Since we are currently in the midst of Black History Month, you may have come across quite a few sites and blogs sharing lists of books about Black History or featuring black characters in case a parent is looking to diversify his or her child’s library to include all races of characters….or if you are a black or brown parent and want a book that represents your child.
And as most parents who have small children know by now, books are important and being read to in early child development is just as if not more important!
Somewhere between 12 and 18 months, your child will realize that those sounds he’s been hearing you read — words — actually mean something.
The more you talk and read aloud to a child at this time (and from the start, for that matter), the better her vocabulary will be.
Look for books with a wide variety of visuals, words that repeat often, and clearly labeled objects, both common and unfamiliar.
When you read aloud, pause frequently to ask your child questions about the objects you see, answer her questions, and talk through the book’s action and images.
You don’t need a big book budget for this age group.
Hearing three or four titles over and over is better for a child than trying to introduce lots of new books.
When my children were little we discovered a wonderful book called “So Much” by British author of Dominica, Caribbean-parentage Trish Cooke and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury who is most well known for illustratingTickle Tickle, All Fall Down and her own books.
Children will appreciate ethnic diversity and the fun story about the anticipation of arrival of guests at a party for a young baby’s dad.
I love this book so much, I buy it for friends I know who have kids. I have shipped off several copies. See proof below the number of times I personally ordered and purchased it for friends:
My fave part about this book is the playful language uses repetition and I could read it in a different accent each time to make it fun.
The author was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire in the UK and comes from a large family, with six sisters, three brothers, eight nephews, six nieces, three great-nieces and one great-nephew, all of whom provide her with the inspiration for her picture books as the publisher notes Cooke has said.
“There’s always some conversation or other going on somewhere that I can eavesdrop on – language is very important to me. I love music and rhythms and when people talk, it is as if sometimes they are actually singing. I remember Sunday mornings, the smell of saltfish and johnny cakes wafting up the stairs, Mum singing and Dad telling stories that were always ‘true’.”
The kids loved it and enjoyed seeing me pull it off the bookshelf each time.
They are a lot more treat books out there featuring black characters nowadays compared to year’s past.
If you are looking for a fun book to add to your child’s library to diversify the images they see in books or to present a reflection of your brown or black child, I highly recommend So Much!
Valentine’s Day is next week and to commemorate the impending Holiday, which is somewhat scrutinized by singles as a Hallmark holiday, the analysts at CableTV.com created a national report revealing each state’s favorite romantic comedy film.
Report highlights include:
Over one in every four states chooses Pretty in Pink as their rom-com top choice! All hail, John Hughes.
Everyone likes a movie that hails from their hometown: every one in seven states most enjoys movies filmed in their state the most.
We found predictable patterns of viewing behavior — clusters of romantic comedies dominate certain areas of the country.
Some popular favorites by state enforce regional clichés that are just too good to pass up commenting on:
Maine, which has the oldest median age in the United States, goes old school with It Happened One Night.
Oregon keeps it weird with Amélie, a quirky French film about an off-beat romance.
South Dakota, which rates in the top five highest birth rates in the U.S., gets Knocked Up a little more often.
To determine each state’s favorite romantic comedy film, the Cable TV analyst team used a Google-generated list of top rom-coms and ran them through Google Trends to find out which movies see the most love from state to state.
It has been 10 years since I last posted the annual Bellyitch Most Expensive Strollers post. It was a yearly blog post staple and used to get tons of traffic because, honestly, I think people, generally, are obsessed with knowing what baby items are used and coveted by the super wealthy and celebrities.
Since the last post, a few stroller companies have gone out of business. RIP to Orbit, Maclaren and newer brands 4Moms and iCandy, which were once considered “it” strollers in their day but no longer manufacture luxury strollers.
In 2013, I published the list as part of the Bellyitch 100, a book of the top crib makers, maternity wear designers, stroller makers and baby clothes brands.
Anyway, so I used to publish the Most Expensive Strollers list at a time when I was raising a young family and brands would boast that they were on the list.
My social circle at the time included professional working women, stay-at-home moms, and mom bloggers, several who were affluent and looked at the stroller as a status symbol.
Here is another secret about what happens among moms at the park, at the school pick up lot, in the mall and other social places where mommies congregate. They check out what strollers they’re pushing a baby or child in and make judgments.
Yes, there is a definite hierarchy in quality of strollers and believe me when I tell you that certainly check out what stroller another mom’s child is being pushed in and make judgments.
When I was raising my children as a young lawyer, I went through 6 strollers, which is a low number considering many of my friends at the tiem had way more.
Our first stroller was a Peg Perego which converts from a baby carriage or pram to a push stroller. At the time, it was among the best. Then, when my first born turned into a toddler, we ordered theInglesina Swiftumbrella stroller from the Italian stroller manufacturer. It had a great run!
To pair with the Inglesina, a sturdy Italian brand, we got a lower cost Combi umbrella stroller for travel, a stroller we could beat up which was so much less that so that we wouldn’t mind if it got lost by the airline or damaged during travel.
Then, when I was expecting baby #2, I got as an amazing shower gift from my co-workers at my old job: a Peg Prerego Aria doublestroller!
By the time baby number 3 rolled around, the Inglesina had hit the dirt, we left the Combi on some island we visited for vacation once and we had loaned out the Peg Perego Buggy to relatives who didn’t take good care of it.
The wheels on the double gave out and we opted to give to Goodwill rather than try to fix it or get the company to repair it.
B.O.B.
