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Going Healthy, Health, Life, Parenting, Tips

When Should You Consider Fertility Treatment?

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For those struggling to conceive, there are many different forms of fertility treatment out there. But just when should you start considering these forms of treatment? This post explains some of the things to consider before looking into fertility treatment options. 

How long have you been trying?

On average, it takes couples five to six months to conceive. If you’ve only been trying for a few months, you should stick at it. There are many things you can do to try and boost your fertility during this time such as eating the right foods, taking supplements, reducing stress, giving up alcohol, getting a good amount of sleep and tracking your ovulation cycle.

If you’ve been trying for a year with no luck, it’s worth seeing a doctor. Similarly, if you experience more than one miscarriage, it could be worth speaking to a doctor. 

How old are you?

As a woman, your age can impact how likely you are to fall pregnant. Past the age of 35, fertility starts to decline rapidly. You can still get pregnant up until you experience your menopause, but the chance becomes lower the older you get.

If you are over 35 and have been struggling to conceive, you may want to talk to a doctor after 6 months. At this point, you don’t want to be waiting a year to take action – doctors will usually be more willing to skip straight to treatment options. 

Have you got a diagnosed fertility problem?

Sometimes fertility issues are difficult to diagnose, but often they can be pinpointed to specific problems such as PCOS, fibroids, low sperm count or imbalances of hormones. If you’re a man on estrogen blockers, you should look into quit using them to help increase your fertility. A doctor will be able to take you through various tests to work out if your difficult conceiving is due to one of these problems. Having a diagnosis will make it much easier to not be approved for fertility treatment, but help you choose the right one. 

Can you afford treatment?

Certain forms of fertility treatment are more expensive than others. At first, you may be recommended medication, which should be fairly affordable. If medication does not work or is not suitable to your diagnosis, IVF may be another option to consider, which is typically a lot more expensive ( on average between $10,000 and $25,000 for one cycle). By taking the time to look around, you may be able to find an affordable IVF clinic. Meanwhile, when it comes to surgery, expect to pay anything between $5,000 and $20,000. 

Do you know which form of treatment is right for you?

Different types of treatment will be recommended to you by your doctor. This could include different types of medication and procedures. On top of the cost, it’s worth considering the effectiveness of each one and the risks. In most cases, it’s worth trying medication first, and then looking into procedures like surgery, IVF and IUI. If these don’t work, there may still be ways to have a child including surrogacy and adoption.

Going Healthy, Going Strong, Health, Life, Parenting

How to Stay on Top of Your Health as a Busy Dad

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It can be tough to stay on top of your health as a busy dad. Between work, family time, and all of the other obligations you have, it seems like there’s never enough time to take care of yourself. But it’s vital that you make time for your health, even if it means scheduling some time for yourself each day. This blog post will discuss some tips for staying on top of your health as a busy dad!

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Don’t take your work home with you

One of the most important things you can do for your health is to make sure that you’re not taking your work home with you. It’s easy to get wrapped up in work and bring home all of the stress with you, but this can have a negative impact on your health. Instead, make sure that you’re taking some time each day to relax and unwind, even if it’s just for a few minutes. This will help you de-stress and stay healthy both physically and mentally.

If you find that you are bringing work home with you, try to set some boundaries for yourself. For example, designate a specific area in your house where you’ll work, and when you’re done working for the day, close the door or put away your work materials. This will help you to separate your work life from your home life and avoid bringing unnecessary stress into your home.

Set boundaries with your family

It’s also important to set boundaries with your family when it comes to your health. Just because you’re a busy dad doesn’t mean that you have to put your family first all the time. It’s okay to say no to obligations that will take away from your time, and it’s perfectly fine to put yourself first sometimes. In fact, it’s important!

If you find that you’re always saying yes to everything, try setting some limits for yourself. For example, you might want to only commit to one activity per week outside of work or spend two nights a week at home instead of three. This will help you have more time for yourself so that you can focus on taking care of your health.

