Fertili Tree

So, moms and dads, what’s on the ol’ resolution list this year: Losing weight? Eating better? Why not also aim for improved parenting skills?  That’s not to say you’re not doing a fine job already. But there are things you might never have thought of that can make a big difference in a child’s life and thus offer a sizable return on your investment.

We went to the experts — people who work with kids on a daily basis — and asked them what resolutions they’d like to see parents make for 2011.

Put an end to the after-work grab-and-run routine.

“Take two minutes when you arrive to pick up your child to find out how their day went,” said Barb Gainer, owner of Barb’s Care-A-Lot Day Care and Learning Center in Harborcreek. “What kids need most from parents is time, and that’s hard to do on a weeknight when you have to make dinner and do homework and such. But it’s very easy to take a few minutes to interact with your child before you get in the car and the evening rush begins.”

Gainer said she sees a big difference in the behavior of kids whose parents hustle their children out the door versus those who take a few minutes to look at what their child did that day and meet their friends.

Stop asking questions when there’s only one answer.

“Never ask kids if they’re ready to do something (go home, take a bath, go to bed),” Gainer said. “The answer to that question is almost always going to be ‘no,’ and then parents get frustrated.”

Asking a question for which there is only one right answer is confusing to kids.

“Just say, it’s time to go now,” Gainer said.

Listen to your child. As a licensed Erie psychologist, Janet Pawlowski spends plenty of time listening and she says it is, hands down, the most important thing parents can do to improve their relationship with their child.

“When I say listen, I mean with your ears, your eyes, your heart and your soul,” Pawlowski said. “Not while you’re cooking dinner, not while fixing the plumbing, not while the big game is on, not via text message, but sitting down in a quiet area and talking face to face without distractions, frenzy or pressure. This means you’ll have to slow down, schedule out time for your child, meet them at their level, temporarily shut down technology and cease all judgment,” Pawlowski said.

Take time to hear your child and the benefit to you and, more importantly, them, would be priceless.

Expand your home library. “Collect and expose your child to a variety of reading materials including books, magazines, newspapers, travel brochures, maps and playbills,” said Shelly Bentley, owner of Reading Now, a Millcreek-based diagnostic and instructional clinic for youth.

“Be sure to include lots of nonfiction in your home library,” Bentley said. “Even the youngest readers love to read about real places and things.”

Visit the library or check out dollar stores, yard sales and used-book stores for age-appropriate book bargains for your family.

Make sure your children get enough sleep. Adequate rest is vital for kids of any age, but especially for teenagers who get into the habit of staying up late. You might be surprised at how much sleep children need: 10 to 12 hours for ages 5-12 and eight to 10 hours for teens.

“Every year, I observe students struggling to stay awake through the school day,” said Gary Wisor, an English teacher at McDowell High School, who said the late night hours cause a cycle of problems.

“They go home and take a nap and then they’re not tired at bedtime, so they are up until 2 a.m. Then, they struggle to wake in the morning and often miss breakfast.”

And, as every parent knows, hungry and tired is a dangerous combination. “Some of the most disrespectful behavior I’ve witnessed is displayed just before lunch,” Wisor said.

Wisor, the father of a 15-year-old girl, said he and his wife discovered his daughter was losing sleep because she would get text messages from her friends all night.

“We found out that Verizon offered the option for us to limit usage times on my daughter’s phone, Wisor said. “She can no longer receive messages or calls after 9:30 on weeknights and after midnight on weekends.” Problem solved.

Spend 30 minutes (or more) a day outdoors. “One thing parents can do that is good for them and their kids is to get outside,” said Jeff Natalie, licensed social worker and president of ErieKids. “Here in Erie, we’re all familiar with Seasonal Affective Disorder and milder forms of the winter blues, but did you know that a half-hour or so of time outdoors, even on an overcast day, goes a long way to stave off those feelings?”

Take a walk around the neighborhood, go sledding, build a snowman or just toss snowballs at the side of the garage. A little fresh air can do wonders to improve moods.

Turn off technology for an hour each day. Nancy Anne Kalista, executive director of Early Connections, said she has recently observed a disheartening trend of parents paying more attention to electronic devices than their children.

“I’d suggest that parents resolve to put aside all technology for one hour a day and engage with children in an age-appropriate way,” Kalista said. For an infant, that might mean snuggling and focusing on them while you rock them instead of checking e-mail with your other hand. For older kids, it can mean banning cell phones, iPads and all other electronic devices from the dinner table.