We opted for a lesss expensive Graco Snug Ride for Baby #3 and aB.OB. jogging stroller (the air-filled jogger stroller with hand activated rear wheel brakes that can ride smooth on any terrain) when I was ready to get back in shape.
Now, while we didn’t get any of them to make a statement, I have had many moms and dads comment on the pricier high end ones while walking in the parks, malls etc. People are always looking for a status symbol and there is a preconception that most expensive means the best!
It’s no wonder, you can see celebrities strolling their children in many of those on this list. The celebrities know that too. That is why Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony sued Silver Cross from publishing on their website an unauthorized endorsement which featured a People magazine photo of them pushing their twins in two Silver Cross prams.
People flock to buy whatever celebrities purchase and that stroller companies know that endorsement mean lots for their bottom line.
Anyhoo, on to the list. Of course, as a disclaimer, this list is not exhaustive. As usual, this list is based on my own personal research and I urge readers to point out other vehicles that should grace this list. Certainly, I would amend the post to reflect corrections.
In the meantime, check out this year’s list of “it” strollers pushed by the most Poshest of moms and celebs out there (I’m updating this list with a few more after the initial post so come back and ping me on Twitter if you don’t see one you think should be on this list)
SILVER CROSS
DESCRIPTION: For over 128 years, Silver Cross has been handcrafting traditional prams in Northern England. This hallmark company is known for being pushed by Royals in the UK and across Europe and beyond.
The Silver Cross Balmoral Pram model boasts three coats of high shine lacquer, English leather and is painted by hand and individually numbered.
CELEBRITY OWNERS: Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Geri Halliwell Horner (“Ginger Spice”), Nicky Hilton
MIMA
DESCRIPTION: Mima® is an established Dutch designer and manufacturer of strollers and high chairs and a favorite brand for European new parents that want high-end design, functionality and a very chic aesthetic. This relatively new entrant to the market makes a very functional and innovative stroller that features a patented “carrycot inside” system.
The popular Xari Black Chassis Stroller can be used as a carrycot or as a stroller and comes with a reversible seat that allows your baby to face you or the world ahead. It has one of those super fancy simple fold mechanism. It is very stylish and chic and has a design that grows with your child and provides enhanced convenience for parents.
CELEBRITY OWNERS: Kourtney Kardashian, Alex Curran Gerard
CYBEX
DESCRIPTION: CYBEX delivers Versatile, elegant and convenient line of top-notched quality strollers, many that features a reversible seat, one-hand seat recline, and a quick-fold chassis usually in an ultra premium, lightweight design that adapts to your growing family’s changing needs. This American-made Massachusetts company makes renowned products.
The Cybex Priam Cherub Stroller is part of the Cybex Platinum Priam range in collaboration with renowned designer Jeremy Scott, this 3-in-1 stroller has been made from high-quality fabrics with a smart, luxe appearance. Its flexible frame can be turned into a travel system with matching carry cot, combined with one of the brand’s award-winning infant car seats, or transformed into a luxurious stroller sporting a reversible seat unit. A vibrant cherub print and golden wing attachments offer a heavenly touch to suit your little angel.
DESCRIPTION: The StokkE brand of stroller is an “it” stroller indeed. And about a decade ago, this Norweigian company’s strollers slowly replaced the Bugaboo as the favorite or wannabes, posers and the nouveau riche. The babies inside these strollers are decked out in mini-adult Designer clothes. The diamonds on the hands of the moms pushing these things can put your eye out, I mean the shine is that bright. And they are being folded and thrown in the back of Land Rovers. Pretentious? Naaaah! Their owners just appreciate a gorgeous quality crafted stroller, that’s all (wink).
The Stokke™ Xplory® Complete baby stroller is the only stroller you’ll ever need to buy! The Stokke Xplory Complete is an innovative urban stroller that adapts to your changing needs.
DESCRIPTION: This Dutch company has had a major mark in the business since the early 1990s. The strollers Bugaboo manufacture guarantee a full of smooth ride, no matter the surface, city street or bumpy park. The brand has long been considered a posh status symbol and continues.
The classic Donkey buggy is fully loaded with push handle to shift the wheels to tackle any terrain, 5 harness straps, multiple recline position, a spacious under carriage bassinet, as well as a reversible, fully reclining seat.
CELEBRITY OWNERS: Leelee Sobieski, Amy Poehler, Julianna Marguiles, Jon Stewart, Matthew McConaughey and Gwen Stefani
PHIL & TED’S
DESCRIPTION: Phil & Ted’s is a small New Zealand company that has made children’s products for over 20 years and about a decade ago was known for its super sturdy brand of tough terrain buggies and strollers for the rugged athletic and sports enthusiast parent who takes baby out on jobs and mountain hikes. It is still the market but has retreated to a smaller share given new competitors on the market.
Its Sport Stroller line feature a smart handle with one touch brake, smart fold, aluminum frame, and top quality tough, washable cloth.
CELEBRITY OWNERS: Jessica Alba and Cash Warren, Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts
JOOLZ
DESCRIPTION: Joolz is a very new entrant to the market. This Australian company hinges its products on sustainable and eco-friendly renewable design and materials.
The Joolz Geo² Studio Complete Stroller features a modular design that offers 3 different configurations that make it the ultimate stroller for any family adventure. The award-winning design captures ergonomic comfort, ease, style, and maneuverability. It can be used as a toddler stroller, a modern pram for newborns, and an infant car seat carrier
CELEBRITY OWNERS: Harry Judd, Carey Mulligan
UPPA BABY
DESCRIPTION:
Another American company is Boston, Massachussets-based UPPAbaby which makes innovative, high-quality strollers and car seats that fit the needs of parents, while appealing to the sense of style they’ve always had.
