Copied from a RESOLVE alert:
RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association needs your urgent and immediate action on a bill introduced in the Kansas state Senate.

Please say NO! It is important that your Senators hear from you. Thank you for taking action today!
Sincerely,
Barbara Collura
Executive Director, RESOLVE

We need your help TODAY! Tell your Senator that you, your friends, and family OPPOSE HB 3077. Please click on the link below to send a letter immediately to your Oklahoma state Senator. Our experience has shown that sending opposition letters can slow down a bill and prevent it from being voted on.

Please let lawmakers know that we will not let them interfere with the care of infertility patients in Oklahoma. Egg donor treatment is the standard of care for infertility patients who have survived cancer or who have premature ovarian failure. Don’t take away their hope for a family!

Visit RESOLVE for the links to contact your OK legislators today!

Visit RESOLVE to get the latest updates on Arizona and send in your letters of opposition on these anti-family bills.

P.S. We know from experience that a flood of opposition can turn the tide – please don’t let these bills pass in Arizona; you have the power to make a real difference! Take Action Today!

“The Arizona legislature is quickly pushing two bills — Senate Bill 1306 and House Bill 2651 – which will impose new and unprecedented restrictions on donor egg treatment for infertility. The Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee will hold a hearing on February 17 with the House hearing any day now.

We need your help TODAY! If you live in Arizona please tell the Committee members that you, your friends, and family OPPOSE SB 1306 and HB 2651. Please click here to send a letter to Members of the House Health and Human Services Committee and click here to send a letter to the Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee. (Note: you must send one letter to the House Committee and a second letter to the Senate Committee.)

SB 1306/ HB 2651 interferes with egg donor treatment by –
– outlawing the compensation traditionally provided to those who donate eggs for infertile couples;
– imposing burdensome and inaccurate informed consent obligations on doctors who offer donor egg treatment;
– threatening doctors with loss of their medical licenses if they fail to follow the new informed consents to the letter.
An additional set of bills, SB 1307 and HB 2652, may impair a physician’s ability to provide the best standard of care in reproductive medicine. These bills are a hasty attempt to regulate university research but could have a negative impact on the clinical care of patients.

Please let lawmakers know that we will not let them interfere with the care of infertility patients in Arizona. Men and women in Arizona who are trying to have a family deserve to be able to have all treatments available to them as is offered in any state in the U.S. Please urge them to vote NO on SB 1306 and HB / 2651 and NO on SB 1307 / HB 2652!

For complete information on these bills and to link to copies of the bills, visit RESOLVE’s website.

Thank you for Taking Action on this important legislation!”
Barbara Collura
Executive Director
RESOLVE

My husband recently broke his leg in a skiing accident. Romance has not been on the top of our list the past few weeks, but we are planning on spending some time together over the weekend. The one good thing about holidays like Valentine’s Day is that it can force us to spend time with our partner outside of the daily routine of our busy lives. Something we all need to do on ocassion to keep our relationships healthy and happy.

For more information or to register to attend this event, visit the Southwest Region RESOLVE website. Registration begins February 9th.

Great news! A bill has been introduced in the Maryland House of Delegates that would change the current infertility insurance mandate to allow more people to access insurance benefits. Currently the waiting period for insurance coverage is two years for a history of infertility before the insurance mandate kicks in. House Bill 30, introduced by Delegate Jeff Waldstreicher, would change the waiting period to ONE YEAR. This would allow a greater number of women and men in Maryland to access much needed medical care for their infertility, and get started building their family sooner. RESOLVE fully supports this Bill and is asking for you to show your support too.

On January 28 the Health and Government Operations Committee will hear testimony on this Bill. We need the Committee to support this Bill so that it moves to the next step in the legislative process. If your Delegate is a member of this Committee, we need you to contact them TODAY and show your support. Visit the RESOLVE website to learn more details and to take action!

The couple interviewed for the article discuss how they turned to the Internet when their son was diagnosed with autism. The mother states, “By going online, we definitely went to the doctor armed with more information. It helped guide our questions, and we got better answers and a more customized treatment plan for [our son].” Shapin, Alice, The Costco Connection, January 2010.

The Medical Library Association (MLA) found that consumers who search online for information about their medical issues tend to be more satisfied with their overall medical experience. These consumers tend to be very knowledgeable about their issues and therefore, tend to be better health care consumers. Shapin, Alice, The Costco Connection, January 2010.

