Every year, The Bookseller holds a contest awarding the Diagram Prize for the Oddest Book Title of the Year. This year's list of 49 books include titles like 100 Girls on Cheap Paper, Briefs for the Reading Room, How YOU Are Like Shampoo: For Job Seekers, and I'm Not Hanging Noodles on Your Ears.
You have to admit -- those titles are odd.
But wait a minute, what's this? Also included on this year's list is a book titled Budgeting for Infertility.
What's odd about that title? How did a book title that, to me, seems clear and necessary end up on a list that includes Mickey Mouse, Hitler and Nazi Germany?
I suspect that the title appears there because most people do not realize that infertility is something that involves serious financial strain. Perhaps the list writers thought the title was funny because if you're infertile, then you don't have any children, so why do you need to budget for that?
However, unless you plan to do nothing about your infertility, you do need to budget for it. Before you even consider treatment, you need to consider the cost for fertility testing and visits to a reproductive endocrinologist - exams that are not commonly covered by insurance.
If you intend to seek treatment, you may need to pay for medications, fertility procedures, ultrasound testing (often several per treatment cycles), and blood work.
Some think that only IVF treatment is expensive, but in fact, any fertility treatment can be expensive. Even if you "only" take Clomid, you may need to pay out of pocket for the initial fertility testing, the Clomid itself, and any ultrasound or blood work required to follow your treatment.
The financial burden of infertility is so big that some banks offer special loans, some states and organizations offer (a limited number of) grants, and it's sadly not uncommon for a couple to spend every penny of their retirement fund on fertility treatment. Tens of thousands of dollars in debt can add up quickly if you're trying IVF, especially if you require the help of an egg donor or surrogate. Adoption is also very expensive.
To be clear, I'm not saying I can't take a joke on infertility related subjects. In fact, I've blogged in the past about a blog that does an excellent job of making many people laugh about infertility.
But I fail to see how a book titled Budgeting for Infertility is odd or funny. I just don't get it.
What are your thoughts? Please share in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you!
What's So Funny About Budgeting for Infertility? originally appeared on About.com Fertility on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 09:53:19.
Post from: Blisstree
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Coming Soon: The Munchkin Diaper
Here we are in the nursery (do you love our new curtains? Another great Ikea find!)
Lennah Designs was created during our breastfeeding journey. With the constant pinching and poking, I abandoned all of my jewelry including a special necklace that was given to me by my mother. This, along with lack of sleep and not packing away my maternity clothes led to many frumpy looking and feeling days. I have always loved painting, photography, sewing, designing, and all things crafty so I decided to make a sturdy necklace my daughter could pull on while doubling as an attempt to look civilized and presentable. What I didn’t realize was how something as simple as wearing a necklace lifted my spirits! Not to mention it was a great distraction for my daughter during feedings.
Yay for mail that is not bills! We got our Binky Clip in the mail today from Etsy Seller Daizee1976. I love it, and no more worrying about his soother falling on the ground.....plus, it is such a fashion statement. The painted wooden beads are so much nicer than plastic and the little monkey on the clip is super cute. I will definitely be buying more of these for baby shower gifts!
When you're pregnant, having any signs and symptoms of premature labor can be very scary! Some signs of premature labor are normal effects of pregnancy, so it can be hard to decide if what you're feeling is normal or not. To be safe, report any signs of premature labor to your doctor right away:
- More than 6 contractions per hour
- Change in vaginal discharge
- Cramping
- Backache
- Pelvic pressure
If you are showing signs of premature labor, call your doctor or midwife right away. He or she may ask you to drink some water or lie down to see if your symptoms go away on their own. You may also be asked to come into the office or go to the hospital to get checked out.
Am I in Premature Labor? originally appeared on About.com Preemies on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 13:22:51.
It's usually about this time that most people are starting to "rethink", aka cheat on, their New Years Resolution. Their strict diet has suddenly found a little wiggle room. Sure, they can take one day off of exercising without falling off completely. A small piece (or two!) of chocolate is fine. It goes on and on and on. This year, I haven't even started (isn't that terrible?) and I think that what we need is a plan. A menu/food plan and fridge fully stocked with healthy snacks can be infinitely helpful in dealing with the day to day temptation. Actually scheduling exercise into your planner can help you keep it as a priority as well.
Check in on the PCOS forums to give us your best tips!
How Are You Doing? originally appeared on About.com PCOS on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 00:07:26.
Post from: Blisstree
Hunter is now in the big boy seat in our UppaBaby Stroller, so this Dwell Studio Stroller Blanket from All Modern Baby came at just the right time. It keeps him warm and cozy in the seat as we walk around the mall....which we do a lot these days since it is so cold outside!
Midwife: Gisele Bundchen felt 'no fear' during birth Boston Herald Gisele Bundchen had “no pain” and “no fear” during her natural childbirth in a bathtub in the Beacon Hill home she shares with husband Tom ... |
Announcing Your Pregnancy on Valentine's Day originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 09:19:04.
Many people can tell you that they know that folic acid can prevent certain birth defects, like spina bifida. What most people can't tell you is who should be taking the folic acid and for how long. Experts have long said that women need to take the folic acid for at least three months prior to pregnancy to reap the benefits. The problem is that many women hear the call for women of childbearing age and don't do anything because they think that they are not ready for a baby or they believe that they will simply start taking supplements as soon as their pregnancy is diagnosed. This is not sound.
Any woman who is having sex and capable of becoming pregnant, even if you are using birth control, should be taking folic acid, such as those found in prenatal vitamins. When did you start taking prenatal vitamins?
Folic Acid Should Start Before Pregnancy originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 08:07:35.
Post from: Blisstree
Last week in childbirth class I started teaching about labor. I love to hear the stories that others have heard about labor, particularly how does labor start. There is such a wide variety in experiences and beliefs about labor. While this is true, it is also important that you have the basics of labor down pat for when it's your turn to give birth. It doesn't matter if you're planning on an epidural for birth, to have natural childbirth or even planning a cesarean section - everyone must know a particular set of facts about labor, incuding how do I know if it's labor; what to pack for the hospital; how to deal with contractions and much more.
Are you ready for labor?
Related:
Photo (c) Robin Elise Weiss
The Basics of Labor originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 08:24:34.
Post from: Blisstree
According to a large study presented this weekend at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM), uterine fibroids may be a significant risk factor for stillbirth.
In the study, Missouri researchers reviewed records from 64,047 women to identify those who were noted to have fibroids during the routine mid-pregnancy ultrasound (between 16 and 22 weeks pregnant). Of the fetal deaths that occurred in the study group, the researchers excluded those that could clearly be attributed to a fetal abnormality, but of the remaining fetal deaths it was found that the incidence was significantly higher in the women with fibroids.
But though that might sound scary, it doesn't mean you should automatically worry about stillbirth if you have had a history of fibroids. Fibroids are extremely common, being detected in more than 3% of all the women in the study, but stillbirth was still a relatively rare outcome even for those women. The risk appeared to be most significant in women with fibroids and whose babies were found to have intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) during an ultrasound before the stillbirth. The combination of fibroids and IUGR led to a 2.5 times higher risk of stillbirth, and study authors suggested that the results may lead to recommendations for additional monitoring for women with fibroids and a baby with IUGR.
More Information:
Fibroids May Be Risk Factor for Stillbirth, Say Researchers originally appeared on About.com Miscarriage / Pregnancy Loss on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 04:50:26.
I don't think I know anyone that does not struggle with keeping their house clean. It's no fun to deal with piles of laundry, dishes, vacuuming, dusting, bathrooms et al at the best of times, let alone when you have little ones to care for.
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