The VISTA convertible stroller allows for multiple configurations to transport up to three children, making it a great choice for growing families. The included bassinet features a longer, ventilated mattress, while the toddler seat is perfect as your little one grows. It has a telescoping handlebar and a large, easy-access under-seat basket that holds up to 30 lb. make the VISTA fuss-free for parents.
DESCRIPTION: When I started having a family, the Peg Perego was the it stroller. It is an Italian family-owned brand which makes baby strollers, car seats, high chairs and kid-sized riding toys for children and babies all over the world.
The versatile and agile Duette Piroet inline double stroller by Peg Perego can easily pass through narrow places, folds compactly, and is travel system ready. Comes with two independent adjustable seats with reclining backrests and two-position footrests. Peg Perego Duette Piroet features a versatile and extremely agile Italian inline double stroller design that can easily go through narrow pathways and allows various seating configurations for twins or different age siblings
DESCRIPTION: This is another relatively new arrival for city dwellers and traveling families. Babyzen manufactures and markets baby products and designs, produces, and sells collapsible baby strollers. Babyzen offers its produces to retailers throughout Europe and internationally.
The BABYZEN YOYO+ comes ready to roll, complete with the YOYO Newborn and Seat Color Pack Fabric Sets. The YOYO+ is an incredibly lightweight, compact stroller and steers easily even with one hand, allowing you to navigate corners and tight spaces. An underseat storage basket makes a convenient spot for on-the-go items, and an included travel bag is perfect for storage.
DESCRIPTION: Yet another Dutch stroller manufacturer whose name has been synonymous with top quality is Quinny. This company is among Europe’s most respected stroller brand and set the standard for engineering, design and trendsetting style.The Quinny line offers clever solutions for the confident parent of today; solutions that are made with parents and their lifestyles in mind. Stroll with ease and in stylish comfort with the rugged and innovative
The Quinny Mood Stroller features a unique hydraulic system that automatically unfolds stroller, plus never-flat, all-terrain tires that allow you and baby to conquer any terrain.
CELEBRITY OWNERS: Allyson Hannigan, Ali Landry
AUSTLEN
DESCRIPTION: This is another American baby product company. The Austin, Texas company boasts a staff of in-house engineers, mostly made up of parents, that make products to accommodate the daily lives and frustrations of new moms and dads. They’ve stopped at nothing to create intuitive, purpose-driven, well-made products that make family life easier and more fun — giving parents more freedom to live in the moment without being overwhelmed by more and more.
The flagship model, the Entourage, is perfect for families on-the-go. This one-handed expandable frame has three positions, 5 recline positions, a market tote and expandable lower storage area, giving you the freedom to travel anywhere in comfort.
THULE
DESCRIPTION
Thule is an established Swedish outdoors and transportation products manufacturer that is a leader in cargo carriers for automobiles. It recently expanded to get into the stroller biz.
The Thule Sleek is a stylish stroller for on-the-go travel adventures with the ever-innovative, marvelously multifunctional which features a ventilated canopy, a convenient window, a reversible seat, generous seating options and more.
MAXI-COSI
DESCRIPTION: Another Dutch company is Maxi-Cosi which started in the 1980s as one of Europe’s first permiere car seat manufacturers. It has since expanded and updated its quality of strollers to the point that is competes with the other exquisite brands out here.
Travel everywhere with ease with the Lila Modular Stroller is a convenient, compact and extra comfortable, making it great for dining out, shopping or vacation that is good with maneuverability and can accommodate an infant seat. It’s perfect for a growing family because it can easily turn into a dual stroller.
BABY JOGGER
DESCRIPTION This Richmond, Virginia-based company launched one of the first jogging strollers in the 1980s. It designs and manufactures jogging strollers and all-terrain strollers and offers strollers and joggers, such as urban use and three wheeled all-terrain strollers; and accessories. The company also provides dependable push chairs for children and adults with physical disabilities.
The City Select LUX is a rugged yet streamlined stroller features an extra seat with a telescoping handlebar adjusts to just the right height, while the hand-operated decelerating and parking brake provides additional peace of mind.
CELEBRITY OWNERS: Toby McGuire, Ellen Pompeo, Elizabeth Banks, Miranda Kerr
NUNA
DESCRIPTION: This Dutch company started out as a baby furniture maker and expanded to strollers. Today, it is a premiere must-have stroller for the upper echelon. I love the logo.
The Nuna MIXX Travel System includes a stroller and the company’s featherlight PIPA Lite LX Car Seat which makes one superb travel system. An ideal set for you, but especially for your little one.
CELEBRITY OWNERS: Gwen Stefani, Molly Sims, Jaime King
There you have it! Good luck stroller shop or social climbing, whatever floats your boat!
In case you haven’t noticed, the world is messed up. Like crazy messed up. And, as human beings, most of it is our fault. Crazy nuclear-obsessed dictators. Hyper-divisiveness in the American political system. Bigotry. Suicide bombers. Children unsafe at schools. The rich getting richer. The poor getting poorer. Social-media bullies. Cancer. TMZ. The list goes on…
And, just for good measure, mother nature decides to visit us with a record polar vortex and a flu season that affected millions more than normal (including yours truly). Not to mention the fool that cut you off in line for your latte this morning, or a million other of life’s trivial annoyances that get our blood pressure out of control. It is a wonder any of us are remotely sane.
