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Preconception2021-07-03T07:53:10+10:00

Preconception

Preparing for pregnancy can have a positive impact on your health as well as your ability to conceive a baby. Additionally, it can impact the health of your baby during pregnancy. In this section of our website you’ll find articles focusing on preconception care, issues effecting falling pregnant and infertility.

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Articles on Preconception

Five strategies to cope with the two-week wait to test for pregnancy

If you’ve been trying to conceive for some time, a positive pregnancy test probably feels more precious than diamonds. The two-week wait between ovulating and reliable pregnancy test results can be agonising. After your one chance, each month to conceive, achieving pregnancy is out of your control until the next time. Yet, how you cope over the two weeks is something you do have some say over. So here are some strategies to make it more bearable. Keep your

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How the Ovulation Cycle Works

Have you ever wondered how the ovulation cycle works? When you’re born, your ovaries already contain all the eggs you’ll ever have. At birth you have about 300,000 eggs. Ovulation is what happens when one egg (or ovum) is released each month. In the lead up to ovulation, the ovary develops about half a dozen follicles, or tiny fluid-filled sacs. Each contains an immature egg. Usually one follicle - the fastest and healthiest one to develop - becomes the

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Understanding Fertility and Infertility

What are the causes of infertility? Many of us take our fertility for granted. We presume that one day when we choose to we will be able to have a baby. We envisage one or two months of pleasurable ‘trying’ before pregnancy is achieved. This is not an unreasonable expectation considering the considerable lengths many of us go to in order to prevent pregnancy. The stories we hear from friends and family of unexpected pregnancies reinforce this faith we

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Understanding IVF

Understanding IVF and its process. Since Louise Brown, the world’s first IVF baby, was born in England in 1978. It is estimated that over a million babies have been born worldwide using some form of assisted reproductive technology. In Australia and New Zealand, 6816 babies were born in 2002. This is the result of assisted reproductive technology (around 2% of all births). IVF is the most common of these technologies. Finding a cause for infertility By the time couples

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When the ‘change of life’ comes too early

Hannah Dahlen Sarah’s story Sarah was twenty-nine years of age. She had a loving husband and a beautiful daughter. “My life couldn’t have been more perfect,” she says. Sarah had reached that place in her life when she was ready to consider a sibling for two year old Grace. She and her husband Brad were surprised when they did not get pregnant straight away, as they had done with Grace, but they put it down to being older and

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Spacing Pregnancies is a Good Thing?

Does spacing pregnancies a good thing? New research published this year indicates that there may be an optimal time between pregnancies. The research found that pregnancies that were spaced less than 18 months apart or more than 59 months (5 years and nine months) apart carried a greater risk of the baby being born being small or, preterm. Spacing pregnancies There seems to be some evidence to support waiting between pregnancies or spacing pregnancies, though not too long. This

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Planning for Pregnancy: Preconception Care

By Jane Palmer Preconception care can make a positive difference to your health and the health of your child. More and more evidence points to the fact that the way we were nourished and grew in our mother’s womb can have an important impact on your health as an adult. It is now popular to seek information and health care prior to trying to conceive a baby. This seeking of information can help prepare you physically and emotionally for

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Safe Eating and Drinking Before and During Pregnancy

What are the tips for safe eating and drinking before and during pregnancy? Thinking about getting pregnant? This article is by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). It will provide you with vital information about what you eat and drink before and during pregnancy. Dr Paul Brent, FSANZ’s Chief Scientist, said that thinking about having a baby is an exciting time. But there are a few vital things to remember about eating and drinking. This is to make sure

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Our Story of Infertility

by Linda Robertson Our story of infertility started in 2001.  My husband (Jim) and I had been married for nearly four years. We decided that we were now ready to embark on the journey into parenthood. Jim and I had always wanted to have a family (like most couples). But, as young newlyweds, we knew we were not yet ready. Not ready to deal with the huge responsibility that parent-hood involved. I decided at a young age that I

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What is Genetic Counselling?

By Dr Jon Hodgson “Genetic counselling is a communication process, which aims to help individuals, couples and families understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, familial and reproductive implications of the genetic contribution to specific health conditions. This process integrates the following: Interpretation of family and medical histories to assess the chance of disease occurrence or recurrence Education about the natural history of the condition, inheritance pattern, testing, management, prevention, support resources and research. Counselling to promote informed choices

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Healthy Parents, Healthy Baby: A Guide to Conception & Pregnancy

Book Review Author Jan Roberts In our health-conscious society, a fairly common question asked by couples trying to conceive is what they can do, health-wise, to maximise their chances. Beyond that there are also the questions about how best to ensure the health of their unborn baby. Healthy Parents, Healthy Baby: A Guide to Conception & Pregnancy by Jan Roberts has the answers. In this easy to read guide to preconception and pregnancy care, Jan takes you through everything

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Is poor thyroid function impacting your fertility

If you have been unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant for more than 6 months, before you embark on invasive medical procedures and spend thousands of dollars for assisted reproductive technology, ensure that your thyroid is functioning at its optimum. Many women don't realize that good thyroid function is necessary for fertility, the ability to conceive and to maintain a pregnancy. An under (or over) functioning thyroid can prevent you from achieving that much desired pregnancy. While there are many

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Five Fertility Misconceptions

By Dr Zeenobiyah McGowan Family planning has been around in some form or another since the beginning of time. We have been making babies – and sometimes trying not to make babies – for as long as this species has walked the earth. We can only guess that infertility has also been around as long. But as time has progressed, so has our knowledge on the topic. That may be why there are so many misconceptions about conception. Here

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Using Traditional Chinese Medicine to Support Female Reproductive Wellness and Promote Natural Fertility

In Australia, the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is enjoying growing popularity as couples seek to enhance their fertility using natural methods. News of positive experiences and successful outcomes are spreading as natural, holistic alternatives to conventional medical fertility enhancement (IVF) are sought. The overwhelming evolutionary purpose of humanity is to reproduce, ensuring the survival of the species. As such TCM practitioners are working with a very potent force dwelling within nature. In many cases of medically unexplained

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Bilateral Polycystic Ovaries

If your doctor said you have bilateral polycystic ovaries, you’re probably wondering why and whether it makes it harder for you to conceive a baby. Don’t worry; we’ve answered your questions about what it means for you and what you need to do. What causes bilateral polycystic ovaries? Having bilateral polycystic ovaries can be a variation of normal. However, you’ve probably read about polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) if you have polycystic ovaries. A syndrome is a group of symptoms

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Early ovulation on the 9th day of your cycle. Is it a problem?

Question asked by a PBB forum member I have been examining the development of follicle for last three month and I determined that my ovulation happens on the 9th day of the cycle, is it normal? I was told that ovulation should be on the 14th day or in the middle of the cycle I am very worried about my early ovulation. My period lasts 7 days and does it mean that I have only 2 days from my

Signs of Fertility

In an ideal cycle, you will ovulate 14 days before your next cycle. But when you don't know when your next cycle is going to start, the best way to catch your ovulation before it happens is by watching the changes in your cervical mucus. When you are not fertile, your body produces "dry" cervical mucus. You'll know you're dry because you'll feel like you need to add a lubricant when you're making love. It just won't be very

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