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My IVF Journey – by Georgy Mason

My IVF Journey by the very courageous Georgy Mason who gave birth to her beautiful baby girl yesterday 5.1.15 at 18.25 IVF is the miracle of science that means many of the women who would be involuntarily childless are not. It’s science that should be celebrated and embraced. Instead the internet terrifies us, shows us only the misery and makes it harder for us to embark upon the journey that could change our lives.  I would like to offer a better perspective on how to survive this rollercoaster with your sanity and your sense of humour. My husband and I […]

Pregnancy after IVF, and the Absurdity of life after Infertility

Pregnancy after IVF, and the absurdity of life after infertility by the very courageous Georgy Mason who gave birth to her beautiful baby girl yesterday 5.1.15 at 18.25 You’ve met me before so you know already that I tried to conceive for 8 years and that I would not be pregnant today if it had not been for the strength of my husband and his ability to remind me that a little humour fixes most things. You know a little more now about the crazy rollercoaster of the IVF journey, but what you don’t know yet is that the joke doesn’t end there, it continues into pregnancy!  I […]

Guilt Free Bottle Feeding

Madeleine Morris – co author of Guilt Free Bottle Feeding explains what prompted her and paediatrician Dr Sasha Howard to write the book. When I look at Doctor and Daughter it takes me back to those exhilarating, exhausting first days of motherhood.  So many questions!  So many answers to those questions and none of them the same!  Except, that is, the answer to the question, “should I breastfeed?” The answer from almost everyone we encounter as new mums, from the midwife, to the NCT instructor to the lady next to you on the bus is, “Yes.”  And this is entirely reasonable.  […]

Hyperemisis Gravidarum – What are the effects?

By Roger Marwood Msc FRCOG               We are all relieved to hear that the Duchess of Cambridge is feeling better and able to return to normal activity. For some women Hyperemesis Gravidarum is a serious and disabling condition that can have significant health  problems for the mother to be, her unborn baby, and her family. I have seen many women  for whom this is a lot more than a 3 month problem of morning sickness. Try and imagine the worst hangover that you have ever had and multiply it by a factor of ten […]

Why am I Terrified of Childbirth?

Why am I Terrified of Childbirth? by Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Roger Marwood Msc FRCOG Fear of Childbirth (FOC) or Tokophobia is finally getting some long overdue attention and consideration by doctors and midwives who look after pregnant women . There are various definitions. It is perhaps best described as a significant anxiety disorder or phobia relating to labour and delivery usually associated with a variety of other complaints . These can take the form of  nightmares, sleep disorders, a variety of physical symptoms, difficulties at home and at work, and often result in a request for Caesarean section. Previous studies […]

Morning Sickness – All Day Nausea? What helps?

Saidee Bailey Senior Nutritionist Perfect Start Pregnancy www.perfectstartpregnancy.com There are lots of factors that may contribute to a women feeling nauseas throughout her pregnancy, from plain old nerves or anxiety about becoming a mother to wildly fluctuating hormones, nausea can be the root of considerable discomfort. But before you start existing permanently on dry crackers there are a few other natural ways you can alleviate your nausea. My top tips for tackling nausea. Little girls are said to be made of sugar and spice and all things nice however throughout your pregnancy it may be better to favour the spice part of that rhyme over the sugar. If mums […]

Can I Smoke Weed When I am Pregnant?

Not a good idea . It will double your chances of a premature baby. A recent study in France interviewed over 14,000 women in the first 2-3 days after delivery , and asked them about Cannabis use in their recent pregnancy. Over 13,000 women agreed to answer the questions. They were asked about their age, number of pregnancies, social status , level of education, tobacco and alcohol use . The outcome of their pregnancies were then compared according to their use of Cannabis and other factors. The admitted incidence was 1.2 %,  which was much lower than previous similar studies, […]

Can Breastfeeding Help Prevent Post Natal Depression?

Have you heard the news that successful breastfeeding can help to prevent Post Natal Depression? But didn’t we know that already? Well not exactly. There was always the theory,  that , women who were able to breast feed , were in some way different from those women who did not breast feed their babies. In other words, the breast feeders may themselves be less likely to get depression, or better supported or in some way helped by the hormonal changes associated with lactation. No study had ever really looked at the relationship between breastfeeding and postnatal depression and also taken […]

Why you Should Eat 2 Kiwi Fruit as Soon as you Have Given Birth!

Why you Should Eat 2 Kiwi Fruit as Soon as you Have Given Birth! Every woman is nervous about her first POO after giving birth! Whether you have had a Caesarean or a Natural Birth, you will no doubt be dreading the first time you have to try and do a number two. The softer the stool (poo), the easier it will be to get out and the less strain it will put on your abdominal muscles and perineum (area between vagina and anus). Kiwi fruit are a natural and mild laxative and eating a couple after you have given […]

Confessions of a Guilty Mother!

  Guilt is high up there on the list of emotions that you feel on a daily basis as a mother.  Even if you sit on the floor all day and play with your little ones (massive pet hate of mine) and tend to their every needs, then you will feel guilty about the housework or the social life you are neglecting. If you spend all day polishing your kitchen counter top and preparing gourmet meals for your children and husband, then you will feel guilty as they tug at your leg or yell at you for attention.  If you […]