Or is it? If you listen to a guy like Gary Vaynerchuck–and if you don’t you should–he correctly rants that we as human beings live in the greatest time to be alive in the history of humans. And even though life seems and is challenging, we have never collectively had it better.
Remember, it wasn’t all that long ago where the world was much more like Game of Thrones and a lot less like spoiled brat reality TV. And, as annoying as Honey Boo Boo and everything ‘Housewives’ seems to be, humanity continues to trend up.
So what can we do to realize and appreciate what we have? Most of us have little influence in the goings on of the world. However, my belief that if we each make a small effort to treat each other a little better, our lives will continue to improve. Something as seemingly insignificant as a smile can brighten people’s day.
Remember, it is really difficult to be around people who are smiling without smiling. Why? There is actually a mountain of interesting science behind it.
In one of my favorite studies of all time, researchers (Kraft and Pressman) used chopsticks to position people in various facial expressions then put them through a series of stressful tasks.
The results?
The people whose face was positioned into a smile had the lowest stress of any group.
So, even if you don’t smile on purpose, the act of positioning your face into a smiling posture actually decreases stress.
‘Fake it till you make it’ actually works here! The next time someone cuts you off in line, try forcing yourself to smile. Science says it will actually reduce your stress level.
Naturally smiling also creates a cascade of naturally occurring feel-good neurotransmitters to be released automatically. Seretonin, dopanine, and endorphins–the same hormones we artificially stuff into the ever increasing amount of happy pills Americans digest on a daily basis–are naturally released every time you smile. Free happy hormones. No trip to the doctor or prescription required.
What about for the uber career-focused people who are in too big of a rush to snap a smile at Starbucks?
A 2004 study from Penn State showed smiling employees come off as more friendly and likeable (not surprising) and also increased perception of competence (surprising!!!).
Smiling frequently gives people the perception that you are better at your job!
Another study from the University of Pittsburgh compared people with various smile postures, and the bigger the smile the higher the person was graded on trustworthiness (again, surprising!).
So, science suggests that if you want to be seen as more competent and more trustworthy–factors that weigh heavily in any boss’s performance evaluation–you should smile more.
And, just in case the scientific case for smiling wasn’t strong enough, a recent Harvard study found ‘social connection’ is directly linked to happiness and longevity. The more people in your social network, the more likely you were to live longer. What is the number one way to increase social connections you ask? Smiling. Live long and prosper, smile grasshopper.
THE CHALLENGE
My challenge to you: Get a sharpie. On the mirror in your bathroom, write the words ‘5 Smiles’ on your mirror. Look at the words in the morning while you are brushing your teeth (the dental professional in me couldn’t resist reminding you to brush) and say out loud “I will smile at 5 people today”.
Then, throughout your day, smile at 5 people. It’s the easiest challenge of all time. Instead of texting while you are ordering your morning caffeination, greet the barista with a smile before requesting your morning half-soy triple foam. If you are a perpetual grouch, turning the frown upside down may seem forced at first. Remember the chopstick study above–it still works.
Again, science is on your side here. A part of your brain called the premotor cortex has ‘mirror neurons’ that respond particularly strongly to smiling? What does that mean in normal language? Smiles are contagious. We are genetically predisposed to want to smile when we see someone else smiling. So, your smile could actually create a response in someone else that makes them feel better and brightens their day. Pretty good trick when you catch your boss in a grumpy mood.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of daily opportunities to show off your smile a few extra times. And, if you sleep 9 hours per day (way more than I get) this is only one smile every three hours. Insomniacs may have to smile a touch more frequently at one smile per two hours. Repeat the 5-smile challenge daily.
You may not be able to change Korean dictators, our President’s hair, or the path of a polar vortex, but you can change the frequency with which you share a smile. This isn’t push-ups or sit-ups we are talking about here. Deciding–notice that it’s your choice–to smile literally couldn’t be easier. The result of choosing to smile? You feel better and 5 other people do too. And many, many more by the transitive property. Scientifically proven and mother approved.
Imagine if something so simple, so trivial, actually caught on. Thousands or millions of extra smiles creating intermittent bursts of stress reduction and happy hormone release. Changing the temperament of the world, 5 smiles at a time. Possible? Grin and bear it? Maybe give it a try. Science is on your side.
The world’s first in-vitro fertilization baby was born in 1978 in the UK. Since then, 8 million babies have been born worldwide as a result of IVF and other advanced fertility treatments, an international committee estimates.
More than a half a million babies are born each year from IVF and other methods, according to estimates
More than 2 million IVF cycles are made each year
Many women are under the impression that pregnancy can wait- when in fact, there is evidence to support aging plays a direct role in delaying pregnancy
What can a woman do at each age and stage? Thanks to advances in modern medicine, including IVF, women have more options than ever before
In addition to IVF, options also include freezing your eggs until you’re ready to start a family, there by preserving your eggs in your “prime”
As more and more celebrities get pregnant later in life, the average woman is left thinking that she too can wait until her late 30s or 40s to start planning a family. According to Dr. Elizabeth Barbieri of Oregon Reproductive Medicine, that’s not always the case. “Many celebrities are inadvertently setting unrealistic expectations for many women that it will be easy to get pregnant naturally in their 40s, when in fact a lot of these celebrities have struggled, and have had a little assistance along the way, including IVF.” According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) a woman’s best reproductive years are in her 20s. Women in their 30s have a 20% chance of getting pregnant and by age 40, a woman’s chance of getting pregnant is less than 5%.