When we were going through our fertility treatments we used the Internet to learn about our options, different doctors, etc. We were fairly well educated before we had our first appointment with the RE, which made our experience so much more comfortable. The terminology was familiar and we were not intimated. In turn, the doctor appreciated that we understood the procedure and it made his job easier. When our twin girls were born premature we didn’t turn to the Internet, but instead used the nurses and doctors as our source for gathering information about our girls conditions and status. I always say that knowledge is power, and this is especially true in health care matters.

When you are searching online for information be sure to consider the source. Sites that are offering products for sale might be biased toward the product(s) they are selling. Generally, government, non-profit, and educational institutions provide the most unbiased information about health information.

The article offered these three medical sources:
1. MedlinePlus (http://medlineplus.gov)
2. Healthfinder.gov (http://www.healthfinder.gov)
3. Medical Library Association (http://www.mlanet.org/resources/consumr_index.html)
Shapin, Alice, The Costco Connection, January 2010.

Dear Michigan Residents,

RESOLVE needs your urgent and immediate action on a series of bills introduced in the Michigan State Senate that will threaten access to IVF treatments, invade the privacy of patients pursuing IVF, and take away free choice over the disposition of patients’ own surplus embryos.

The Senate Health Committee is getting ready to vote on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 on Senate Bill Nos. 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, and 652.

RESOLVE is asking Michigan residents who care about open access to the best care possible to let the Committee members know TODAY that you oppose the bills!

What you can do TODAY to make your voice heard:
1. Send a letter to key State Senators. Please consider personalizing your letter by sharing some of your story.

2. Call your Senator and tell him or her to please vote against these bills. To find your Senator and their contact information, click here. Simply tell them you are a constituent and oppose the above listed bills.

3. Come to the Senate hearing at the Senate Hearing Room in Lansing:
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Time: 3: 00 p.m.
Place: Senate Hearing R oom
Ground Floor, Boji Tower
124 W. Allegan Street
Lansing , MI 48933

4. Send an email to everyone you know who is a Michigan resident and ask them to call their Senator or send the letter to the key Senators. Even if they have not been diagnosed with infertility, their voices can still be heard!

5. Post this message in your Facebook status: “Please help me fight the MI State Senate! There are six bills up for vote WEDNESDAY that will make it hard for MI residents with infertility to access IVF. Visit www.resolve.org/ta_stleg_MI for details. ”

6. Become a “Fan of RESOLVE” on Facebook for instant updates to this legislation. Click here.

At the hearing, the Committee may hear testimony both for and against the bills. The hearing is open to the public and RESOLVE encourages you to come to Lansing and attend.

For more information visit the RESOLVE website.

These bills have nothing to do with protection of infertility patients. They have nothing to do with making care better, safer or more accessible. They are about one thing: making access to IVF more difficult and preventing a fertility patient from making decisions regarding their own treatment for a disease.

No other disease is subjected to this level of governmental scrutiny. These provisions would go far beyond what is currently mandated by federal law.

Please say NO! It is important that your Senators hear from you! Visit RESOLVE to send your letter to key Senators including the Committee right now!

Thank you for taking action today!
Barbara Collura
Executive Director

The videos are worth sharing with friends and family who might not be familiar with infertility, treatments and the emotion that comes with the inability to conceive a child spontaneously.

Happy viewing.

I read Jimmy’s book with an open mind as we have been changing our diets around our house for one of my daughters who has a hard time processing wheat and other food items. Over the past year we have switched from white flour pasta to pure wheat or rice pasta. While this isn’t truly Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb lifestyle to the extent Jimmy and his wife are, it is a small step in the right direction. It has made a huge impact on how my daughter is able to process her food as well as changed our energy levels. I feel better now that we are not eating so much processed flour.

Another change in our house is a reduction in the amount of sugar we eat. Now, I’m a chocolate lover and I don’t see myself giving it up entirely, but we are watching our sugar intake more. I only buy organic sugar (which is probably still bad for you) and we use pure maple syrup in place of traditional store bought syrup and Agave sweetener in place of sugar, when appropriate.

This year I put my girls on a super vitamin as well as a pro-biotic in addition to our diet changes to help keep them healthy during cold and flu season. Their first cold, and mine too, was during the Christmas holiday. We have not experienced any flu, sore throats, ear infections, etc. I expect we’ll stay healthy through the remaining cold/flu season because we are eating healthy and supplementing our diet with vitamins. A friend of mine recently told me that his kids are in the doctors office at least 1-2 times per month with some sort of cold. Yikes!

