One of the stories in particular hit home as one of my girls had the same medical condition, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Like the baby in the book my daughter did not have “short gut” syndrome and is healthy today. We do manage her diet a bit more than we would have it she didn’t have NEC as a baby. NEC is a very scary disease as it can progress really fast and can be difficult to treat.

The book discusses both the devastation when a baby doesn’t survive and the triumph when a baby does well. There are stories in between as well where the baby does survive but has short-term or long-term disabilities.

The mention of breastfeeding as the best option for babies is through-out the notes sections as the end of each chapter. Breast milk is good for all babies, but especially for premature ones. There is discussion of kangaroo care too – an activity that I loved when my twins were in the NICU. Parents of full-term babies can use kangaroo care too! It is healthy for all parties.

Each chapter is short with enough details to inform the reader as to the circumstances of the baby’s NICU stay and the result. At the end of each chapter Dr. Hall provides insight as to the disease or issue associated with the baby as well as resources for further research/knowledge. At the end of the book she provides tips for parents to help them navigate the NICU.

Dr. Hall does not discuss the risks of multiple gestations due to fertility treatments, however there is no doubt she sees many babies that are the result of fertility treatments. There is mention of how fertility treatments have resulted in an increase in multiple gestation pregnancies and therefore prematurity in Appendix B.

The goal of the book can help parents with NICU babies or at-risk pregnancies prepare for their experience. By sharing a variety of stories with the reader she is able to capture most of the medical issues a parent of a preemie might endure.

To purchase a copy of For the Love of Babies visit: Amazon.com

Her blog post is titled: The 16 things you shouldn’t say to a CNBC (childless not by choice). If you want to learn more about what not to say to your friend or relative experiencing infertility this is a must read. If you are dealing with infertility you might find some solace in knowing you are not alone.

While it is not always easy, we should tell people that comments like these really hurt. If we don’t do this they will never learn. It is okay to tell them that if they continue to make hurtful comments you will stop talking to them or change the way to interact with them. What are you willing to “deal with” and what are the things that are not acceptable? Establish your boundaries and stick to them.

If you take the time to read this blog post you might start to wonder, as many of the commenters did, why didn’t Pamela adopt if she is so heart broken about not being a mother. You might need to read her book to truly understand the reasons why Pamela and her husband chose not to adopt. Not all couples want to adopt, just as many couples do not pursue fertility treatments.

So on this Mother’s Day, I hope that you will have compassion for those who have not been blessed with a child. For those women might be seeking treatment in hopes to have a baby, or they might have just spent their last dollar on another failed IUI or IVF cycle. And for these women, Mother’s Day is a reminder of what they don’t have.

The only person that can stop SB 1306 and 1307 from passing is YOU! The Arizona House of Representatives is about to take the last steps to pass SB 1306 and 1307.

Please show your opposition to SB 1306 and 1307 by sending a letter right now to your Arizona state Representative!

RESOLVE volunteers have heard it straight from the horse’s mouth that the goal of SB 1306 and 1307 is to interfere with or stop medical treatment for infertility in Arizona. The goal is to make it harder for us to have babies safely. At a March 31 hearing on the bills, a witness for the bills testified that if these bills pass there will be NO cryopreservation of eggs (sorry, cancer patients!) and NO cryopreservation of embryos (hello, future “octomoms”!).

We must stop these bills or it will be difficult or impossible to practice IVF in Arizona. Doctors have examined the bills and determined they would not want to practice medicine under these new Arizona laws. That means YOUR doctor may leave the state with no one to help those diagnosed with infertility.

MYTH: “My representative told me these bills have been fixed.”

FACT: That is false. While a few amendments were made, the bills that the House Committee passed last week — and that the House Rules committee will consider today, April 6 — are still designed to impair the way IVF and egg donation are practiced. Please visit RESOLVE’s website for details and a full analysis.

Please stop what you are doing and register your opposition! It may be your last chance. Tell your lawmakers what they are doing to couples who want to have a family. These bills may take away their only chance to have a child. They don’t understand that many, many people will be harmed by these bills, that many, many people oppose them. No one will act for you — we need you, and we need you NOW!

Please click here NOW to send a letter to your representative! If you can pick up the phone and call too, that is even better. Click here for a list of representatives with their phone number.

Thank you!

Barbara Collura
Executive Director

P.S. The bills actually criminalize the practice of reproductive medicine. Doctors who treat infertility can go to prison for treating a patient to the current standard of medicine! Is this family-friendly? I don’t think so!
We only have a few days left! Please help us get the word out. Ask everyone you know to send an email and fax today by clicking here!

SB1306 is an egg donor bill. It mainly deals with informed consent – which the doctors already do because they are required by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. They also follow FDA standards and are audited by the FDA on a regular basis. SB1306 just regulates the physicians and complicates their ability to care for and treat their patients. SB1306 also throws in fancy language that basically prohibits any research on eggs, which will hamper any potential for advances in the treatment of fertility.

SB1307 is very scary. If this bill passes IVF as we know it will not exist in the State of Arizona. It is possible many doctors will pack up shop and move to another state. Their staff will be forced to move as well because there will not be any jobs for them – especially since local hospitals are making cuts to staff right now. Patients will have to travel out of state for treatment, which makes an already stressful and expensive treatment more stressful and expensive.

Visit RESOLVE and send a letter to your representative TODAY!

Join us for this great event that celebrates all family building options. In the State of Arizona we have been vigorously fighting anti-family legislation. Please join us to send a message to the Arizona elected officials that the infertile community matters!

For more information or to register visit RESOLVE.

Please invite your family and friends too!

Stay tuned…