With many women delaying pregnancy until their 30s and 40s, fertility issues are becoming a growing topic of concern. According to Dr. Barbieri, women need to think ahead and have a game plan, as there’s many things women need to consider in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
“Whether you’re a new college graduate that is just starting out on your career path, or if you’re in an established relationship in your 30s and trying to get pregnant without success, there’s a variety of options available to women on their journey to parenthood. Knowing more can help people take control of their fertility so they can start a family when the time is right for them.”
Things to consider in your 20s:
Women’s eggs age as we age. We are born with all the eggs we will ever have. The number of eggs actually peaks while we are a fetus, and by birth, we have about 1 million eggs left. When a girl begins her menstrual cycle during puberty, she has about 500,000 eggs left….and she hasn’t even had a chance to use one yet!
As women get older, our eggs do not function as well – meaning they are less likely to result in a pregnancy, and that if a pregnancy occurs, the risk of miscarriage increases as well.
How to Live Life
At any age, ways that a woman can optimize her ability to successfully conceive includes having a healthy lifestyle. Do not smoke. Limit alcohol intake to 4 or fewer drinks per week (for both partners). Maintain a healthy weight as women who are underweight or overweight can take longer to conceive. Take a daily prenatal vitamin (or folic acid supplement). Monitor your menstrual cycle as having regular periods (which is defined as occurring every 24-35 days) to ensure you are ovulating so that you have a chance to conceive when you are ready.
What To Do If Something Is Off
If a woman’s menstrual cycle is irregular, she may not be ovulating, and therefore, it will be harder (if not impossible) to get pregnant. Seeing your OB-Gyn to evaluate for causes of an ovulation/irregular periods can help identify and treat the reason you are not ovulating to help restore regular menstrual cycles.
Things to consider in your 30s:
The chance of getting pregnant each month declines progressively throughout a woman’s 30’s. In the early 30’s, the chance of pregnancy each cycle is approximately 20%. At 35 years old the chance of pregnancy each cycle is 15% and decreases to 5% as a woman approaches 40 year old. The age related decline in fertility is accompanied by a significant increase in the risk of miscarriage.
The risk of miscarriage for women under 35 y/o is approximately 15% and increases to 30% at 40 years old
When should women in their 30s get help if they can’t conceive?
Honestly, it is never too early for a woman to begin a conversation with her health care provider about her fertility. Women who are under 35 years old should seek evaluation if they have failed to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse. Given the age related changes in fertility, women over the age of 35 years old should seek help after 6 months of trying.
What risk factors may make it more difficult to become pregnant?
There are several factors that can affect a woman’s ability to become pregnant. Some of these are modifiable and some of them are not. It can be more difficult to conceive if a woman has irregular menstrual cycles or issues with the uterus or fallopian tubes. The uterus can be affected by the presence of fibroids or scar tissue, whereas, having a history of pelvic infections or endometriosis can affect the fallopian tubes.
Lifestyle factors can also affect fertility. For example, women who are either overweight (BMI>35) or underweight (BMI < 19) can have difficulty conceiving.
Tobacco use and heavy caffeine use can also affect fertility. Women trying to conceive maintain a healthy diet, avoid tobacco and use caffeine in moderation (<250 mg caffeine per day).
Twenty percent of the time the reasons for infertility are due to male factors. It is important that the male partner be included in the evaluation!
What can be done if a women in her 30s is facing infertility?
The first step is to have a conversation with a healthcare professional. This can be a primary care provider, general OB/GYN or a Reproductive Endocrinologist.
A Reproductive Endocrinologist is an OB/GYN who has completed sub specialty training in fertility. Having this conversation will provide for the opportunity to thoroughly review the medical history and determine if there are risk factors present that may be affecting their ability to conceive. Further evaluation can then be performed to evaluate for these factors. The basic fertility evaluation typically includes evaluation of the health of the women’s eggs, confirming that the fallopian tubes are patent and performing a semen analysis to evaluate the sperm.
Additional testing may be recommended if other risk factors are present.
Between what ages is egg freezing most successful?
Because of the age related changes in egg quality that occur during the 30’s, the earlier the process is completed the greater the chance of obtaining healthier eggs.
What should you keep in mind about risks to mom and baby in your 30s?
The most important thing to remember is that it is absolutely possible for women to have healthy babies throughout their 30’s. Although it may become more difficult to conceive as a woman gets older there are safe and effective treatments to help women grow their families.
Because the risk of chromosomal abnormalities increase as a woman gets older, additional testing may be recommended during a pregnancy to ensure the genetic health of the baby.
This may include a simple blood test or a more invasive procedure, such as amniocentesis. There are also fertility treatments available to evaluate this risk prior to conceiving a baby.
What other kind of fertility care is available to women besides egg freezing?
Egg freezing is a great option for women who are planning to delay child-bearing. Because of the changes that occur with the quality of the eggs as a woman gets older, freezing eggs at a younger age will help increase the chances of having healthy eggs in the future when she is ready.
There are many treatment options available for women and couples who are actively trying to conceive, but having difficulty. The specific treatment is generally determined based on the factors that are contributing to the fertility issues. There are more conservative treatment options available including the use of medications to help the ovaries release more eggs and/or intrauterine insemination (IUI). Some find that they need to utilize more advanced forms of treatment, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) in order to conceive. IVF is a process where the eggs in a woman’s ovaries are stimulated to mature and then removed through a simple surgical procedure. The eggs are then fertilized with the sperm and embryos are grown in the laboratory for several days.