In Jimmy’s book you’ll learn what the low-carb lifestyle really is. It doesn’t mean that you have to give up everything you love. It is not about moderation, as Jimmy discusses, although I love that term “moderation” when I consider my chocolate! I’ve tried many diets and I have failed to stick with any of them. But our lifestyle change, although not as drastic as Jimmy’s, has lasted for more than 12 months. And it has made a difference for us.

January is the time when people who want to loose weight start to read diet books or join the local gym. Instead of a diet this year, pick up Jimmy’s book so you can determine if a low-carb lifestyle will work for you.

P.S. Jimmy blogs on occasion about his experience with infertility. Please consider buying a copy of Jimmy’s book if the low-carb lifestyle is something you have been considering.

NOTE: I am not using my Amazon affiliate link to promote Jimmy’s book. I am promoting Jimmy so because I respect him and the work that he does. The links to Amazon from my blog are direct links and I will not receive any monetary benefit from the sale of this book.

We all have limited time. In my case I am a mother, wife, teacher, consultant, advocate, volunteer, etc. I’ve had to make some decisions as to where my time is best spent. Before our infertility journey I was a business consultant. For the past 6 years I have been an instructor for undergrad and graduate students. I love teaching. Over the past year I have been asked to teach new classes. All of these new classes are directly related to the concepts I was using in my consulting practice. Instead of fighting the message the Universe is sending me, I’m following it. I’m jumping back into my consulting business. It feels like the right thing to do and I the ideas are flowing so naturally.

I’m going to continue my blog with more of an advocacy spin. I’ll be discussing many charities and how you can get involved. I’ll be sharing my story from the perspective of a patient in hopes that some of the lessons my husband and I learned can help others still in the treatment phase or those couples with a baby in the NICU.

I’m excited about the changes for the new year. I hope you find the change good too.

Happy New Year!
Kelly

Infertility is one of the most challenging issues a couple must endure. There are many other issues that come from every day life. When you actually become a parent the challenges do not stop. Sometimes couples do not know what to do to help their relationship. My husband and I use counseling as one means to help us during our darkest times. I attended counseling sessions on my own and worked on creating my own happiness which spilled over into my marriage.

A friend of mine provided me with a valuable resource that might be helpful to couples struggling in their relationship. If you are serious about making your relationship better, check out Retrouvaille. I wish I had know about this service when we were struggling with infertility. It would have saved us many months of struggle! Pass this resource on to others you think might find it helpful.

Ms. Pogrebin states, “My book takes a deep look at twins from every angle – what it’s really like to be one, marry one, raise one, and lose one. I also explore the risks of multiples and the “twin shock” of raising two at a time. I interview many twins – including football stars Tiki and Ronde Barber and remarkable twin survivors of the chilling Mengele experiments – and I also talk to twins experts, but the spine of the book is my own story, which is not a simplistic portrait of twinship.”

Read more about her book: Newsweek interview, NPR interview (includes book excerpt) and the Today Show.

Visit her website to learn more about the book or where you can purchase a copy: Abigail Pogrebin.

After many hours of counseling I can now accept my happiness. It seems silly, though. However, looking at my childhood and family history it might make more sense. I tend to the be the black sheep of the group. My uncle and I are the only two members of my family who have a college degree. My mom was never happy in marriage. I’ve worked hard on mine so that it is. In the past I followed the family trend of being more pessimistic than optimistic. I used to feel awkward around members of my family because I was so different. But today I am more accepting of who we all are; it has made a huge difference in my interactions with everyone.

I do feel sad that it is a bad time for a lot of people. Many of my friends have been impacted by job losses or other family matters due to the economy. I too have had my share of trials over the years. At a time when I could be absorbing the negativity around me (which is what I used to do), I find myself recognizing and empathizing with others, yet staying in my place and accepting that I have the right to be happy.

Sometimes learning how to set boundaries with your family members (which can be hard to do, I know), your friends or co-workers can help protect you from absorbing their issues or their negativity. Give it a try. It just might work.

While answering the questionnaire for the trust I made sure to include language that would allow my children access to funds for family planning. The document states that the Trustee can distribute money to the beneficiaries for the “well-being of the Beneficiary, including…adoptions and/or infertility treatments.” While it may seem silly to someone who hasn’t experience the expense of fertility treatments I wanted to make sure my daughters have every opportunity to build their own families if by chance they are unable to conceive spontaneously. While I am not sure the specific language was necessary, I feel better to have included it.

