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Getting Pregnant With Endometriosis: What You Need to Know, by Joanie Cox-Henry (Endometriosis Foundation of America),
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. PregnancyBeyond have teamed up with EndoFound to raise awareness of this disorder. Also, fertility health issue that affects millions of women worldwide.
This article discusses what you should know about getting pregnant when you have endometriosis.
Getting pregnant and delivering a healthy, bouncing baby is something that, sadly, many women with endometriosis may never experience. The statistics can be even more sobering, with one study claiming that women with mild cases of the disease have only a 2 to 4 percent chance of getting pregnant each month compared to the 15 to 20 percent chance women without the disease have.
But for those who can conceive, what can be the happiest time of their lives can quickly turn into the scariest.
“Women with endometriosis are at risk for preterm labor, hypertension, and pre-eclampsia,” Dr. Jessica Chan, a fertility specialist in the Department of Obstetrics at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, tells The Blossom. “Bleeding during the pregnancy can also be scary, and there is a higher risk for c-section in the end.”
Time is also unkinder to the endo woman hoping to become a mom.
“Between the ages of 32 and 37, women can have as much as a 50 percent decline in fertility,” says Dr. Mark Surrey, co-founder and Medical Director of the Southern California Reproductive Center. “For women with endometriosis, egg quality and quantity can especially be affected.”
ALSO SEE: “WE BEAT INFERTILITY “
Dr. Tomer Singer, Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC, has also seen women with endometriosis experience a slightly increased risk for miscarriage. “With endometriosis, a dilated fallopian tube can flush an embryo out. Endometriosis often goes hand-in-hand with adenomyosis, a condition in which endometrial tissue, which normally lines the uterus, exists within and grows into the muscular wall of the uterus.”
Singer said this could give the uterus a Swiss cheese-like appearance with a lot of black holes in the glands and muscles. “It increases the risk of failed implantation and early miscarriage in the first eight weeks of pregnancy.”
Many patients experience increased pelvic pain as their pregnancy closes in on the 40-week mark. “Ovaries can be enlarged because of endometriomas and adenomyosis can cause the uterus to be physically larger,” adds Singer, which can cause additional pain.
Still, all is not lost for endo women hoping to conceive, as many continue to defy the odds and welcome motherhood. “Some patients have Stage III or IV Endometriosis in their bladder or uterus and end up needing surgery before they can safely conceive. In some more severe cases, a patient can better benefit from a gestational carrier.” (Article was first published here)
About EndoFound: The Endometriosis Foundation of America strives to increase disease recognition. Provide advocacy, facilitate expert surgical training, and fund landmark endometriosis research. Engaged in a robust campaign to inform both the medical community and the public. The Endofound places particular emphasis on the critical importance of early diagnosis and effective intervention. While simultaneously providing education to the next generation of medical professionals and their patients.
Join us over at the PB Moms Exclusive Circle. Where we invite healthcare experts to prepare us for life after childbirth and motherhood. Go to: pregnancybeyond.com/exclusive-circle.
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Endometrioses Success Story: “Every Night I Prayed For My Baby”, By Shenna Foster (Endometriosis Foundation of America).
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. PregnancyBeyond has teamed up with EndoFound to raise awareness of this disorder. Also, fertility health issue that affects millions of women worldwide.
Today’s post is an endo success story; Reporter Diana Falzone is pregnant with a boy!
Reporter Diana Falzone has a bun in the oven!
Falzone, 35, reveals that she is four months pregnant with a boy.
“Every night I prayed for this child and to now see him on sonograms is a miracle”. Falzone tells The Blossom exclusively.
It’s a joyous surprise for the reporter who has been outspoken with her endometriosis struggle. “I’m still kind of shocked, honestly,” she says. “I have a bump, and I’ll brush my hand and be in disbelief that it’s there. I’m acutely aware of how many women struggle to conceive and don’t have that opportunity. I’ve been blessed. Every single week that goes by I’m closer to meeting my baby boy, and I’m so excited.”
The road to motherhood has been a bumpy one for the TV personality.
