Trying to conceive and considering invitro fertilization or some other fertility treatment? You might want to know (especially if you’re Canadian) that some doctors won’t allow women with a body mass index over 35 receive fertility treatments due to increased risk and increased difficulty administering treatments. Canadian press have been covering this issue ( http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/life/health/article/155826–doctors-to-consider-barring-obese-women-from-fertility-treatments) and it’s expected to be debated at the 2011 annual Toronto Meeting of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (more info available at http://www.cfas.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=799&Itemid=542)
- Do you agree with this?
- Have you, personally, experienced what you perceive to be discrimination about medical treatment due to your weight or another issue?
Tags: Fertility Treatments and Obesity, Pregnancy Conversations, ttc
photo: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/agastecheg
Too early for maternity clothes but clothes already feeling too tight? Or…ready for maternity clothes but want to save money? Here are some maternity clothing alternatives and tips to help you cope with that ‘in between’ stage as well as to help you save money on maternity clothes. There are some tips and some…maternity clothing hacks, if you will.
- Tracksuits / yoga pants. While not always great for the office, in most cases, they can help you get through the evenings and the weekends and dressier yoga pants could be suitable for work as well as giving you plenty of play room as you grow.
- Tights with a long top. Slightly bigger tights or tights worn on the hips instead of up at your waist can help.
- Stretchy jeans that sit on your hips can last a bit longer. If you see sales on these, you might even pick up a few pairs in a size or two larger than your usual size. These will help you through the in-between stage as well as after pregnancy during healing and that stage before you get your pre-pregnancy body back.
- An elastic band can work well in a pinch, too. Instead of buttoning and zipping your jeans, leave them open and use an elastic to close them. Put one loop over the button and pull the other end of the loop through the button hole and then back around to the button and loop it on. You can also buy a waistband extender, example: pregnancy waistband extender, which can work well for many pairs of your pants.
- Mens’ briefs or boy shorts can work great instead of highly unattractive, expensive, and huge maternity underwear that take ‘granny panties’ to a whole new level.
- Consignment stores often have second hand maternity clothing for dirt cheap. It often looks like brand new, as well.
- Online classified sites, such as Kijiji and eBay will often have sales of maternity clothing in lots for great prices.
- A larger man’s dress shirt will often do great. You could even add some embellishments on it to make it look more feminine.
- Shop in the Plus Size store in the clearance rack. Many of these items, particularly shirts and skirts, could be suitable for maternity wear.
- Buy a few basic bottoms that will mix and match well with dressy and casual tops ( a pair of maternity jeans, a pair of maternity dress pants, perhaps a pair of maternity capris and / or dress shorts)
- Larger A-line t-shirts. If you wear a small, buy a large. If you wear a medium, buy an XL. Tees are often inexpensive so something you can buy in multiple sizes.
- Don’t be afraid of fitted clothing. If it’s long enough that it doesn’t ride up expose your belly or make your belly uncomfortable, wear it. You don’t have to wear tented maternity tops with big bows on them.
- Accessorize. Even if you’re wearing a plain coloured shirt and solid coloured pants, you can dress it up with the right jewelry so that you’ll feel prettier.
Got any maternity dressing tips to share? Please do!
Is Sushi Safe During Pregnancy?
Is baby craving sushi? Pregnancy food cravings can be powerful. And sometimes knowing that you can’t have something is enough to bring on a ravenous craving. If you’re wondering if sushi is safe to eat during pregnancy, you’ll find it on just about every No-No list near the top. But there are some that say sushi can be totally fine to eat, if it’s prepared properly and you choose the right rolls and dishes.
Maki Rolls During Pregnancy
Many maki rolls don’t contain raw fish and could be fine to eat. There are options that contain cooked fish, for example. Vegetable sushi, if prepared in a restaurant with good hygiene, is more than likely going to be safe for pregnant women. And many people enjoy Wasabi and ginger with their japanese food / maki rolls, which can have antimicrobial properties.
Sushi and Sashimi During Pregnancy
Sushi and sashimi are more likely to be dangerous to eat while pregnant due to food poisioning and listeria. But most of today’s sushi bars and restaurants use very safe food prep practices. Fish needs to be frozen before use in most places and the freezing process not only keeps it fresh but can kill bacteria. In many cases, the food prep is more dangerous than the fish itself. And, in terms of sashimi and sushi safety during pregnancy, it’s wise for women of childbearing age to minimise how much high-mercury fish they eat. Be careful about eating anything when pregnant…use your ultra sensitive pregnancy nose as it will often alert you to potential dangers. If sushi smells fishy, it’s probably not fresh and therefore unsafe to eat for anyone, pregnant or not.
Author’s Opinion: I love to go for sushi but my favourites tend to be vegetarian maki or sushi (I love avocado sushi and avocado maki as well as yam / sweet potato rolls) with cooked chicken and beef in it instead of raw fish. In terms of pregnancy, I wouldn’t risk taking anything that could be dangerous. You can give up anything for nine months, right? That said, I think there are blanket statements that aren’t always correct. Going for sushi can be fun and healthy and many Japanese women eat this way throughout pregnancy. Common sense, research, and special care can help you enjoy Japanese food without putting your baby at risk. And there are a lot of other foods at sushi restaurants as well, such as teriyaki, edamame, miso soup, tempura vegetables, and more. Don’t always believe every wive’s tale.Always read and research to find out your options and talk to your doctor if you have specific questions.