Female sharks can produce healthy young without a male – asexual reproduction may have helped this ancient group of creatures survive for so long
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Male Reproduction | Permalink
Dr. Philip Landrigan, pediatrician, who won the 2010 Heart of Green “Protector” Award and has been lead investigator of the National Children’s Study, has simple tips for pregnant women:
Source: The Daily Green
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Pregnancy | Permalink
Thursday morning Mark McGrath’s fiancée, Carin Kingsland, gave birth to twins – a boy and a girl – in Los Angeles.
Son Lydon Edward weighed in at 5 lbs., 7 oz. upon his arrival at 9:54 a.m., daughter Hartley Grace came one minute later, weighing 4 lbs., 8 oz., McGrath’s rep told PEOPLE exclusively.
“We are so lucky,” McGrath told PEOPLE. “I don’t think you can prepare for the love we are feeling.”
After 16 years of on-and-off dating, the Sugar Ray frontman, 42, and Kingsland, 37, an aesthetician, became engaged last New Year’s Eve and confirmed in April that they were expecting twins thanks to IVF.
“These two kids will be the luckiest kids in the world in terms of their mom, that’s for sure,” says McGrath, who will host Fox’s Don’t Forget the Lyrics! this fall and tour with Sugar Ray in the summer. “They’ll get a lot of love. “
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Pregnancy | Permalink
University of Adelaide research is showing that the sex of the baby determines the way it responds to stressors during pregnancy and its ability to survive pregnancy complications.
Male and female babies during pregnancy show different growth and development patterns following stressors during pregnancy such as disease, cigarette use or psychological stress.
The research is being carried out by the Robinson Institute’s Pregnancy and Development Group, based at the Lyell McEwin Hospital and led by Associate Professor Vicki Clifton.
“What we have found is that male and female babies will respond to a stress during pregnancy by adjusting their growth patterns differently,” said Associate Professor Clifton.
“The male, when mum is stressed, pretends it’s not happening and keeps growing, so he can be as big as he possibly can be. The female, in response to mum’s stress, will reduce her growth rate a little bit; not too much so she becomes growth restricted, but just dropping a bit below average.
“When there is another complication in the pregnancy – either a different stress or the same one again – the female will continue to grow on that same pathway and do okay but the male baby doesn’t do so well and is at greater risk of pre-term delivery, stopping growing or dying in the uterus.”
Associate Professor Clifton said this sex-specific growth response had been observed in pregnancies complicated by asthma, preeclampsia and cigarette use but was also likely to occur in other stressful events during pregnancy such as psychological stress.
She said this sex-specific growth pattern was a result of changes in placental function caused by the stress hormone cortisol.
In female babies, increased cortisol produces changes to the placental function which lead to the reduction in growth, but the increased cortisol levels in a mother carrying a male baby doesn’t produce the same changes in placental function.
Associate Professor Clifton said this research could lead to sex-specific therapies in pre-term pregnancies and premature newborns. It was also important in helping obstetricians more accurately interpret growth and development of the fetus in at-risk pregnancies.
“We are looking at what events during pregnancy cause changes in how the baby grows, what’s behind this and ways in which we can improve the outcomes for pregnant women and their babies,” she said.
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Pregnancy | Permalink
WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) — The FDA today approved the immunotherapeutic agent sipuleucel-T (Provenge) for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, almost three years after the agency rejected an advisory group’s approval recommendation for the drug.
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Urology News | Permalink
Bad news about the fight for workplace equality. Only 15 of this year’s Fortune 500 companies have woman CEOs the same percentage as last year. Robin Marty of Care2 points out that most of the companies women lead are “women focused” companies your food and cosmetic businesses. But … MorePost from: BlissTree
Women In the Workplace: Is it 2010, or 1910?
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
I found this very interesting article which I also have posted on my website about how the number of couples conceiving naturally after IVF is on the rise. It just confirms what I’ve been preaching all along. Many couples are capable of conceiving naturally given time and the right conditions. Read more:IVF mums conceiving after childbirthwww.news.com.auheraldsunIT’S a mystifying phenomenon – IVF mothers conceiving spontaneously months after childbirth – and experts say it may be on the rise.Women who have resorted to IVF after years of failure are regularly falling pregnant naturally soon after baby No. 1. According to some doctors, the number of IVF parents conceiving naturally second time around may be growing. “Twenty-five per cent of women who’ve been through IVF will conceive within the next two years,” said IVF Australia director Prof Michael Chapman. “It’s probably increasing, and that’s because IVF is being used more and more to treat unexplained infertility.” The IVF couples conceiving naturally second time around are not completely infertile, but rather have reduced fertility. So they may have fallen pregnant naturally the first time if they had kept trying.