Just another way infertility has impacted my life and how I hope to help my daughters if it should happen to them too…

Click on the link below and vote!

Love This Site Awards :: Parenthood for Me – DivineCaroline

Pass it along.

1. You will take charge of finding the resolution that is right for you.

2. You will learn about medical, mental health, legal and other issues from top experts in the field of infertility and family building. Click here for a complete list and description of sessions and speakers.

3. You will realize you are not alone and will connect with others who are exploring family building options including adoption, advanced reproductive technology, and third party reproduction.

4. You will see demonstrations of acupuncture and Mayan Abdominal Massage and experience complimentary reflexology.

5. You might win a fabulous door prize!

Learn more and register for the Fall Family Building Symposium on Saturday, November 7 on our website.
RESOLVE Arizona’s Fall Family Building Symposium
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Embassy Suites Airport Hotel
Phoenix, AZ

Presented live by one of the country’s leading reproductive endocrinologists, Glenn Schattman, MD, from Cornell University. This event is free and made possible by one of WEGO Health’s sponsors.

Webinar attendees will gain:
• Valuable insight to help women you know online to make informed decisions
• In-depth medical updates – usually reserved for physicians – about the factors that all TTC women should consider
• Exclusive direct access to Dr. Schattman during our live Q&A session

This one-hour webinar is offered at four different times on Wednesday, November 4th: Noon, 4PM, 6PM and 9PM (all times are EST)

Attendance is limited, sign up today!
To RSVP, please complete this brief survey and someone from WEGO Health will email you the logistical details shortly: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8NCFzllsfKeB9mFuhTG37w_3d_3d

Earn $5 for RESOLVE:
To help incorporate participant ideas and feedback into later programs, WEGO Health will invite all webinar attendees to participate in a brief follow-up survey. For every attendee who completes this short survey, WEGO Health will make a $5 donation to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.

Questions? Contact WEGO Health at (community@wegohealth.com)

Posted with permission from WEGO Health.

Anyone who has struggled with infertility knows the emotional and physical burden of trying to conceive. The In The Know Short Film Competition sought to encourage those 7.3 million Americans affected by infertility to share their stories and provide hope and inspiration to others.

The votes are in! Join us for a screening of the top three films at the In The Know Short Film Festival on November 5 at 8 pm ET, where a winner and runners-up will be announced and awarded prizes.

Want a front row seat at the event? You can view the entire Film Festival in real-time at www.FertilityLifeLinesfilms.com!

The In The Know Short Film Festival, brought to you by Fertility LifeLines™ and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, will be moderated by program judge Barbara Collura, Executive Director of RESOLVE.

Other judges speaking at the event include:
• Melissa Ford, Author of Navigating the Land of If and the blog Stirrup Queens
• Dr. Robert Stillman, Medical Director of Shady Grove Fertility Reproductive Science Center
• Dr. William Hummel, Medical Director of San Diego Fertility Center

Visit www.FertilityLifeLinesfilms.com to sign up for a reminder email and on November 5 at 8 pm ET, grab your popcorn and be a part of the show!

The In The Know Short Film Festival is cosponsored by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and by Fertility LifeLines™, a free patient resource provided by EMD Serono.

Thanks to Toral from Baer Consulting for this information.

My husband and a friend of his were discussing a business owner, Robert. Robert loves the idea of outsourcing. He sees tremendous cost savings in one of his business lines by outsourcing a particular function. My husband and his friend don’t necessarily agree with his logic, but they agree he makes some valid points. Robert has two children, both adopted from China. My husband’s friend, who has never experienced infertility, says “Obviously this guy loves outsourcing, he outsourced his entire family.”

When my husband relayed this story I gasped out loud. I was incensed by the total lack of compassion by both of these men, especially my husband who should know better. I say, “I’m guessing Robert and his wife experienced infertility and they chose adoption to build their family.” My husband says, “You don’t know that. Maybe they just chose to adopt.” Seriously?!?

Then, we are at a business/personal function for one of my husband’s clients. My husband asks one of the men there when he and his wife plan on having kids. This couple has been married for 5 years. I’m standing there in shock. Shouldn’t my husband know better than to ask this kind of question. Or do men have a totally different mindset – or did he forget that we once dealt with infertility!?!

My husband has a serious case of infertility amnesia. When I gave my opinion on these two things he just shrugged. He said its just the difference between how we have processed our infertility as well as our differing male/female views on the topic. Oh well. What can you do?