Go for regular health screenings

One of the best things you can do for your health is to go for regular health screenings. This way, you can catch any potential problems early on and get treatment if necessary. You can also ask questions during this time, such as mesothelioma survival rates and anything else you may be wondering about. Make sure to schedule appointments for a physical exam, blood work, and any other screenings that are recommended for your age group.

It’s also important to stay up-to-date on your vaccinations. This will help you avoid getting sick and will also protect those around you from getting sick. Be sure to talk to your doctor about which vaccinations are right for you, and make sure to get them on time.

Eat healthy and exercise

Of course, eating healthy and exercising are also important for staying on top of your health. Eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise will help you stay healthy both physically and mentally. If you’re not sure how to eat healthy or where to start with exercise, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian. They can help you create a plan that’s right for you.

It can be tough to make time for healthy eating and exercise when you’re a busy dad, but it’s important to try. Even if you can only fit in a few minutes of exercise each day or cook one healthy meal per week, it’s worth it! Every little bit counts when it comes to taking care of your health.

Look after your mental health

Finally, don’t forget to look after your mental health. This is just as important as taking care of your physical health. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or down, reach out for help. Talk to your doctor about how you’re feeling and they can refer you to a mental health professional if necessary. There are also many helplines and online resources available if you need someone to talk to. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times, but it’s important to seek help if you’re struggling. Taking care of your mental health is an important part of staying healthy as a busy dad.

In conclusion, it’s important to make time for your health as a busy dad. By following these tips, you can make sure that you’re staying on top of your health and keeping yourself healthy both physically and mentally. Though it might take some effort to put into practice, your family will thank you in the long run!

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting

3 Wonderful Tricks We Can Play On Our Children To Preserve Their Health

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It’s true to say that children rarely know what’s best for them. If they had the choice, they’d never go to bed until 4 am each morning, they would eat ice cream every three meals of the day, and all of the budgeted money they receive would be spent in the local toy store.

As such, sometimes it’s worthwhile for a parent to play ‘the bad guy’ to ensure discipline is applied towards treating them correctly, and helping them develop in the right manner. Yet sometimes, a child, despite how nice their disposition may otherwise be, can be wholly uncooperative with this aim. That in itself can be a relatively irritating problem to manage, especially if we’re already overtired and overworked.

Thankfully, there are a few wonderful tricks you can play on your child to ensure they don’t know you’re trying to ‘do what’s best for them,’ instead thinking you’re giving them a break. If only they knew. We’re sure you’re at the edge of your seat, so without further ado, let’s get started.

Great-Tasting Medication

Kids notoriously dislike medicine, and that’s okay, they may be too young to swallow pills or capsules and so we can’t blame them for that. Also, not all liquid medications have been flavored appropriately. However, some have. For instance, using Combantrin which taste like chocolate pellets, or opting for the child-friendly strawberry-flavored paracetamol can make a big difference in how receptive they are to it. If you frame it as a simple treat (and keep the package well out of their reach), you can help them get the medical support they need.

Vegetable Alternatives

 Of course, all children deserve a healthy and balanced diet, but sometimes, this can be difficult for them to understand. This is why it can be a good idea to sneak vegetables into their food, from sweet potato fries from a light broccoli or pea sauce with a meal, as they grow we can start integrating better and more tasty vegetables into their diets with care. It can also be worthwhile to show them just how tasty vegetables can be in general, such as by steaming and roasting them too as opposed to just boiling and losing the taste. 

One important thing to consider is to avoid catastrophising vegetables or making them seen as a bargaining chip (you’ll only get dessert if you eat those!) because this entrenches the combative attitude your child might have. Instead, allowing vegetables to speak for themselves, as funny as that sounds, can be key.

The Awesome ‘Choice Trick’

A good way to trick your child into doing something you wish for is to give them a binary choice which helps them accept something you need to do. For instance, you may ask them if they want their milk in a red or blue cup, so that they don’t question the idea of milk, only the kind of cup style they’re feeling that day. You can see how this principle is applied, and most of the time it works.

With this advice, you’re sure to play these wonderful sleight of hand tricks in helping your child developing in the healthiest manner.