A healthy embryo can then be returned to the women’s uterus or additional testing can be performed to evaluate the genetic health of the embryo prior to embryo transfer.
This testing is referred to as Preimplantation Genetic Testing. Once the testing has been performed an embryo will be selected and then transferred to the woman’s uterus.
Things to consider in your 40s:
What happens to egg quality once women are older?
The total number of eggs in the ovaries decreases as a woman ages. Additionally, a lower percentage of the remaining eggs will contain the correct number of chromosomes (46 chromosomes). Females are born with all the eggs they will ever have, which is approximately 1-2 million—and at the time of puberty, there are approximately 300,000-500,000 remaining eggs.
When a woman reaches her late thirties, she has about 25,000 eggs remaining—and at menopause, this number likely reaches less than 1,000.
The decline in both the number and quality of eggs can also be influenced by environmental factors including chemotherapy, pelvic radiation, smoking, or ovarian surgery; or by genetic abnormalities such as Fragile X. Despite the multiple tests available to evaluate a woman’s ovarian reserve, the best indicator of egg quality is age.
When should women in their 40s get help if they can’t conceive?
If a woman is experiencing infertility in her 40s, the best initial step is early evaluation. By taking the first step to make an appointment with an infertility specialist, a woman can better understand her overall fertility potential.
At this appointment, a doctor will discuss simple testing that can be used to determine overall ovarian reserve, as well as other diagnostic tests that can evaluate whether she is ovulating, the status of her fallopian tubes, and the semen quality of her sperm source.
Earlier detection can lead to earlier intervention and treatment to increase a woman’s chance of success.
What can be done if a women in her 40s is facing infertility?
After the infertility evaluation is completed, a woman’s provider will often recommend advanced reproductive technologies including standard IVF, minimal stimulation IVF, donor egg, or donor embryo.
There are multiple stimulation protocols for IVF. A woman’s provider will work closely with her to personalize the treatment based on her infertility evaluation, personal and medical history, and desired treatment option.
If a woman in her 40s is facing infertility, she will discuss all the available options with her provider—as there are many different ways to build a family.
If a woman has had her eggs frozen, can she become pregnant in her 40s?
Yes! A woman in her 40s can decide to thaw her frozen eggs when she is ready. An infertility clinic will inseminate the eggs with sperm, and follow them in a controlled environment as they grow from fertilization to a blastocyst (day 5 or 6 embryo).
Embryos can be transferred into the woman’s uterus at this point, or she might choose to have the embryos tested for genetic abnormalities prior to the transfer. It is important to realize that not all embryo transfers will result in pregnancies or live births. In fact, the literature would estimate a 2-5% live birth rate per embryo.
Most importantly, a woman should speak with her IVF clinic to become well informed about her chances for pregnancy.
If you’re interested in improving you fertility, or just improving your chances of having a child, visit a fertility clinic like Fertility Plus to explore all of your available options.
Even though we are still in the dead of winter, now is the time to start working on your summer skin. If you have oily skin, even in the dry season, you can experience breakouts. Moisturizing with the wrong product can clog pores.
Most women want flawless skin year
round, and moms-to-be who are experiencing hormonal fluctuations especially
need to be mindful of the way the season, foods they eat, and other external
and internal shifts can impact the way their skin looks.
If you recall the past, when you had a special occasion coming up like in high school when you wanted to look your best in your prom dress, for example, you drank more water, used anti-blemish creams and acne washes daily to make sure you looked your best. This was the case if you were around when two piece prom dresses were the rage.
Now
that you’re older and have different stresses from work, children, pregnancy,
you have to do the same and take advance precautions when prepping your skin
for the Summer.
Make it a point to exfoliate your
skin
Try to exfoliate your skin regularly.
Rubs and masks are all the rage and so much so that even the Dollar Store sells
popular facial wraps now.
When you exfoliate your skin, it also
removes debris from your skin. When the dead skin gets removed from your skin,
then the toners and moisturizes will become more effective for your skin.
Ideally, you should make it a point
to exfoliate your skin every morning before applying the toner or SPF.
Apply intensive hydration masks
Skin hydration is also mandatory all
year long. It will be a great idea to
apply intensive face masks on your skin once or twice a week.
Also, you should always keep a
revitalizing toner handy, and refresh your face time to time whether you are in
a gym or at the office.
Apply Sunscreen even in Summer
The mistake most women do is that
when they apply the sunscreen on their face even in winter and not apply it
again. It is vital that you should apply the sunscreen after every two hours.
Another confusion most women have is how much sunscreen show they apply on
their face. Ideally, you should apply a teaspoon of sunscreen on your face.
Ideally, these skin care tips will
keep you in tip top shape before Summer Starts!
Winter can be a terror on your skin. Especially if you are expecting, you are susceptible to break outs, rashes and other blemishes. Dr. Manish Shah is a Denver Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. As a father to girls, he can relate to these skincare 911s and shares his expertise on what can be done to mitigate various conditions.
Problem: Cold Sore
Solution: Dr. Shah offers cortisone injections to patients who want to look better faster. “Very diluted cortisone into the cold sore, this can bring the inflammation down quite rapidly,” he says. If you are afraid of needles, call your doctor and ask him/her to call in a prescription for Valtrex, Famvir, or Acylovir, Dr. Shah says. You can pick up Abreva, an over-the-counter medication. If you can’t make it to the pharmacy, you can try some old-fashioned remedies: Visine will help take the red out. You can also use a cold compress and Tylenol or ibuprofen.