The other at UPI.com discusses how some men have “super sperm” that might be the explanation for some unexplained cases of infertility.

Both of these articles may prove helpful to those couples struggling with male factor infertility.

There were many places throughout the book where I could relate to the feelings of sadness and anger Pamela expressed. However, when her fertility treatments stopped and she didn’t have a child, my heart ached for her and her husband. Pamela and her husband decided not to pursue adoption. They had their own reasons and I cannot said whether or not I would have done the same if I had been in her shoes.

Pamela does a great job displaying the pain, confusion, and isolation that comes from living childfree not by choice. Women who have had children easily should read this book so they can relate better to their friends that are experiencing infertility. Pamela states in her book, and I’m summarizing here, ‘infertility may not kill you, but sometimes it makes you wish you were dead.’ A statement that many women who have never experienced infertility cannot truly appreciate.

At the end of the book you can see how much Pamela has evolved and “accepted” her infertility. Her journey was full of great despair as well as great hope. I can honestly say that I don’t think I would have had the strength or courage that Pamela displayed. She is an amazing woman.

Go get your copy today. Silent Sorority.

Yesterday, my husband calls me and said, “Hey, you are quoted on CNN.com.” I asked him what the quote was in reference too. He mentioned it was regarding our extra embryos. He thought it was so cool. I chuckled as I explained the Parenting.com article came out last week and I already knew I was quoted. It’s like I burst his bubble because I already knew about the article. He was so proud of me for being quoted. I have to admit, I was very proud of him for being so proud of me. He could have been upset or offended by my remarks. Whew!

On a sad note about progress, Pamela Jeanne wrote an article for More.com asking why fertile women are not more compassionate about their infertile counterparts. This is an area where we definitely need to make more progress! Read Pamela’s article: Why the Deaf ear, Feminists?

Today, a friend of mine sent me an article about the lasting effects of having a premature baby; For Parents on NICU, Trauma May Last. My eyes teared up as I read that the trauma from having a premature baby is now being recognized as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.). Years ago I had an argument with someone that I thought I had P.T.S.D. and they told me that I was wrong because P.T.S.D. only results from war, rape, etc.

Thank you, Laurie Tarkan, for your article. I’ve already forwarded it to a few of my friends who will be able to relate.

The group meets once per month. A few months ago three gals attended the meeting and really bonded. A few weeks after that initial meeting one of the gals ended up in the hospital where the doctors tried everything to keep her baby inside (and did for 6 weeks). Her little girl was born at 26 1/2 weeks and went home August 1st. This woman received emails and phone calls from the other two gals from the support group meeting. It was very cool to watch the friendship grow between these three who only spent 2 hours together at one support group meeting!

Then a couple of weeks ago, another gal went into preterm labor and her babies (twins) were born too soon. This woman is a former NICU nurse so she is all to realistic about the battle her babies have ahead of them. The report she left me today, though, was that they were gaining weight and doing fairly well.

The third gal is due this weekend. I hope all goes well for her and her little girl.

My point is that sometimes women will need support once they become pregnant. Whether it’s to get advice about the best type of bottle, crib or stroller or to discuss more challenging issues such as postpartum depression or what to expect when bringing home a premature baby.

After our twins were born we had to decide what to do with our 3 frozen embryos. The first time we received the annual bill for the storage fee we paid it. When the second bill arrived my husband told me it was time to let them go, but I didn’t want to. It was a difficult decision and one that many couples are starting to address before they start treatments. However, the decision about what to do with your frozen embryos is a tough one.

Read the article in Parenting.com for more perspectives.

To test if your thyroid is too low check your basal body temperature. Dr. Starr say to place “a thermometer in your armpit first thing in the morning for 10 minutes.” Test your temperature for 3 days (days two through four during menses). If your temperature reading is 97.8 or less, it’s possible your thyroid is too low and could be causing you to have issues with your baby making.

You can subscribe to AZ Net News for only $15 per year. It’s full of great holistic health related information.

But most of all, I witnessed this miracle when my daughter Copy Cat was sick after she was first born. I credit the great care of the doctors and nurses for her survival, but I know that the time she spent in my arms played a huge part too. Studies show that when a baby is held skin-to-skin, called Kangaroo Care, by one of its parents his/her heartbeat stabilizes as does his/her body temperature.

Whether it is your baby, spouse, mother, father, friend, family member, etc. a simple gesture, such as a hug can do wonders. Give it a try today.