Getting Pregnant, Staying Pregnant & Post Pregnancy by Siobhán Boucher.

Transcription

1 Getting Pregnant, Staying Pregnant & Post Pregnancy by Siobhán Boucher

2 Getting Pregnant, Staying Pregnant and After you have your baby 1. Types & Causes of infertility 2. What can we do to influence our fertility A Mind / Body Approach 3. Assisted Reproductive Technology 4. Cost of an IVF Cycle in Ireland 5. Going abroad for treatment 6. Staying Pregnant 7. After you have your baby

3 Types of Infertility 1. Primary Infertility Describe a couple that have never been able to conceive 2. Secondary Infertility Describes a couple who after having 1 or more babies cant conceive or who have had one for more miscarriages or stillbirths 3. SubFertililty Indicates that there are problems that make conception difficult if not high unlikely with out medical help or if you can get pregnant but keep having miscarriages

4 Causes of Infertility 1 in 6 Couples have difficulty trying to conceive The main causes of infertility are: 32 % Female Factors 32% Male Factor 12% Combined male & female 24% Unexplained infertility (no identified male or female cause) Source HFEA 2008

5 What can WE do to influence our fertility A Mind Body Approach 1. Nutrition 2. Weight 3. Work / Life Balance 4. Lifestyle, Alcohol & Smoking 5. Environmental Hazards 6. Stress

6 Nutrition

7 Nutrition Not just our reproductive system we need to take a whole body approach. Nutritional stress can have huge impact on your overall health. Balancing blood sugar Hormonal balance Digestion Liver Function Nutrients for general health and wellbeing

8 Nutrition Tips Eat every 3 hrs to balance blood sugar Always eat breakfast Eat protein and carbs together Avoid processed foods & eat food in its natural state Avoid low fat foods that contain chemicals and sweeteners Water at least 1.5 ltrs a day One size does not fit all so find a nutrition programme that suits you and enlist the help of a professional if necessary.

9 Weight /BMI

10 Weight /BMI A 10% change in body weight can have a positive impact on your chances of conceiving Being underweight is equally as unhealthy as being overweight

11 Factors that influence fertility Work

12 Work 2 Big Questions I get asked: 1. Should I give up work 2. Should I tell my boss I m having treatment.

13 Lifestyle

14 Alcohol Here s the science - 2 studies found alcohol consumption can delay conception in fertile women Findings: The more alcohol fertile women drank per week the longer it took to get pregnant.

15 Environmental Factors

16 Environmental Factors Decrease Xenoestrogens - These are man-made chemicals that mimic oestrogens and are harmful to health. They are found in plastic, cleaning products, cosmetics, pesticides etc.

17 Factors that influence fertility Relax Inducing the Relaxation Response 1. Meditation 2. Yoga 3. Mindfulness 4. Deep Breathing 5. Guided Imagery

18 Stress

19 Importance of Reducing Emotional stress

20 Importance of Reducing Emotional stress The stress hormones and the sex hormones are made from cholesterol. When stressed, the body prioritizes making stress hormones over the sex hormones. This can cause low levels of progesterone. Adrenalin (the hormone released when you are stressed or when blood sugar levels drop) stops your body using progesterone in the second half of your cycle. Progesterone is essential for pregnancy.

21 How to reduce Emotional stress Induce Relaxation Response Cognitive restructuring Coping skills Recent research shows women who do a Mind / Body Programme more than double IVF success rates.

22 Impact of TTC (Trying to Conceive) Alice Domar - Stress associated with trying to conceive is the same as those suffer from a major illness like Cancer Infertility is more than not having a baby its about loneliness, social exclusion, unacknowledged grief, shame, feelings of inadequacy Personal Impact- monthly reminder, unsuccessful treatment, miscarriage, self esteem Relationships - significant other, parents, siblings, friends Work Social Life

23 What can you do if you are having difficulty conceiving GP Health Check, routine bloods to check iron, thyroid, vitamin D, hormones day 3 & 7 LH, Oestrogen, FSH, prolactin, inflammatory markers, smear Fertility Clinic / Specialist Female Tests, AMH, Hysterosalpingogram (HSG), Hysteroscopy, Laparoscopy Male Test include semen analysis, DNA fragmentation For both male and female Immune Testing

24 Assisted Reproductive Technology Cycle Tracking / Monitored Cycles IUI IVF (With or without fertility drugs), Donor Conception Surrogacy Traditional & Gestational

25 What is IVF

26 4 Stages of IVF 1. Natural Cycle or Stimulation Phase 2. Egg Retrieval 3. Embryo / Blastocyst Transfer 4. 2 Week Wait (2WW) Risk with IVF OHSS (Ovarian Hyper-stimulation Syndrome) Success Rate 33%

27 Cost of IVF in Ireland IVF (ICSI) 5,000 Does not include routine bloods, scans, counselling, medication, freezing, assisted hatching, blastocyst culture Donor Egg 10,000 Fertility Workup bloods, scans done previously.

28 Going Abroad for Treatment Technological advances USA - ASRM lists cost at $12,400 ( 9K) Spain Barcelona 6,500-9,000 Czech Republic Prague 4,500 and 6,000 Greece 4, Surrogacy Costs USA - 80K - 150K and India 20K- 60K

29 Choosing a clinic Number of Treatment cycles Live Birth Rate Single Birth Rate Choose a clinic that specialise in your particular issue e.g. low ovarian reserve Anonymous or known Donor

30 BFP

31 Being Pregnant After IVF Freeze embryos Risk of miscarriage / ectopic pregnancy the same with IVF as natural pregnancy Nurturing yourself - Manage your emotional bank account Challenge your thought pattern

32 Other Family Building Options Warning ART is addictive Donor Conception Adoption Fostering Surrogacy A life without children

33 Other Family Building Options

34 After you have your baby

35 After you have your baby Fear, anxiety, low mood, baby weight, keeping up appearances Postnatal Depression Secondary infertility

36 Last Word To the brave and the faithful nothing is impossible

37 Questions

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