Back in February 2016, she had her first endometriosis-related excision surgery after months of dead-end doctor visits.
Then, in June 2017, Falzone was rushed into yet another excision surgery, where doctors discovered her uterus was fused to her abdomen.
Despite those setbacks, Falzone tells The Blossom she remained determined to one day become a mother, no matter what.
“When I was told I was infertile, I was, of course, heartbroken, but after the initial shock, I was determined to become a mother whether it meant biologically or through adoption. I was going to exhaust my options until I didn’t have any.”
After starting hormone therapy in September and embryo transfer in November, Falzone was forced to wait. “You have to tell yourself that whatever happens, you’ll be okay with it. Whatever is meant to be is meant to be. And there’s a high failure rate. It’s an incredibly stressful time, it’s very emotional, and it’s very scary.”
Falzone says it isn’t lost on her how lucky she is to conceive despite having endometriosis. “I have heard from women. Who had to have hysterectomies due to endo and lost their dream of having a child. They are on my mind always. I hope the more the endo community continues to speak up, we will make a tremendous change, and a cure will happen in our lifetime.” ( Article was first published here)
ALSO SEE: MOM OF TRIPLETS PENS EMOTIONAL LETTER TO INFERTILITY
About EndoFound: The Endometriosis Foundation of America strives to increase disease recognition. Provide advocacy, facilitate expert surgical training, and fund landmark endometriosis research. Engaged in a robust campaign to inform both the medical community and the public. The Endofound places particular emphasis on the critical importance of early diagnosis and effective intervention. While simultaneously providing education to the next generation of medical professionals and their patients.
Join us over at the PB Moms Exclusive Circle. Where we invite healthcare experts to prepare us for life after childbirth and motherhood. Go to: pregnancybeyond.com/exclusive-circle.
Follow PregnancyBeyond on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
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Emotional Letter – Mom of Triplets Pens To Infertility.
Dear Infertility,
I hated you.
You steal dreams. You break hearts. You bring grief. You consume lives. You are the reason I couldn’t get pregnant on my own. You drowned my heart in deep misery from the inability to become a Mother how most women do. You told me that my body wasn’t good enough. You may have been a huge part of my story, but you never defined me. And on this day, two years ago, I kicked your ass. I defeated you. I showed you that there is a victory in infertility and God finally planted life in my womb.
Infertility, there are so many things you brought with you when you entered my life. It wasn’t just that I couldn’t get pregnant. You brought me more tears than I ever thought I could shed. Because of you, I laid on my bathroom floor in complete emptiness after countless negative pregnancy tests time and time again. I had to endure shots, bruises, and all kinds of meds because when you are infertile and you seek fertility treatment for help, that is what you are in for. You are expensive and exhausting physically, emotionally, and mentally. Infertility, you drowned my heart in disappointment and agony. And truthfully, it was pretty painful every time I heard the words “I’m pregnant” from someone other than myself. And yet, in the midst of all of that-you brought me hope.
As much as I hated you, Infertility, I am also so thankful that you were my story. You made me strong. Even before I got pregnant, my strength was rising. Not only did I feel like Superwoman after all of those injections, meds, blood draws, doctor visits, etc. but I found strength emotionally, as well. I learned how to be brave and walk our story with faith trusting that God knew every single detail better than I did. I learned how to be courageous as my husband gave me a progesterone shot that hurt like you wouldn’t believe every single night for 2 months so I could get and stay pregnant. Infertility, you taught me that I am never alone in my darkest days.
Never did I imagine I would be labeled as infertile. Nor did I imagine that we would seek fertility treatment. However, infertility, it is because of you that I get to be a Mom to my Hope Triplets. This love that I get to experience with them is absolutely undeniable. It is the greatest feeling in the world and if you weren’t apart of my story, I would be missing out on a truly honorable role as their Mommy. It is because of you that two years ago I found myself lying on a doctor bed waiting for two precious and perfectly made embryos to be transferred to my womb.
