Our Family World

A blog about you and your family!

Conception & Fertility

For some, conceiving and getting pregnant is easy, for others there's some extra work involved. Planning, timing, schedules, and a whole bunch of other techniques to getting pregnant. And once your pregnant, there are a bunch of other questions you may have. Let's discuss it all here!

Non-Medical Options for Infertile Couples

  Options for Infertile Couples The infertility treatments are dragging on, there’s no baby in sight, and having a child feels more important than ever. There are options for infertile couples other than having their own biological child, such as adoption and foster care. The key to utilizing non-medical options for infertile couples is to get out of the mindset that a baby … [Read more...]

Causes of Infertility in a Couple

It is scientifically proven that infertility in a couple is related to both partners.  Only one-third of infertility cases are related to the female in a couple, while another third is related to the male, and the cause of infertility in a couple for the final third is either related to both the male and the female or the precise cause for the  infertility is simply … [Read more...]

Fertility FAQ

Getting pregnant is easy: False Many factors can affect the ability of conceiving: The female partner's age, the timing, the ability of the male partner to conceive as well as many other biologically factors.The woman's age affect her capacity of conceiving:True In the 20's women's fertility is between 75% and 95%. In the 40's a woman has less than 50% chances of … [Read more...]

What Should We Eat When Trying to Conceive?

The food you choose to eat directly impacts your fertility. This goes for moms *and* dads to be, trying to conceive. As a couple, you need to stick to a healthy diet to boost your chances of getting pregnant. You should be striving for a healthy diet, at least, three months before you start trying to conceive. Here are some tips:Follow a healthy diet while trying to … [Read more...]

Tips On Getting Pregnant

Trying to get pregnant can be an overwhelming process that triggers feelings of sadness, anger, guilt and frustration. The following tips can help you cope with these emotions and increase your odds of getting pregnant.Tips on getting pregnantStop birth control pills It might seem obvious, but it's the first thing to do as it can take a certain time before you start … [Read more...]

Tracking your Fertility Cycle

As women are fertile for only a few days each month, (around 5), knowing your fertility cycle can boost your chances of getting pregnant. Here are methods you can use to track your fertility cycle.Methods for Tracking Your Fertility Cycle Calendar Method: Know your menstrual Cycle To use the Calendar Method, you need to keep track of your menstrual cycle for 8 to 12 … [Read more...]

5 Questions (and Answers!) to Your Biggest TTC & Pregnancy Worries

Whether you're planning to have your very first baby or thinking about expanding your family, preparing to get pregnant is an exciting and emotional decision. So many questions float through your mind. How long will it take to get pregnant? Should I track my cycle? If so, what is the easiest way to do it? Will I be a good mom? How do I care for that new bundle of joy? On and on … [Read more...]

Five Great Books That Really Prepare You For Pregnancy

The sheer amount of books out there for expectant mothers is staggering.  To help you wade through all of the literature, here is a list of five of the best pre-pregnancy books to read when you are thinking of having a baby or if you’re already pregnant.  These books provide a wealth of information for expectant mothers and fathers: from the weekly changes of the fetus itself; … [Read more...]

This Man’s Open Letter About Infertility Made Me Weep

Coping with infertility is something that I am all too familiar with. During the six years that I spent trying to conceive, I must have run through every single emotion a person can experience. Hope, fear, anger, depression, anger, denial, more hope followed by crushing sadness. It's an experience that is so hard to explain to someone who hasn't been through it. Except that's … [Read more...]

5 Things Every Couple Should Know About Trying to Conceive

Trying to conceive. Three words that, for most couples, really aren't that daunting. You try, you conceive. For couples dealing with infertility, however, "trying to conceive" becomes a lifestyle. At some point in your family planning journey, you go from being a regular couple who decided to become a trio to a TTCer, a part of an exclusive club you never asked to join. I was … [Read more...]

5 Things You Should Never Say to a Woman Who Had a Miscarriage

Today we're talking about a difficult subject: things you should never say to a woman who had a miscarriage. Watching your friend go through such a staggering loss is heartbreaking. We all want to say and do exactly the right thing to take away her pain as much as possible. Sometimes, though, what we think are well-meaning words deepen her pain. While every woman deals with … [Read more...]