Establish — and stick to — routines. “Keep daily life as routine as possible,” said Mary Kaye Pazder, a fourth-grade teacher at Belle Valley Elementary School. “Kids have a harder time adjusting to change or unexpected events than we do, so establishing routines for homework, bedtime, etc., can help alleviate a lot of stress on both sides.”

Avoid weeknight activities. “Overscheduling children on school nights can make for tired kids and a rushed household, where things like homework, bookbags, projects and lunch money can be forgotten,” Pazder said.

Pazder suggests parents spend weeknights doing more “ordinary” things, such as playing games, cooking together, making a craft or coloring.

“Those ‘ordinary’ interactions are really where some of the best memories are made,” Pazder said.

Write down the funny stuff, then share with others. Elaine LaFuria, a gifted-support teacher for the Harbor Creek School District and mother of three, shared this humorous parenting tale on her blog (www.lessonsfromthelamppost.blogspot.com) in a post titled, “Never ask a 3-year-old to make inferences,” about reading “Hey Diddle, Diddle” with her son, Sam.

“After we finished up the book, we focused on the picture. I said, ‘Sam, look, there are two little birds in the tree. I bet they are a mommy bird and a daddy bird. Which one do you think is the mommy bird?’ One bird was a dull brown and the other was a bright blue. He pointed to the brown one. I was mentally dreaming about mortar boards with tassels, scholarships and acceptance awards. I should have stopped right there. But, no, I had to ask just one more question. I said, ‘Sam, why do you think that is the mommy bird?’ He replied, ‘It’s fatter.’”

The lesson here? Parenting can be hysterically funny. Share the laughs with all your friends and family. (And, never ask a 3-year-old to make inferences.)

Source:
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110106/LIFESTYLES21/301059904/-1/LIFESTYLES08

After years of trying to have a baby, my husband and I finally went to a doctor only for them to tell us that there is nothing medically wrong with us when it comes to fertility. While this should have been good news, it made it even more difficult to understand why I was having such a hard time getting pregnant. He told us that I could start taking medication to boost my fertility. But since I didn’t want to take medication that I didn’t really need, I asked about alternative treatments.

The doctor gave a list of herbs and vitamins that have helped some people get pregnant. He also said that some people have had luck with treatments outside of the doctor’s office. Well, out of his office at least. The first thing that I wanted to try was chiropractic treatment. Since chiropractors believe that adjustments can help with more than just back problems, many women visit their chiropractor to help with fertility.

Other alternatives that I want to try are massage and acupuncture. I am sure that I will get a lot out of massage as trying to conceive is very stressful and a massage will surely help with that. My last option will definitely be acupuncture. I have never had it done and just the thought of it scares me a bit. But if it is what I have to do to become pregnant and grow our family, then it is what I will do!

There are tons of alternative treatments out there for infertility. It can’t hurt to try something new if conventional treatments are not working for you and your body.

Deciding to have a child is one of the biggest decisions you will ever have to make. It is a life changing choice that will mean being responsible for another person for the rest of your life. But for many couples, becoming pregnant is not that easy. If you find yourself in need of Fertility doctor, you may wonder where to find the perfect clinic to fit your needs. The answer may be as simple as looking online.

As with finding many other types of experts, the internet is a great place to start your search. Couples who need help not only treating, but also diagnosing a fertility issue may have lots of choices when it comes to fertility clinics. Your best bet is to research your options to find out what clinic will give you the answers you are looking for regarding fertility. If you are confused by all of the information online, meet with the doctors face to face.

It is important that when you are undergoing fertility treatments that you go to a doctor that you are comfortable with and that you can trust. The only way to find out if you will like a specific doctor is to meet with a few of them before deciding which one you will choose. You should also be sure to research the statistics of each clinic before you choose one. Since they all do things a bit different, one clinic might have higher success rates when it comes to fertility treatments and that it something that you will want to know before you decide on a fertility doctor.

The great thing about living on the water and having a pier or elevated boardwalk to call your own is that in addition to gardens grown in your backyard, you can also incorporate your waterfront into the landscape. Your ability to do this will be hindered by the type of waterfront you have, for example, if you have a sandy beach, very few plants will grow, whereas if you have a pond, even a large one, it can be surrounded by plants.

When looking at your waterfront, think about the various ways you use it. If you’re constantly moving boats and jet skis to and from your Wickcraft piers, keep a large enough area free of plant and flagstones. You still need to be able to gain access to the water.