Infertility, God used you in my life to make a platform for my story and reach the hearts of people walking the same pain I was in. And it is because of you that I have a greater understanding of what hope really is.
Infertility, I don’t hate you, not anymore. God makes beauty out of ashes. You were my ashes, but God made you beautiful. If it wasn’t for you-for the extreme heartache you caused me, the lies you told me, the grief you brought my heart over and over again- not only would I not be a Mom to my darling hope triplets, but I can now truly grasp on to how powerful and remarkable it means to have hope in Jesus Christ.
Hope anchors the soul. Hope does not disappoint. Hope is having faith for what seems impossible. It is trusting God when it feels hopeless. My journey to parenthood was nothing short of hope. God had every single detail orchestrated from the second He planted the seed of Motherhood in my heart. Infertility, today, when I really reflect on those years when you were apart of my life, I can only say, Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mama of Hope
Desiree and her husband have now been blessed with a set of triplets -two boys and one girl- Charlize, Sawyer, and Jax.
Speaking to PregnancyBeyond.com, the triplet mom said “I think this letter really captures the heartache of infertility-and the beauty of it, as well”
Thank you for sharing for sharing this raw open letter. Find more of Desiree and her family on Instagram
RELATED: I AM 36 WEEKS PREGNANT AND I HAVE TWO-MONTH-OLD TWINS
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Sleep On Side: The Safest Way To Sleep During Pregnancy.
Wondering about the safest way to sleep during pregnancy? New research by NHS England and Tommy’s, the baby charity has shown that you should sleep on your side during pregnancy #SleepOnSide.
The campaign #SleepOnSide was launched in a bid to reduce the rate of stillbirth and aims to educate women on how sleeping positions especially during the third trimester could increase the risk of stillbirth.
The research confirmed that the risk of stillbirth is doubled if women go to sleep on their backs in the third trimester and highlight the importance of sleeping on your side especially at the end of pregnancy.
Check out the video for more information and read more about the campaign here.
We’re supporting Tommy’s important #SleepOnSide campaign and we are happy to be able to contribute in spreading awareness for #SleepOnSide.
ALSO SEE: BAD PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE
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About Tommy’s: The largest charity funding research into the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. They also provide information for parents-to-be to help them have a healthy pregnancy and baby.
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HEARTBREAKING: Gabrielle Union Reveals She’s Had Eight or Nine Miscarriages
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Gabrielle Union has opened up about her continued struggles with infertility in her new book We’re Going to Need More Wine.
Union, 44, who has been married to Dwyane Wade since April 2014 writes about her attempts at trying to conceive.
“I have had eight or nine miscarriages,” Union writes. “For three years, my body has been a prisoner of trying to get pregnant—I’ve either been about to go into an IVF cycle, in the middle of an IVF cycle, or coming out of an IVF cycle.”
While Union has previously spoken about her IVF journey, the Being Mary Jane actress has now opened up the heartbreaking details of her pregnancy struggles and how she has been dealing with the public pressure to conceive.
She goes on to say that while at first she wasn’t interested in having kids, her mind changed once she became a stepmom to Wade’s sons. And just like many women, she’s constantly asked whether or not she wants children:
“For so many women, and not just women in the spotlight, people feel very entitled to know, ‘Do you want kids?’ A lot of people, especially people that have fertility issues, just say ‘no’ because that’s a lot easier than being honest about whatever is actually going on. People mean so well, but they have no idea the harm or frustration it can cause.”
“Once a month I look like I’m in my second trimester because I’m bloated,” she continues in her book, explaining the side effects of IVF. “It leads to the questions and it leads to the rumors and anytime I go into a doctor’s office I feel like I’m a member of SEAL Team Six undercover because I don’t want people to speculate.”
Read more in Union’s book, We Are Going To Need More Wine out October 17 (Pre-Order Now)
Also Read: Pregnancy And Postpartum Depression
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Success Story: How I Have Managed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
In honor of PCOS Awareness Month and National Fertility Awareness Week (UK), Kemi Olowe who recently gave birth to a baby boy after a miscarriage (natural conception) and three rounds of IVF ; shares the story of how she got diagnosed with the syndrome at age 19 , and how she has been living with and managing the condition known as the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
We hope you find some encouragement and support from watching this vlog.