Problem: Allergic Reaction
Solution: The first thing you need to do is stop eating or using whatever is causing the allergic reaction. If the reaction happens a few days before an occasion, Dr. Shah recommends using hydrocortisone cream twice a day and taking Allegra, Claritin or Zyrtec which are longer acting and less sedating than Benadryl. Try a whole-milk compress for 10 minutes twice a day. For allergic reactions, use the hydrocortisone cream and then cover up redness by canceling it out entirely. The opposite of red is green, so apply green tinted concealer on the red area. The combination will create a flesh-toned hue. A good quality tinted moisturizer naturally has green/yellow undertones and also provides moisture to dry skin. “If this type of reaction is something you have never experienced before, go immediately to your dermatologist,” says Dr. Shah.
Problem: Cystic Acne Breakout
There are some people who use a lancet or small knife to cut into a cyst and fish out the clogged part of the pore. “Cutting open a cyst is extremely risky. You not only run the risk of getting an infection, but you also run the risk of scarring, as in a permanent skin indentation or protrusion,” says Dr. Shah. And what if you cut open a cyst but can’t squeeze out the root clog? You don’t know where the root is or how deep it resides inside your skin. You can’t even be 100% confident that you will be able to completely remove the hardened plug of the cyst. If any remnants of the clog remain, the cyst is likely to get re-inflamed and come back even worse. It’s also not exactly good to cut open skin and dig around and squeeze the wound. Doing so will only make a bloody mess, increase the chance of skin scarring, and prolong the time it takes the cyst to heal.
Solution: Here’s a secret that many a supermodel or actress use: Steroid shot. Dr. Shah explains that, “when we discuss treating acne with cortisone or “steroid” shots, we are referring to the process of gently placing a very dilute quantity of a “glucocorticoid” steroid into the cyst. Glucocorticoids are a class of steroid molecules that are naturally produced by our bodies and have numerous functions including the regulation of human metabolism, immunity, and inflammation. They have very potent anti-inflammatory effects, so they are often used to treat inflammatory diseases in medicine. They can be formulated as creams to treat skin rashes or as pills to treat systemic disease. They can also be injected directly into local areas of inflammation such as in arthritic joints and inflamed acne cysts. Within one or two days of injection into a cyst, the steroid will shrink the inflammation producing relief of pain and almost immediate cosmetic improvement.”
Problem: Puffy Eyes
Solution: The key to reducing the puffiness of puffy eyes is having something cool applied to them. “A cool compress or cooled cucumber slices applied for 5 to 10 minutes can constrict blood and lymph vessels,” says Dr. Shah. You can also use cool tea bags, which contain tannins that will help reduce swelling. And since puffy eyes can be caused by a high salt diet or alcohol, try to cut out both before an important occasion.
Problem: Sunburn
Solution: Take a cool bath or shower. Set the water to a cool temperature that’s just below lukewarm and relax for 10 to 20 minutes. The temperature will ease the pain, and the water will stop your skin from becoming as irritated. Repeat as often as you need to. Avoid using soap, bath oils, or other detergents as you bathe – they’ll irritate your skin and possibly make it even worse. If you have blisters forming on your skin, take a bath instead of showering. The pressure from the shower might pop your blisters. When you get out, don’t rub your skin dry with a towel. Instead, let yourself air dry, or pat the towel over your skin in small, gentle movements. Apply cold compresses to your skin. If you’re not in a situation where you can bathe, or you’d just prefer not to, you can instead apply cold, wet compresses to your skin. Dampen a washcloth or other piece of fabric with cold water and lay it over the affected area for 20 to 30 minutes. Re-wet it as often as you need to. Apply aloe vera to burned skin. Using the pads of your fingers, gently apply the aloe to your sunburn. Don’t “rub it in” all the way, like you might with a regular lotion. Leave it a bit goopy and moist on top of the burn – this helps prevent the skin from drying out and becoming more irritated. Reapply as often as necessary. Treat inflammation with cortisone cream (optional). Cortisone creams contain a small dose of steroids that can work to reduce inflammation to your sunburn.
Problem: Too much filler
The Solution: Dr. Shah suggests doing fillers no sooner than 1 month before a big event to allow time for healing and touch ups. One of the reasons Dr. Shah leans toward hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm and Perlane is because they are easily reversed with Hyaluronidase. This product dissolves and degrades the Restylane, Juvederm or Perlane so as to reverse the results of the initial injection. It’s a great insurance policy when choosing a practitioner. Make sure yours has it at his/her disposal. Most patients find the immediate results of soft tissue filler treatments very satisfying. If an undesirable result occurs, your treatment provider should be able to discuss and carry out all of the treatment options. Removing the effects of a “filler” treatment can be difficult. This is why any filler treatment needs to be done carefully, conservatively and only by very experienced and Board -Certified Specialists. Hyaluronic Acid based dermal fillers have the additional benefit of being partially or completely reversed with time or with the injection of a commercially available enzyme known as Hyaluronidase.
When you hire a domestic worker, which includes private childcare providers, you’re required by law to provide them with a W-2 form each year showing that Social Security, Medicare and the proper income taxes have been withheld. IRS estimates regarding federal income tax law compliance among nannies and their employers is very low, with the majority of employers and nannies working under an “off the books” arrangement. Because the compliance rate is so notoriously low, some employers feel that the risk of being discovered is also relatively low and opt for the perceived savings that come with skipping compliance altogether. If you’re considering an under the table arrangement that will leave your nanny with no W-2 at the beginning of the year, there are some dire consequences you’ll want to take into consideration first.