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
I have to be honest, I never really planned on having a twitter account. Ages ago, when I first heard of the social site I tossed my head back and laughed. Who on earth would want a 140 character play by play of my day? Especially when my day was pretty much: be depressed, hate …
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
The programme of this campus activity is divided into three sessions: the past, present and future of PGD, PGD from a patient’s perspective and embryology and ethics related to PGD. The target audience for this meeting is genetic counselors, molecular biologists, cytogeneticists, physicians, nurses, embryologists, patient advocacy groups and patients themselves…
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Nowadays, it has become the tendency of an individual to judge a person from hisher overall personality and looks. If you have certain birth marks or want to improve anything in your face or body, cosmetic surgery can be an amazing technology. Admitting the fact that it is quite an expensive affair, easy cosmetic surgery loans have been introduced to provide swift financial assistance without any trouble.
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Here are ten things you should know about your perfume. 1. The perfume can be sprayed on the clean hair. The dirt and oil on the hair can change the good smell of a perfume.
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
To many, it would be surprising to discover an unexpected benefit from owning a colorful lingerie wardrobe. This article talks about the benefits of using color therapy by applying your focused awareness to the specific color of the lingerie you’ve chosen to wear.
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
This afternoon, I came face to face with the thing I KNEW I was going to face sooner or later as a mother. A bee. In my house. With me, and my boy. And I don’t just mean ANY bee, I mean a bee the size of my THUMB. And it wasn’t the fuzzy supposedly cute kind with yellow stripes – it was the kind with a LONG sharpish kind of body that made it look more like a wasp except I just don’t think it
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Any surgery comes with its own set of risks. Because of the popularity of breast augmentation surgeries, many women feel that these procedures are fool-proof and safe. However, breast implants are accompanied with a series of risks of which every woman should be fully aware and prepared to face. If considering breast surgery, it is important to choose a reputable and certified surgeon, research possible complications, clearly review your medical history with your doctor.
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
IAAC executive director Bev Hanck. Photograph by: Infertility Awareness Association of Canada, Infertility Awareness Association of Canada The statistics may prove surprising, if not downright shocking: One in six Canadian couples faces fertility issues.
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Herb appears to lead to liver failure in some, British researchers say
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
I have yet to go to Brazil but I have had “a taste of Brazil” if you know what I mean wink wink nudge nudge.DISCLAIMER: Let’s start with saying if you are ulrta-conservative, a member of my family or get bashful when you hear the words “Brazilian Wax” let’s save both of us the embarrassment, reading this post probably isn’t for you. I’m not a very private person. And I figured I’d give some words of wisdom for my lady friends who may be curious about the same thing.If you’ve read my blog awhile and you’re familiar with my post “To Brazil and Back” this will be very similar, but now, knowing that my lady parts will soon become a spectacle to many different people I have a different perspective on all of these techniques so I’m adding my “Preggo Commentary”After watching some very graphic Youtube videos why do I do this to myself, I don’t know and some even more graphic in my Lamaze class, I’m a little nervous, and I’m wondering what I can do to be a little less uneasy about that idea.Besides my OB, and before that, my yearly visit to the GYNO no strange person gets to see my whooha. I’ll admit, now that I’m pregnant, how things appear “down there” is one of the last things on my mind but as I get closer to D-Day that’s starting to change.We’ll start with the problem: Hair. Sometimes ya just don’t wait it in certain areas…I’ve tried many different tactics to rid myself of the blasted stuff. Remember my birth control post? Well this is going to be a similar but a little less elaborate, oh and maybe more graphic.I started to consider lazier hair removal but once I heard it was painful and that it’s harder on people with dark skin, I put that idea on hold. Here are my other previous-pre-pregnancy attempts.Shaving5Pre- Pregnancy: If you’re going to try it this way I only suggest you get a mirror, doing the balancing act in front of the bathroom mirror just won’t cut it. Plus, you could get hurt! Trust me, slipping and sliding with a razor blade in your hand aimed at very important bodily organs is NOT a good idea.The results: Nice for about a day then ya feel like a porcupine. A few days later… a porcupine with an itch. I give it 5 stars cause it can be worse.Preggo: It’s a totally different story when you’ve got a 7-month belly blocking your view of the mirror and everything else… I kind of chop this up to being too dangerous to try.NairVeet Stuff.5 5 Pre-pregnancy: I should have known this wasn’t the best idea from the beginning. After spending 20 minutes down the hair removal isle trying to decide whether to get the sensitive skin or bikini.. Finally choosing some kind of sensitive with aloe vera I did everything wrong…. The label says something like 3 minutes. To make sure it worked REALLY well I decided to add another 5–First bad idea….The label says to avoid certain sensitive areas and I tried but I just wanted it ALL gone so I gave into my internal temptations and just put it all over–Second bad idea….I waited another couple of minuets before really trying to take it all off tripling the directed time, then got the water really hot– Third and Fourth bad idea….I closed my legs–The WORST idea.I knew something was wrong when I felt the burning. ‘Jump in the tub’ was my first though but the water was so hot I didn’t know which was burning me more.Let’s just say the next 5-10 