PART 1
In part 1 of the vlog, Kemi talks about the PCOS symptoms she is experiencing, how she got diagnosed, the impact of PCOS on a woman’s quality of life and how she went on to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
PART 2
In part 2 of the vlog, Kemi talks about the need to raise awareness on the effect of PCOS in the workplace and the provision of appropriate and non-judgmental support to employees; the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. She ended the vlog by giving a word of encouragement to PCOS warriors.
ALSO SEE: Top 6 Reasons To Call Your Doctor For Your Newborn
Find more of Kemi on her blog and on her Instagram account.
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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): What You Should Know? By PCOS Awareness Association.
September is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) awareness month. On the blog today, the PCOS Awareness Association (PCOSAA) explains the significance of increasing awareness about this condition that affects one in five women of childbearing age.
The Importance of Raising Awareness About Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS is an endocrine disorder that is widely spread among women of all ages. In present days, there are over 10 million women that are diagnosed with PCOS, this number exceeding the numbers of all breast cancer, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis combined.
The statistics show what a high frequency this illness has, which makes raising awareness among women about PCOS and its symptoms more than necessary. Having in mind that September is the PCOS awareness month, the timing couldn’t be better to talk about this illness and how can it affect women, so that we can take better care of ourselves.
Let us start with the basis. What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome? In spite of the fact that it is one of the most frequently met hormonal disorders among women, you won’t hear people talking about it too much. PCOS is not a medical topic that is too often debated, unlike other illnesses out there that don’t have the same incidence. PCOS is a hormonal imbalance in your body, causing uncomfortable symptoms both on the inside and outside of the body.
What is important to remember is that ovarian cysts may not be triggered by PCOS. There are cases in which the ovarian cysts have no connection with PCOS, being caused by something else. So cysts on the ovaries don’t mean you have PCOS. Although incurable, it is treatable.
There are ways to keep symptoms at bay and have a happier and pain-free life. Talking about symptoms, PCOS can produce a set of very uncomfortable symptoms, of which we can mention serious weight gain, loss of hair, feeling tired, depressed, suffer from panic attacks, headaches, dizzy spells, high levels of cholesterol, thyroid issues, sleeping problems, a constant feeling of thirst, cravings, mood swings, infertility, too much hair on the body and face, and others as well. If left untreated, polycystic ovarian syndrome can cause various severe diseases in time, such as cardiovascular diseases, type-II diabetes, hypertension, kidney problems, and even stroke.
ALSO SEE: Postpartum Infections and Pain | Treatment Tips
PCOS Awareness Association is fighting to raise awareness among women of all ages that they don’t have to suffer because of PCOS. This disorder can be kept under control and women that have it can lead a normal life. If you have any of the previously mentioned symptoms, don’t hesitate to ask for medical help and check to see if you have PCOS.
Our association can give you all the support you need to get the appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and aid in managing this condition with grace. Join our mission and let us help as many women as possible find out more about PCOS and ensure them that the condition is entirely treatable. No woman should suffer because of PCOS any longer.
Megan M Stewart
Founder of PCOS Awareness Association
www.pcosaa.org
The mission of the PCOSAA is to inform the public about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) by providing information and resources for women to get tested, as well as providing support for women diagnosed with PCOS. Find more of them on their website.
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Trying For A Baby? 5 Signs of Ovulating!
The best way to improve your chances of getting pregnant is to understand the optimal time to have unprotected intercourse. Listed below are things to look out for to determine when the body is preparing to move into the most fertile time of the month.
- Record your menstrual cycle
Keep a menstrual calendar for a few months so you can get an idea of when you will ovulate. Ovulation usually occurs around 12 to 14 days before your next period so you will need to know when your period usually start and stop.