Tax Fraud Charges
The worst case scenario nanny employers could face if their non-compliance is discovered involves criminal charges, though it’s not necessarily the norm. In most cases, payment of the back taxes, penalties for non-compliance and interest is enough to hold off the prospect of jail time. The government does have the right, however, to pursue those charges. Even if the chances of imprisonment are relatively slim, it’s wise to ask yourself if even the faintest chance of a jail sentence is worth saving a comparatively small amount of money.
Lack of Workers’ Compensation Coverage
In order to obtain a workers’ compensation policy to protect you from financial liability should your nanny be injured on the job, you’ll have to be registered with the IRS as an employer. Many employers are under the misconception that their homeowners’ insurance policy will cover any injury that occurs on their property, but this is almost never the case when it comes to domestic employees. The financial implications of a single lawsuit for an uninsured accident can be devastating, and can alert the authorities to your lack of legal tax compliance.
Potential Professional Risks
More than one promising, high-profile political career has been derailed by the discovery of illegal hiring practices and failure to pay the proper taxes for a nanny. Whether you have aspirations of running for political office or furthering a civilian career, your reputation could be immediately and irrevocably ruined by allegations of illegal hiring practices
Social Security and Unemployment Benefits
Nannies will inevitably find themselves without work at some point in their careers. Their charges grow up, families’ financial circumstances change and they even become incapable of working full time as they get older. A career of working under the table leaves your nanny with no Social Security benefits to draw from or unemployment benefits to utilize when she reaches the appropriate age. Some will still choose to file for unemployment benefits after the loss of a post, especially if there’s bad blood between her and the employers she’s left behind. In those situations, you’ll inevitably be found out.
You Can Be Held Liable at Any Time
Even years after the fact, you can be held liable for tax evasion for failing to pay nanny employment taxes. Because the statute of limitations never runs out for tax evasion, you’re never truly out of the woods. The prospect of serious criminal charges and exorbitantly steep financial penalties will never fade away, so you may find that you’re never able to relax for worry that your illegal activity will be discovered.
A 1099 Won’t Cut It
It’s not uncommon for nanny employers to feel that they’re circumventing complex nanny tax laws by deeming their domestic employee an independent contractor, and choosing to issue a 1099 instead of a W-2. The Internal Revenue Service has declared that domestic workers are almost always considered employees, not independent contractors. You could still face penalties for choosing to issue a 1099, even if you’re trying to be nominally compliant.
Your Nanny Could File Anyway
Some nannies readily accept an under the table arrangement, but those that are serious about pursuing a legitimate career in private childcare may refuse. Your nanny could still file her taxes with a Form 4825 that allows her to file without a W-2 form. The process is extremely complicated, but still possible, and could create a world of legal and financial trouble for her employers. Choosing not to provide a W-2 after withholding the appropriate taxes doesn’t mean that your nanny won’t file, only that you’ll be left holding the proverbial bag should she choose to do so.
The new year is a time to begin again — to reflect on what you’ve accomplished, get organized and set new goals. For many of us, that means working on our finances.
According to a 2017 Fidelity study, approximately one-third of people planned to make a financial resolution going into 2018. The most popular resolutions included saving more, paying down debt and spending less.
Despite the hope and good intentions a fresh calendar brings, statisticsindicate that less than 10 percent of people accomplish their New Year’s resolutions. Financial goals, which often feel overwhelming at the beginning, are especially easy to neglect.
To make your New Year’s resolutions last beyond February, it’s important that you set realistic goals and implement a tracking system to hold yourself accountable.
To start, get a free credit report from one of the three reporting companies Equifax, Transunion and Experian. You could also try to enroll in a Credit Score and Monitoring, Savings Recommendations and Identity Theft Protection. You have probably seen a commercial for Credit Sesame which does all of that for free though they make their money off of upgrades to their basic services. So watch out!
For those who are furloughed during the federal government shutdown, a lot of utilities will now negotiate with you for delayed or skipped payments.
Third party companies like Bill Shark can help and 85% success rate negotiating bills for Cable TV, Wireless Phone, Satellite TV, Internet Access, Satellite Radio, and Home Security.
Also, a bunch of gamification apps that make saving a game but with that takes money from your paycheck and deposit it directly into a savings account have popped up. Long Games Savings rewards you with Crypto or Cash.
To help get you started, the folks at WikiBuycompiled a list of the best apps to help you monitor your financial life. From tracking daily expenses to creating better budgets, these apps will help you meet your 2019 financial goals.
If you didn’t enroll you or your children to participate in one of the many service activities organized around the nation, there is still time for you and the children to do something kind on their own for their neighbors or fellow man.
Here are a 6 other suggestions besides watching a speech and reflecting on its meaning:
Take garbage bags down to the town creek or some other littered area near your home and clean it up.
Make sandwiches and pack fruit and a snack into about a few dozen brown bags and pass them to homeless people in the closest town or city to you.
Gather old toys and bag them up to donate to Goodwill or a local family shelter.
Call a local home for the elderly and ask if you can come by and play cards and/or board games with the residents.
Make Homemade colorful Get Well Greetings cards to send to a local children’s hospital/
Make Festive Thank You Cards to send to the local USO to ship off to military serving abroad.