minuets of trying to get the stuff off was some of the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. Every swipe felt like I was peeling my skin off with an acidic rake.Ladies, I know we’re told to keep our legs closed but this is one instance you DON’T want to do it. Or better yet… don’t put the stuff there!I get it .5 stars 5 if you follow the directions.Preggo: I’m not sure if it’s even safe to use while pregnant since you’re using all of those chemicals, plus the spell is UGH… it just can’t be good. Plus, with my mistakes last time I’d be worried Id’ screw up and Spawnie would come out bald.Smooth Away as seen on TV5If you’ve seen the infomercials for Smooth Away, don’t be fooled! They show women softly caressing their legs, zoom in and show a silky smooth leg free from hair. They give you smaller pads to use in “the bikini” area. After trying it on my legs and realizing instead of turning my leg nice, shiny, and smooth it was just smooth and ashy. It also wasn’t an easy “wipe on wipe off” motion it was more like “push down real hard and get a workout while trying to wipe the hair away.” I seriously can skip an arm workout at the gym after smoothing my legs away. After testing on my legs I realized it doesn’t get the hair as close as shaving does, and it makes the area you use it on real tender… I opted not to try it on my goodies.5 stars 5 stars for the workout you get while trying.Preggo: Still not willing to try on my goodies, though I’m sure I should build up some pain tolerance before labor, I’m not sure I want to do it with that.Waxing5Pre-Pregnancy: Ok here we go, here’s where it gets good. I had always been curious about getting a Brazilian wax. The fact that I have the lowest pain tolerance imaginable kept me from trying it for years. Two things made me brave enough to do it. 1. I found to one of my ultra conservative friends gets one regularly. Waaa? ‘If SHE can do it, I can do it,’ I thought. 2. It came up in a conversation with one of my girlfriends who had also never had a Brazilian and we decided to take the leap together! We sort of worked as each other’s coach.In preparation I did a lot of research. I came across a story about one woman taking a bite stick in with her. I wanted to do that–Anything that would help. I heard of No Scream Cream but not until after the fact. So I drugged up on ibuprofen and hoped for the best.Having a friend with me gave me motivation to try not to scream… Or at least not first.I had never had anything besides my eyebrows waxed before so I had no idea the surprise I was in for. Everyone I’d asked about it said it hurt a lot but said it was worth it. All I kept thinking was ‘it had better be!’The torturer esthetician was nice. She tried to make good conversation but really, all I wanted to do was focus on not screaming.”Does anyone ever cry?” I asked her.”Oh no, if you cried I’d feel really bad.”Great… Pressure.”Well, I’ve never had anything waxed before. Nothing besides my eyebrows,” I told her, hoping to get some sympathy-Permission to cry if need be.I told her I almost brought a bite stick and she offered me a towel. Great! I’ll take it. I shoved the towel in my mouth and braced myself for the unimaginable pain I knew would soon be bestowed upon me.Now, I’m not sure why they do this but the scenario would go something like this:”So what are you studying?” She’d ask me, probably trying to lighten the mood, although I was in no mood for talking. Besides, I had the towel in my mouth, remember?I’d take the towel out, and begin to answer…”Broadcast….. JOOOOOOOOUUUUURNALISM!!!!” Right as the first, and worst strip of hair was ripped away. Why did she do that? Couldn’t she have at least waited for me to put the towel back in my mouth?I could feel the tears start to form. I felt betrayed.”Oh yea?” She’d say, and she’s ask a series of follow up questions I’d try to answer as quickly as possible as not to be fooled again.The whole process took about an hour… Yea, an hour of: Question, Ans-RIIIIP!!! wer!!!I wasn’t alone though, my friend said it wasn’t easy for her either. After it all I felt accomplished, brave, and like I had achieved a new level of womanhood. I told them all it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be but really… It was.The good news: A month later it was still nice and silky smooth. I looked like a plucked chicken the first couple of days but after the tenderness went away I was LOVIN it! I felt lighter, nicer, cleaner and just better!I went for a second round but nearly a year later I tested out those other products in between and decidedlearned it’s best to NOT shave between those. Good news though–It only took 15 minutes the last time! I went to a much better salon known for their 15-minute Brazilians.In the end I recommend finding a GOOD salon for those. Do your research and don’t pick some place just cause it’s cheap. Take a bite stick or ask for a towel to keep from screaming and prepared to be tricked into answering questions right as they pull the trigger.Preggo: I really don’t know any other way that I can get rid of the stuff unless I have help. I mean, I can’t see my TOES for heaven’s sakes, much less my lady parts. I’ll be dealing with some SERIOUS pain when baby girl is on her way out so maybe I should build up the tolerance now. You know… Like boot camp before the war.It’s a different kind of pain though, that’s for sure, and while you’re pregnant you’re EXTRA sensitive in that area so I’m sure it will only hurt more… Way more. I may even cry. So I’m not sure if it’s worth it. I’m also not sure if I’ll want a mirror during labor now. Additional info for those who have askedA Brazilian way takes away ALL the hair I mean Everythang girl! A Playboy takes away everything but what they call a “landing strip” don’t ask me why they call it that but I guess they leave a little section which you can actually get designed like a heart or something if you’re interested. And yea, you pretty much get totally naked. The first time I went they gave me wannabe panties and moved them from side to side and the second time the lady was like “You might as well take everything off cause I’m gonna see it all anyway.” But hey, if you can deliver a baby you can do this, trust me!!I give Brazilians a 5 because let’s face it… It hurts. And the trickery, that’s not cool.For the ladies who have given birth before I’m sure a Brazillian wax would be like NOTHING, but maybe it’s not really that big of a deal how ya look “down there.” I mean, doctors have seen everything right?