Don’t let the shoreline stop your landscaping efforts. If you don’t boat, you should think about using various water plants to increase the natural beauty of your pier. In addition to being visually stunning, the water plants also turn your pier into an ecological paradise. Things like water lilies and cattails help oxygenate the water, provide hiding places for the marine life, and provide an additional food source for the fish. It won’t take long before you notice the wildlife around your pier has increased. You’ll see birds using your taller water plants as a resting point, turtles will sunbathe on the water lilies, and lots of fish will be swimming in and out of the water.

It won’t take long before your friends and family members forsake their favorite fishing holes and come to your house instead. Everyone is always looking for the best durable boat docks and piers surrounded by natural beauty! The vegetation you’ve planted around the pier means that almost anytime they drop their line, they catch a beautiful fish that everyone can enjoy for dinner. As long as you keep your vegetation healthy, the fish will also remain healthy.

While landscaping up to the edge of the water, and encouraging water, you do need to be aware that adding the extra plants does mean extra responsibility. You need to keep an eye on your plants and make sure they don’t show any signs of becoming ill. You should also be prepared for an increase in insects which will be attracted to the vegetation. The additional vegetation increases the amount of silt building up beneath your pier, meaning you’re going to have to dredge it sooner than you would have prior to adding the landscaping. Most importantly the additional vegetation can hide early signs of damage. Every month or so, you need to push the plant life aside and thoroughly examine the entire pier and Wickcraft dock accessories and make sure it’s structurally sound. As soon as you notice any damage, you need to get it replaced.

Landscaping the area around your pier can be a rewarding experience, just make sure you’re ready for the responsibility.

There’s very little that will hit a woman harder than finding out that she’s infertile. Even if the woman didn’t have any immediate plans to start a family, the news will still come as a blow. Most women feel that a vital piece of who they are, and the future they dreamed of has been stolen from them. If you find yourself facing an infertility diagnosis, you need to learn how to cope, so that you can move on with your life.

You need to understand that while you might not be able to carry a child, it doesn’t mean that you can’t start a family. You need to explore alternative options. Somewhere in the world, there’s a child for you, but you just haven’t met yet.

You can’t blame yourself. This just happens to be something very unfair that’s happened to you. Once you accept that you didn’t do anything to deserve your diagnosis, you need to stop thinking about it. Women tend to spend an enormous amount of time dwelling on their infertility diagnosis, which slowly drives them crazy. Instead of trying to come up with a reason why and tumbling into a state of depression, you need to think about what you’re going to do with your future.

One of the best ways to deal with an infertility diagnosis will be joining a support group. Not only will you find comfort in talking to people going through the same things you’re experiencing, you will also find that the support group will be an invaluable source of information about your condition, and they will have advice about how you can move onto the next chapter of your life.

Women who are trying to get pregnant already know that being in optimal physical condition will raise their chances of becoming pregnant. But did you know there are foods that can boost your chances of becoming pregnant, too? According to Conceiveonline.com ? here are some foods you should consider essential to your fertility diet.

Whole Grains ? while carbs often get a bad rap in healthy eating, complex carbs like those found in whole grains are actually good for you in the right amounts. Things like brown rice, whole wheat breads and pastas, and oatmeal won’t mess with insulin levels the way that ?white? or refined carbs do. Anything that helps keep insulin levels stable is good for conceiving, too!

Fruits and Veggies ? already part of an overall healthy eating plan, fruits and vegetables have so many wonderful benefits to the body. They offer vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and can be a great low calorie snack, too!

?Good? Fats ? not greasy fries and burgers, but a diet rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids ? like the kinds found in nuts, avocado, and fish. If you’re not a fish eater, you can find this in supplements as well.

Full Fat Dairy ? While most people think that low fat dairy is a better option for a healthy diet, experts at Harvard say that a study shows women who consumed these over their lower fat (or fat free) counterparts had fewer problems ovulating and conceiving. Also, dairy provides essential calcium, too!

Remember ? these are not cures for infertility, but simply some tips that will help you get on the right track. A healthy diet is important for all of us ? trying to get pregnant or not.

Couples all over the world deal with infertility. It is something that can be very overwhelming and create sadness within any marriage. Many couples want children and never think they may have to face infertility one day. It can be a hopeless and discouraging time in anybody’s life and there are some ways to cope and get through this tough time.

#1: Understanding your body. Many women will blame themselves for having trouble conceiving and think something is wrong with them physically. Many doctors may not have answers to infertility in a woman’s life and this can be hard. Understanding that infertility is no fault of anyone and that they can learn and grow from this is important.

#2: Drawing close to your spouse. This can be a time that you really rely on each other for love and support. Even in the midst of this hardship, your relationship can go to a whole new level in understanding each other and walking with each other through this time.

