Nichola Bedos - Author, Mother & Parent Infant Counsellor

Moment by Moment is proud to be stocking IVF & Ever After The Emotional Nees of Families.  Below are sme details on the Author Nichola Bedos along with some very interesting IVF Facts and Stats.

IVF & Ever After – About the Author
The author Nichola Bedos is a specialist Parent-Infant Counsellor, in private practice in Sydney, and has worked with 150 families over the last 8 years. She has two sons of her own. Her second son was found to have grave complications during pregnancy, was delivered 6 weeks early and had six operations in his first year. Her struggle to help him achieve normal development led her to study psychology and later gain a Master of Social Science in Counselling. She is an accomplished freelance writer with 10 years’ experience writing for health and parenting magazines in the UK, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia and is a Contributing Editor for Nature and Health Magazine. She is a regular speaker at parenting forums. 

Interesting facts and figures

•There are 80 million couples suffering infertility worldwide, and 1 in 6 Australian couples suffers infertility.

•According to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, 3 million IVF babies have been born worldwide since the first IVF birth of Louise Brown in 1978.

•200,000 babies were born in the world after IVF last year, the rate is increasing by 10% every year and in Australia 10,000 IVF babies will be born this year, 4% of all births in this country in 2007.

•More than 50% of all IVF deliveries are by Caesarean.

•41,000 IVF cycles currently begin in Australia annually.  The current overall success rate of IVF in Australia is approaching 25%, a doubling of the success rate over the last twenty years.  A twenty-four year old woman has four and a half times the chance of IVF cycle success compared to a 40 year old woman using her own eggs.

•The first baby born after a frozen cycle arrived in 1984, there are now 6 million frozen embryos worldwide waiting for a decision as to their fate.

•6% of IVF couples use a donor – either egg, sperm or embryo

•IVF couples are 9 times more likely to have twins than non-IVF couples

•Doctors believe PGD (Pre-implantation Genetic Testing) will double the current success rate of IVF over the next decade.

•The advent of PGD, the older age of couples trying for a baby and the decreasing fertility rate is set to change the face of human reproduction with 3 out of every 10 babies conceived by IVF by the time our kids become parents.

This book is available for purchase at the Premmie Baby Store on sale for just $24.95 (RRP $32.95)

As written by Susan Wallis

It is my personal opinion, that if you are a parent you have an obligation to be the fittest and healthiest you can be, to help you be the best parent, role model and person you can be.

If you are the parent of a child with a disability, that obligation is greater.  For me, as the mother of a precious girl who will need full time care for life, there is no great priority than staying as strong and healthy as I can to give my girl the best of care for as long as I can, as well as having the energy to enjoy the best life has to offer with both of my daughters and my husband.

My eldest daughter was born at full term but experienced severe hypoxic distress during labour and was delivered stillborn by emergency c section.  Due to amazing medical care, a strong will and the love and best wishes of countless people, our strong little girl not only survived but thrived. Yes, she is severely disabled, however she is healthier than any other child we know,  full of laughter and smiles and has a fantastic quality of life.  We feel extra blessed to have both of our healthy children, even luckier than parents of children without disabilities, because our big girl should not be here.  Our second and just as precious younger princess entered the world by planned c section and our little family is now complete.

I had always been active prior to having my children, but the trauma and stress of my eldest daughter’s birth lead me to seek comfort from food and my weight increased, compounded by a second pregnancy.  12 months ago I decided enough was enough and it was time to get healthy and fit, and if the weight came off as a side effect, that would be a bonus.  I experienced Type 2 gestational diabetes during both of my pregnancies, and have a strong family history of Type 2 diabetes, and I could not afford a type 2 diabetes diagnosis if I was to be strong and healthy for life.

Despite losing a considerable amount of weight, within my healthy weight range and reducing my BMI, I still received a type 2 diabetes diagnosis earlier this year. I felt sorry for myself for a day or so, and then decided this was in fact a blessing, as it means I can never let my weight increase and my health slip ever again!  So the bar has been raised.  I need to ramp up my exercise and reduce my weight even further!  My children have an increases risk of type 2 diabetes also, and I need them to see that regular exercise and a healthy diet is the way to a long and happy life.

So I’m participating in my first City to Surf this coming Sunday 9 August, walking the majority of the distance and aiming for a sub 120 minute time.  I intend to run the 14 kms next year.  If this goal doesn’t increase my fitness and get the last 10kgs off then nothing will!

I am proudly supporting the Cerebral Palsy Support Network and have raised $920 so far.  This fantastic organisation is based in Victoria and provides much needed information, advocacy and support to people with cerebral palsy and their families.

How is your health and fitness? Are you being the best parent and role model you can be? It’s not just about you!

Don’t forget to donate every $ helps.

 http://city2surf.everydayhero.com.au/susan_wallis