone levels are increasing. All those, and many more, carry both physical challenges and emotional implications. And, all this at a time when expenses are going up.
Faced with all this, women have a right to be disgruntled. But many women report that being pregnant is (or was) the best time of their lives. They have many resources that can be used to lighten any burdens and others to help them celebrate the fact.
For those who want to become pregnant, but haven’t yet achieved their goal, there have been great advances in fertility treatments. The knowledge of the risks of those treatments has improved along with the treatments themselves.
Home pregnancy tests allow women now to predict early, and with great reliability, whether or not they are really pregnant in the first place. Several of the leading manufacturers offer tests that are now easier to read (and harder to mis-read). They have tests that are now so sensitive that some women will need to exercise prudence in using them too early, to avoid false positives.
Once pregnancy is confirmed, choosing the right physician and hospital becomes a big concern. But there are so many channels of information today that the choice is made much easier than ever before. Personal recommendation is still hugely important. But the Internet has made finding out information about who is good and who isn’t (and what ‘good’ really means) simple.
Some women choose to forego a regular physician, at least for delivery, and select a midwife instead. These are no longer the wise village elder woman, but trained professionals with close relations with a licensed OB/GYN (OBstetrics and GYNaecology). They have the experience and training to assist in a birth, and often the time to devote exclusive attention to a woman on that critical day.
Women will want to pay close attention to developing a good exercise and nutrition plan during the time of these changes. Maintaining optimal health for both mother and baby is a natural goal. Here again, the information available is top-notch and plentiful. As always, a critical eye is helpful to sort the wheat from the chaff, but there’s plenty of wheat around.
An expectant mother will want to plan her pregnancy carefully, including (and especially) that final phase - labor and delivery. She’ll want to investigate Lamaze or other training courses. Pain control options, whether to use anesthesia or have a Caesarean, and other issues can be complex. But taking the time to carefully weigh the pros and cons will be high on anyone’s list.
Getting information about possible danger signs such as vaginal bleeding, severe cramps and other not-so-common, but still possible, events is a good thing to do. Forewarned is forearmed. With adequate knowledge, most things can be treated to keep potentially serious problems down to minor annoyances.
It sounds like a big course of study - and it is. But mothers have a big incentive to dig in to find the resources they need to handle these big changes. Then, they can start in anew to learn all about parenting.
Life is change. Some are bigger than others.
Family Communication
Few subjects in parenting are as fundamental, or as important, as communication. Humans function so much by language, whether implicit or explicit, that learning how to communicate effectively affects virtually every other sphere of family relations.
But developing good strategies for good communication, based on sound ideas, is extremely complicated. Individuals differ so widely in age, temperament and circumstances that outlining a ‘one size fits all’ approach is guaranteed to fail at the outset.
Does that mean that every parent has to start from scratch and simply improvise for 20 years? Fortunately, no. Both cognitive studies and generations of experience have shown that some methods do work better than others.
One essential element is suggested in the short list above. Since individuals differ in those ways and so many more, a method that accepts that fundamental fact has a better chance of producing healthy results.
An effective communication approach between parent and child will start with openly recognizing facts. Just as good communication between adults requires honesty, so will that between parent and child. Children, as any parent knows, are very intuitive. They sense very quickly when they are being lied to.
That doesn’t imply that parents must, or should, be so frank as to answer fully every question put to them. Parents are individuals too and are entitled to a sphere that respects their privacy.
How much to share, and in what manner, will take into account the individual child’s age and level of genuine interest. For example, when communicating ‘lessons’ about appropriate behavior with respect to other people’s property, picking the time and place is helpful.
Using a shared experience, such as a TV program being watched or something seen while on a joint shopping trip, can be a good springboard. At the same time, approaching the talk in a way that makes it a discussion rather than a lecture will benefit both parent and child.
The child sees that his or her viewpoint is respected while they benefit from the experience and ability to articulate that the parent has in greater abundance. Despite their occasional bravado, children know they don’t know as much as adults and look to them for input. When that input is delivered in a respectful, honest manner most children will respond appropriately most of the time - provided the approach is followed consistently.
Children are also very intuitive about sensing hypocrisy and observant about any inconsistency between ‘the rules’ and the parent’s behavior. Sometimes embarrassingly so!
Part of that process involves being willing to listen attentively and fully to the child’s point of view. Most parents know the delight of hearing the wisdom ‘out of the mouths of babes’ that children can exhibit. The child’s honest appraisal of what they observe is often insightful and refreshing.
Echoing back, in the parent’s own words, what the child has said will help both parties. The child observes that they have been listened to, while at the same time gaining additional insight from the experience of the parent. The parent gains the deep satisfaction of observing his or her child develop and the joy of interacting with an individual who is immensely important to them.
One form of this is sometimes called the ’stop, look and listen’ approach. It entails - when feasible - stopping what the parent is doing, looking directly at the child and listening completely without interruption before responding.
It helps the child practice communication in an atmosphere of respect and allows the parent to get hugely important information about what their child is attending to and how he or she is processing that experience.
The phrase is overworked, but this is one approach that is truly a win-win situation.
More helpful information on comunicating with you Child Click Here