#3: Redeeming your faith. Many people will look to their faith to get them through infertility. They use this as a time to pray and grieve while relying on God’s mercy and peace to carry them through. Many pastors will help a couple understand God’s timing and will.

#4: Counseling. Many counselors can help a couple cope by teaching them ways to change the way they think about infertility. Counseling can give them practical ways to get through each day with strength and peace.

#5: Cherishing what you have. Many people forget about all the great blessings they already have in their lives. Cherishing what is already part of their lives can help with the coping. Infertility can make a couple feel insecure and confused but having some coping mechanisms can get them through this difficult time.

I have been trying to get pregnant for over two years without any luck whatsoever. I have been checked and told that I have no problems and my husband has been checked and it was determined that he was at one hundred percent health as well. We have kids already, three of them, and wanted to add one more, but trying for so long and not succeeding was starting to get very depressing. I mean if you try for so long and you see family and friends getting pregnant and then you not, it starts to get to you. I had done everything my doctor had told me to. He said that he really did not want me to try extreme methods at the moment yet as he thought I should get pregnant with time. I did everything he said except for one thing. He told me to quit smoking. He said that smoking can have an effect on women’s fertility and I just kind of let it go through one ear and out the other. My mom has smoked and had seven kids; I had smoked when I got pregnant with my first two, and everyone I knew had smoked.

I finally reached my breaking point when my sister got pregnant. I could not take it anymore, and finally broke down and decided that I would quit smoking. I went to my doctor who was thrilled at the idea of me quitting. He did not want me taking medications and suggested that I do something that he did; smoke electronic cigarettes. I did not know what an ecig was and he explained that ecigs were a great way to quit smoking while still getting some nicotine in my system. He assured me that I would be able to get pregnant by switching to ecigs. He told me to get online and do a little research into ecigs and I would see that finding the best electronic cigarettes would be quite easy.

I got online and found that the ecig would indeed be a great choice and could in fact help my fertility woes. I read several articles where switching to ecigs helped women become pregnant. I also was quite surprised that even a premium e cigarette would be very cost effective and cheaper than tobacco based cigarettes. I saw some ecigs that were even cheaper if you put the parts together yourself. One site I looked at you could order the cartomizer and all the parts for the ecigs and you could assemble yourself. I also looked at some of the different brands and looked at their reviews. I looked at Blu reviews as well as SmokeTip reviews and eventually made my decision.

I now have been smoking ecigs for a couple of months and just now found out that I am pregnant with not one but two babies without any help from fertility treatments. I never plan to go back to tobacco cigarettes again.

Being able to stop smoking is something that many people struggle with every day. Though there are many resources out there to help them stop, not all of them will work for everyone. One mother who makes her living as a spoken word poet used a method some may not have heard of. Alitha Von Baron had been coughing so hard that she had to stop her poetry readings.  She knew she had to give up her cigarettes if she wanted to save her job, but everything she tried ended in failure.

The way she finally stopped smoking was to buy electronic cigarettes. If you have never heard of electronic cigarettes then you probably are not aware that they can be great aids when you are trying to quit smoking.

The reason that they work so well is because electronic cigarette brands such as V2 Cigs and Blu Cigs make a product that works a bit differently than traditional cigarettes. The flavor cartridges are the key to helping those who want to quit smoking. If you have not yet read some of the many electronic cigarette reviews that are online, you should really consider it so that you too can learn why so many people have chosen this great way of quitting.

Just like the poet who used Blu electronic cigarettes to quit smoking, you too can get rid of that hacking cough that came about as a result of smoking traditional cigarettes. Even if you choose to compare electronic cigarettes brands to decide which brand is best for you, be sure to read as many reviews of each brand as you can. You never know which Safe Cig reviews will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision. Though reviews are a great way to decide which cigarette to choose to help you stop smoking, there are other factors to consider.

Some companies such as Green Smoke like to offer e-cigarette discounts to those who would like to try their products. If you are like the poet, you may use this as a way to try different brands to see which one you would like to use the best when trying to quit. Since most have the option of choosing the amount of nicotine you want in your cigarette, you can gradually reduce the amount until you no longer want to smoke. This is what worked for Alitha Von Baron and for others who have struggled to quit smoking.

The majority of my close friends have been above 35 once they finally became pregnant. Many people speak about pregnancy at more than 35 years old as a dangerous proposition, it seems strange. Although I realize that pregnancy is significantly less probable as you get up in years, it’s very difficult to come to grips with. I’ve had close friends on each side of that 35-year-old age border whose pregnancies do not reflect the concept that fertility troubles are age linked.