2. Check your cervix
Check your cervix daily using one or two finger. At the height of ovulation, the cervix becomes so soft that it blends in with the vagina walls and rises so high that the finger cannot touch it. This is known as SHOW – soft, high, open and wet. This is your most fertile time as the uterine is open to allow sperm to enter in.
3. Check your cervical mucus
Cervical mucus is a fluid secreted by the cervix, the production of which is stimulated by the hormone estrogen. You are most fertile when your cervical mucus is “egg white”, as it allows sperm to swim easily into the cervix. Egg white cervical mucus (EWCM), is thin, clear and stretchy, you could pull it into a string long before it breaks.
4. Look out for backache or tummy pain
The pain can be a dull cramp or a sharp and sudden twinge and is felt on the right or left side, depending on which ovary is releasing an egg. Some women notice a little vaginal bleeding when it happens.
5. Increased Libido
As ovulation approaches, women often feel an increase in sex drive. Some people believe this is a biologically designed way to ensure reproduction.
In addition to these ovulation symptoms, some women may also notice an increase in basal metabolic temperature and spotting around this time of the month.
Also Read Breastfeeding Your Newborn: What To Expect
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10 Habits You Need To Quit Now if you are Planning For A Baby.
It is most important to ensure your child has the best start to life. So before you become pregnant, you want to make sure you cut out any habits that are harmful to your baby.
1. The Smoking
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk for preterm birth, and has been estimated to account for 20 to 30 percent of low-birth-weight babies. Smoking during pregnancy has also been associated with a host of complications including premature rupture of the membranes, placenta previa, placental abruption and it is a risk factor of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
2. Drinking Alcohol
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause serious health problems for your baby and no amount of alcohol has been proven safe at any time during pregnancy. Alcohol during pregnancy can harm your baby’s developing brain and makes your baby more likely to have premature birth, birth defects and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
3. Drugs
If you are addicted to any of the illegal drugs, you increase the chance of birth defects, premature babies, underweight babies, stillborn births and even maternal death. Exposure to drugs such as marijuana – also called weed, ganja, dope, or pot — and alcohol before birth has been proven to cause behavior problems in early childhood.
4. Medication (Over the Counter and Prescription)
Some medicines can be dangerous during pregnancy. Ideally, it’s best to avoid any unnecessary medications early in your pregnancy as fetal organs develop rapidly, making them extremely vulnerable to the potential risks of drugs. Your doctor can tell you medicines safe to use during pregnancy.
5. Stress
You will need to keep your stress under control, studies have shown that it may affect your chances of conceiving easily. Stress experienced by a woman during pregnancy may affect her unborn baby with potentially harmful effects on brain and development. You may find it helpful to employ relaxation techniques or yoga to help moderate your stress level.
6. Caffeine
Experts says you may consume 200 mg of caffeine a day when you are carrying a baby in you.This is equal to about one 12 oz cup of coffee. Caffeine is not only found in coffee but also in tea, soda, chocolate, and even in some medications . Be aware of what you consume. Extremely high caffeine intake has also be linked to infertility .
7. Junk Food
Healthy foods during pregnancy equals healthy babies after birth. A poor diet during pregnancy increases your child’s risk of obesity and high blood pressure. Your unborn baby may also lack the necessary food and vitamins necessary for proper growth if you do not eat healthy.
8. Lack of Sleep
During pregnancy you feel the need to nap more often. When one of these urges occur, listen to your body’s signals and abide by them. Your body is creating any life so it is very important for your health during pregnancy to ensure you get enough sleep.
9. Lack of Physical Activity
Taking regular exercise before you try for a baby is good for you and your baby. Being fit or fitter than you were will help you through your pregnancy, labor and of course into motherhood.One way to approach this is to do at least 30 minutes on at least five days a week.
10. Environmental Dangers
Some jobs are hazardous to you and your unborn children. Avoid exposure to chemicals or radiation. If you stand or fly a lot, then consider making changes to your environment before you try for a baby. A man’s testes should be a couple of degrees cooler than the rest of the body. Tight underwear, very hot showers, and baths should be avoided.
Also Read: Endometrioses Success Story: Every Night I Prayed For My Baby
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