5 Tips for Putting the Joy Back into Trying to Conceive

Add romance to regular meals. Add a spark of romance to your regular meal on the days your OPK says "go!" You don't have to make fancy meal. Even cutting your toast into heart shapes and serving the eggs on red plates can turn a plain breakfast into a special event! For dinner, turn down the lights and add a few candles. Voila! Instant romance! Put the dancing back in the … [Read more...]

First Response Study Reveals Common Misconceptions About Conception

This post about common misconceptions about conceptions is brought to you by First Response.First Response and the Yale School of Medicine joined together to conduct a study about the misconceptions about conception. The study revealed some interesting information about how women perceive their fertility. While I thought I knew pretty much everything about fertility, I … [Read more...]

The Stork Brings Assisted Reproductive Technology to Your Home #TheStorkCAN

Did you know that one in six Canadians struggles with infertility? The thing is, while so many people struggle with the same issue, it's still a deeply personal one that can leave you feeling very alone. That sense of loneliness is worse when everyone around you is getting pregnant with no problem! Factor in the fact that only about 15% of those couples can afford fertility … [Read more...]

The Stork is Landing Soon in Canada! #TheStorkIsComing

Are you ready for the NEW, over-the-counter conception aid? The Stork is coming to Canada this summer. Available exclusively at your local Rexall Pharmacy. Sign up for special offers and to be notified when it is available in-store here: http://bit.ly/1tfBhFQ #TheStorkIsComing … [Read more...]

Myths about Fertility: Which Do You Believe?

A recent article released by Fertility & Sterility examined the top myths about fertility that people believe are true. I found this incredibly interesting, as I struggled with infertility for 6 years before having my son. I too believed some of the myths about fertility in the beginning of my journey. As I continued to go through it, I read everything I could find and … [Read more...]

Obesity and Infertility: How Your Weight Affects Conception

Obesity and Infertility: How Your Weight Affects Conception Are you overweight and having trouble with conception? In addition to certain disorders, drug and alcohol use, and environmental causes, another possible cause of infertility  is obesity. Many studies have found that obesity and infertility are linked in both men and women. One study found that women with severe … [Read more...]

Struggling with Infertility: My Personal Journey Through Grief

I’ve written about struggling with infertility for OurFamilyWorld for a few years now. In fact, when Olfa first brought me on as a writer, it was to be my specialty. I struggled with infertility for many years. Now I’m sharing my personal story in the hopes that it helps someone else get through the struggle.Let me tell you something, struggling with infertility is … [Read more...]

Ectopic Pregnancy Stories: How it Affects People Differently

Ectopic pregnancy can be a terrifying experience. Between the physical and emotional pain, the procedures to fix it and the worrying about whether it will cause future infertility, it can really put you through the wringer. We've talked about ectopic pregnancy signs, symptoms and treatment options before, but never really delved into the emotional turmoil that this type of … [Read more...]

Should You Use an Egg Donor to Get Pregnant?

What do you do when you want a baby more than anything in the world but your body just won’t cooperate? Borrow someone else’s! In the case of an egg donor, you really only need to borrow a very small piece.Okay, so it isn’t really “borrowing” since you won’t be giving it back, but you get the drift. Chances are, you are pretty familiar with the concept of an egg donor. If … [Read more...]

Ovarian Cancer: How Does it Affect Your Dreams of Getting Pregnant?

While doing research on ovarian cancer and its effect on your ability to get pregnant, I came across a really interesting article on the Huffington Post. A quick summary: an Australian woman lost both of her ovaries due to ovarian cancer. While doctors were removing her second ovary, they preserved some of the cells. Later, after the cancer was under control, they grafted those … [Read more...]

Can that Pre-Pregnancy Cocktail Cause Cancer Later?

As if you didn’t have enough to worry about during your child-bearing years, a new study came out saying that drinking before pregnancy can actually increase your risk of developing breast cancer later!   We all know how important it is to abstain from drinking during pregnancy, but who knew that those pre-pregnancy cocktails could actually cause so many problems later in … [Read more...]