But my mindset is definitely just what the movie is making an attempt to make us realize. If females continue to feel they can achieve pregnancy when they are older, will more of them go on to be upset if they don’t get pregnant? Do we know enough about how our bodies function over the course of time? Do most women know that they drop eggs every month even if they take a contraceptive? Do they know that a wholesome life will not always lead to extended fertility?

While I thought the video was very beneficial, I also discovered the film to be a bit biased, at least in my opinion. Do females really want to start considering freezing eggs if there really is not a link between age and the likelihood of getting pregnant?

Could the movie just be a way of nudging people toward a visit to a doctor that specializes in reproductive services? I dislike the concept of making money due to the anxiety a woman feels and a lady’s dream to have kids. I also feel there is more to the basic truth that fertility rate declines with age. But no matter if that decline will end up in an inability to get pregnant in any particular situation is dependent on a variety of variables.

Getting Pregnant After 35 dives right in on the scientific causes of why age can influence fertility. However, she displays a bit of the misunderstanding that I observed in my close friends and felt myself. Why do a handful of females get pregnant quickly as they get up in age, although others experience problems even though they are potentially in the best shape of their life? Many women have been very engaged in the cause and have gone to great lengths to learn more about the probability of getting pregnant at an older age.  Is it truly so uncomplicated?

So you have a new baby in your home. Congratulations! Children are precious gifts that must be treasured at every moment from the day they are born. If you are a parent, you know that better than anyone else. You also know that you want to keep your child as safe as you can until they can take care of themselves, sometimes longer!

There are many changes that must take place in the home when you have a new baby. While you will eventually have to baby proof the house that should not be your main concern in the beginning. Keeping that little person as healthy as can be is really what you should be thinking about.

If you are a smoker and are wondering how to provide that safe environment for your child without exposing them to smoke, know that there is a way to have both. What we are talking about here is the electronic cigarette. People who are looking for a smokeless alternative to traditional cigarettes often Buy electronic cigarette.

Since you will only be emitting a vapor when smoking an e-cig from brands like Green smoke or Safe Cig you need not be concerned with what the baby, or any other person in the house, will be inhaling. Consumers of this product often state this as the reason in their Electronic cigarette review that they have chosen this to replace regular cigarettes. If this sounds like a product you may be interested in, be sure to do your research before buying just any brand.

You may find that while reading a Blu Cig review that they offer more variety in terms of flavor cartridges than other brands so you will want to try out that brand first. Though variety of flavors is the big draw for some people, others purchase based on price. Whatever the reason, be sure you are happy with the product that you choose.

And no matter if you choose a brand because they have good customer service or if you just like the look of their cigarettes better than the others, you are being a good parent by making this important decision. And even if you are making this switch for your child, you may benefit as well. And you found a great new product to tell your friends about.

Health care providers have always been clear about the fact that smoking is bad for you. In fact, most doctors will practically beg their patients to quit smoking for several reasons. Smoking can increase your risks of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and blood clots. Some health insurance companies won’t even cover a smoker because of the increased risk for serious problems. If you do smoke, you will undoubtedly pay a higher price for health insurance coverage.

The new smoker product to hit the scene is the electronic cigarette. So what are doctors saying about e-cigs and their effects on your health? Most doctors are supportive of the choice to buy e-cigs over regular cigarettes. While the best choice is to quit smoking all together, making the switch to Blu e-cigs is a good first step. By switching to electronic cigarettes, you are eliminating some of the harmful characteristics of cigarettes.

You are no longer going to be inhaling toxic carcinogens because e-cigarettes are basically smokeless. The e-cigarette cartridges work to release a odorless vapor mist that gives you the sensation of breathing in smoke without ever really putting your lungs at risk. This also prevents the risks associated with second hand smoking. That alone makes the e-cig worth considering.

Doctors also comment among electric cigarette reviews that they like the various nicotine level cartridges. This can help patients choose to slowly wean their way down off of the nicotine that is so addictive. While using any form of nicotine is bad for your health, it is better to use less rather than remaining at your current high level of use.

If you want more information about the benefits of switching to the e-cig, consider learning about the various electronic cigarette affiliate program options out there. These programs will help you fund your e-cig habit while spreading awareness of the products that can help smokers to literally save their lives.

If you are a smoker, you don’t have to continue to put yourself in harm’s way just to get your nicotine fix each day. Instead, you can switch to electronic cigarettes and preserve your health while still enjoying the habit you love.