Secondary infertility forced us to re-evaluate life as a ‘triangle family’ | Mia Ristovska

Many of us are not ‘one and done’ by choice. Solidifying as a family of three has made us look at the future differently

At a recent toddler birthday party, I struck up a conversation with another parent as our children played. “They’re having so much fun together!” my new friend exclaimed, followed by “Are you going to try for another one, to give your son someone to play with?” Feeling the sense of dread build up in the pit of my stomach, I responded with something noncommittal like: “Oh … yeah … we’ll see.” Nobody was aware that I was, at that point, recovering from an early miscarriage post-IVF – part of my secondary infertility.

Infertility is defined as the failure to achieve pregnancy after at least 12 months of trying to become pregnant. Around 15% of couples will experience infertility and the most common underlying causes of female infertility are ovulatory disorder (failure to ovulate) and age. At around the age of 35, there is a dramatic drop in fertility for females due to the number and quality of eggs. Despite this, the rate of first-time parents older than 35 years is at 17% of the population, up from 5% in 1991.

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Positive birth stories exist and pregnant women deserve to hear them | Sophie Walker

We must never underestimate the power of women’s stories to incite change – all experiences of birthing should be amplified

Mothers who have experienced a positive birth often stay silent because they don’t want to gloat. On the flip side, if you’ve ever been pregnant, you’ve likely been a magnet for careless remarks and grief-filled birth recounts.

It’s understandable; birth processing is a management tool for birth trauma but unfortunately, not all women have a safe space to debrief.

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Yes, elite female athletes can return to their sport after giving birth. Here’s how | Jaquelin Bousie

Matilda Katrina Gorry and other sportswomen are proof that being a mother in elite sport is challenging but achievable

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Women competing in elite sport after having children is not a new phenomenon. However, comments about Matildas midfielder Katrina Gorry during the opening match of the Women’s World Cup have thrown a spotlight on the challenges and stigmas still surrounding female athletes post-birth.

Women’s sport is booming. Young girls today can compete in more sporting codes than ever before. And professionalism is growing – more female athletes are able to make their sport their career. But women are often competing at their peak at an age where having children is also in the picture.

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‘The bombs won’t stop us’: business brisk at Ukraine’s surrogacy clinics

Russia’s invasion has not deterred hundreds of foreign would-be parents from travelling to war-torn Kyiv and other centres

In March last year, just weeks after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Remo and Amalia* received an unexpected phone call from Kyiv. One of the largest surrogacy clinics in Europe was responding to the Italian couple by inviting them to the war-ravaged country for medical checks to begin the procedure to have a baby.

At the time, Moscow’s troops were withdrawing from the territories north of the capital oblast that they had occupied for more than a month. A few days later, the mass graves of Bucha would reveal the true horror of the invasion as Russian missiles continued to fall by the dozens into Ukraine’s oblasts. Yet, the continuing conflict was not going to stop the couple.

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My sister is drinking heavily while pregnant. How can I help her stop? | Ask Annalisa

Excessive alcohol consumption puts the baby at risk so she needs urgent professional support – but approach her with compassion

I’ve just come back from a trip with my sister, who is pregnant with her first child. During our time away (we were in a larger group), she was often sneaking off to drink, coming back reeking of spirits, while mentioning conspicuously in front of the group on several occasions about what a lightweight she is since she stopped drinking. We shared a bedroom in which I came across a litre bottle of spirits by accident (it was hidden, but not very well), which was empty by the end of the two days.

I don’t know if (or how) to act on this. I feel nothing but compassion for my sister, and have no interest at all in judging her, but I would love to support her and I also now feel things are complicated by my obligation to her unborn child.

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Researchers find evidence of ‘forever chemicals’ in blood of pregnant women

At least 97% of the blood samples contained a type of PFAS known as PFOS, associated with multiple serious health problems

California researchers have found new evidence that several chemicals used in plastic production and a wide array of other industrial applications are commonly present in the blood of pregnant women, creating increased health risks for mothers and their babies.

The researchers said their findings add to a growing body of evidence showing that many chemicals people are routinely exposed to are leading to subtle but harmful changes in health. The work should be a “wake-up call” to policymakers, they said.

This story is co-published with the New Lede, a journalism project of the Environmental Working Group

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How early is too early to be discharged from hospital after giving birth? | Ranjana Srivastava

A longer post-birth stay in the wards could help many mothers, even if current research remains inconclusive

“I feel a little unprepared going home today”, I said, requesting an extension of my postpartum stay in hospital. My pregnancy “story” had never unfolded well, and the latest episode was no different. This time, severe pelvic instability had confined me at home for months. One day, I crashed a plate in the kitchen, lacking the core strength to simultaneously balance a gravid abdomen and a plate of food.

“We need to get this baby out”, my doctor said.

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US maternal deaths have doubled since 1999 with most among Black mothers

The south and the midwest were hit hard, and the greatest increases were seen in Native American and Alaska Native women

Maternal deaths across the US have more than doubled over the course of two decades, with the most deaths occurring among Black women, researchers said on Monday.

The findings were laid out in a new study published on Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama). Researchers looked at maternal deaths between 1999 and 2019 – but not the pandemic spike – for every state and five racial and ethnic groups.

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