Five of the Best Pregnancy Tests

 Your period is late and you’re thinking “maybe I’m pregnant!” All you have to do is run to the store and pick up a pregnancy test to confirm (or deny). So you hop in your car and head to the nearest retail store with a family planning section and make your way down that magical aisle. Once you get there, though, a simple task becomes one of major confusion! … [Read more...]

The True Cost of Infertility and How Funded IVF Can Help #ohip4ivf

The true cost of infertility is much higher than you may imagine. Forget, for a moment, the costs involved in actual fertility treatments, especially IVF. Those can be astronomical on their own.  I’m talking about the true cost- both emotionally and physically- of dealing with long-term infertility. From lost wages due missing work for tests and treatments to therapy bills for … [Read more...]

How IVF Funding Helped Two Women Become Moms #ohip4ivf #onpoli

In many parts of Canada and the United States, women who need in-vitro fertilization to realize their dreams of becoming moms often have to beg and borrow to come up with the funds for the procedure. Not only does this add an enormous amount of stress to an already difficult situation, it can wreak havoc on the finances for years to come. In Quebec, however, IVF procedures have … [Read more...]

Pregnancy Concerns: Ectopic Pregnancy Symptoms, Treatments, and Prognosis

By now, we all pretty much know how a pregnancy begins. The sperm makes an epic journey to the waiting egg; they meet, fall madly in love, and create a baby. In an ideal world, the fertilized egg travels down the fallopian tubes, lands in the lush soil of the uterus, and proceeds to grow into a beautiful little being that, if all goes right, you will hold in your arms at the … [Read more...]

Tests Used to Determine the Cause of Infertility

Determining the cause of infertility is the first step in helping a couple get pregnant after about a year of unsuccessful attempts. There are several different tests that doctors can use to take a closer look at what could be going on. They range from very simple blood samples to pretty uncomfortable, slightly more invasive tests. Typically, doctors will start out with the … [Read more...]

Medical Options for Infertile Couples

Once upon a time, there were very few options for infertile couples. If you couldn’t have a baby on your own, your only real option was to get put on a long waiting list and adopt a baby locally. Today, there are many more options for infertile couples, available to help you start a family, some of which even allow you to be the biological parents of your child even if you … [Read more...]

Ovulation: Timing Is Everything When Trying to Conceive

While most women rarely spend much time thinking about ovulation, when you’re trying to conceive it becomes a major factor to consider. When it comes to ovulation and getting pregnant, timing is everything. Each month, you have a small window of opportunity in which you can get pregnant. Miss that window by even a day, and you have to wait until the following month to try … [Read more...]

Guide to choosing an IVF specialist

If you are thinking about trying in-vitro fertilization to help you get pregnant (IVF), you will need to find a good reproductive specialist to help you weigh all your options and determine if it is right for you. Once you make that final decision to go forward with the IVF, you will want to make sure you are comfortable with your doctor, because you’re going to be together for … [Read more...]

Factors to Consider Before Choosing IVF

 The decision to undergo in-vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a deeply personal one. Like all medical procedures, it has its benefits and risks, and only you and your partner can decide if the benefits outweigh the potential risks. Every woman is different, and your fertility specialist will outline the potential risks based on your personal medical history before you … [Read more...]

IVF: Understanding the Basic Steps to Success

In-vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a type of advanced reproductive technology used to help women conceive. It involves manually fertilizing the woman’s egg with the male partner or sperm donor’s sperm, then transferring the resulting embryo into the woman’s uterus. It is a rather expensive procedure; so many women use it as a last resort after other fertility treatments … [Read more...]

Infertility Treatments: Options to Help You Get Pregnant

You tried for several months, years to have a baby but it did not work. You are upset, frustrated and perhaps despaired. You blame your partner, the whole world for this unfairness. You watch other women getting pregnant for the first, second or the first time and you don't know what to do to fulfill your dream. Believe me, technology evolved to the point of bringing you … [Read more...]