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
It’s the male grooming product women have been waiting for..
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Male Reproduction | Permalink
As a woman, we experience many moments that are life changing. Our reproductive system and bodies in general are always going through changes, from our first period to becoming pregnant, conceiving a child, and at some point menopause. When the reproductive system ends, menopause begins, and many women have a fear of this happening.
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Arm lift reduces the extra skin in your upper arms so that they get a perfect shape. But before you go for the procedure, there are certain things that you should know.
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
I’m in the mirror putting on make up before work wishing I could just wake up, dress, and go to work without the primping. I would have more time and money. But would I get the promotion at work if I didn’t look like a could lead others?
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Adequate vitamin D in months before birth could be key, Australian study suggests
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic diseases whose hallmark is the inability of the body to maintain adequate blood level of glucose sugar. And is that carbohydrates, protein and fat we eat with food are used by the body as an energy source but for their use and precise use insulin, a …
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
So what I’m learning about bedrest is that I’m lousy at delegating things to my husband – which doesn’t bode well for us with the whole twins thing. Must work on communication!I suck at telling him exactly what I want. I kind of suck at actually knowing exactly what I want. I’m not specific enough. I forget that men don’t read minds and have a hard time anticipating things I think are obvious. That and, I’m used to just doing things for myself.I’m distracted as I try to type this post. Being on Terbutaline, for me, is like being amped up on really strong coffee with maybe a side of black tea and another side of Mountain Dew. But I guess my body is getting used to it, because my pulse is now down into the 80′s, where it was around 130. Now where was I? Bedrest. Well, we are just so freakin’ off our routine in general. Sundays we usually do laundry and groceries, etc. And I was busy being sick as a dog. I didn’t make a grocery list, told him to just guess, because I couldn’t hold my head up. And so… consequently I have an almost astonishingly horrible food selection.That and… my husband kind of let the house go this week. And last night I told him that some friends were probably coming by to bring goodies.And he didn’t get the hint to clean.And instead of directly telling him, I got my bedrested butt up and cleaned a smidge today. Bad, so bad, I know. But even what I did, wasn’t enough to stop my husband from being royally embarrassed when my friend came over.Lemme pause to tell you about her goodies…She brings me Whole Foods Mac and Cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, black bean soup, cheese fococia, gatorade because I’ve been ruined and now plain water isn’t enough, chocolate, ice pops, white hydrangeas my fave, eight hours of Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice, and a beautiful journal. LOVE her!!!!Anyway, he was so embarrassed, that he cleaned. And by clean, I mean everything but the floors because as mentioned before, he somehow doesn’t seemindacknowledge dirty floors. But still, I don’t have to look at a dirty house tomorrow. Yay!I’ll admit, I reveled in his embarrassment a smidge, because well… lesson learned.I’ll give him some credit though. He did have to take off work to take me to the doc, which took twice as long as it was supposed to. And he’s doing it again tomorrow. He had to go to the pharmacy and pick up my meds. But other than that, bedrest hasn’t been all that bad. I know, I know… it’s just begun. I’m sure I’ll be bored to tears in a few weeks. But for now, I’m kind of enjoying sitting around. I’m kind of busy with the upkeep of me anyway, what with the eating all of the time, and the meds, and the monitoring for contractions. I’m feeling kind of high-maintenance. : In other news… I failed my one hour glucose test. I think it was 164, and from what I’ve read the cutoff is 140. So, three hour glucose test next week. Gag. Let’s just add gestational diabetes to my list of high-risk factors.Ultrasound tomorrow morning. Wish me luck. Will Update.
Posted on April 30, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
