FertilityTies Launches (www.FertilityTies.com)

New Social Media Site Launches for the Fertility-Focused:

FertilityTies.com to Unite Members and Experts for Information Exchange and Support, Offline Event Scheduled for June 6, 2009 at The Hilton New York Hotel

New Fertility-Focused Social Media Site Offers 24/7 Support and a “community” for those TTC (“trying to conceive”) & Faced with Infertility, June Event to Add Personal Touch to Online Community


April 1, 2009 - Los Angeles, California – FertilityTies, a new social media site and online community, launched today to provide those faced with infertility and those trying to conceive with the opportunity to connect with peers and medical experts. Now more than ever, in the wake of “OctoMom” and in the midst of a recession, patients want to assure that they select a respected physician with credentials and referrals, that they make wise choices for the sake of health, family and finances. Many of these patients, aggravated by extensive online searching for answers from multiple sites, can now find everything that they are looking for in a singular destination; FertilityTies is a community and social media site for everything pertaining to fertility.

The site, http://www.fertilityties.com/, offers: daily medical information, access to Q&As answered by respected MDs, the option to journal about one’s experiences and hear from others in similar situations, a live chat, fertility-focused polls (i.e. “Should infertility treatments be government regulated?”), a physician directory with patient testimonials, and more, including tools and charts to be unveiled in the coming months.

“Assisted reproductive technologies are an amazing innovation and fertility treatments have come a long way, but recently the subject has been linked with controversy,” said Veronica Alvarez, Founder and CEO of FertilityTies, referring to Nadya Suleman (the tabloid-magnate mom of octuplets) and to women over the age of 50 undergoing risky IVF treatments. “We want our members to be aware of respected physicians with high success rates and completely ethical approaches. We hope to arm our members with helpful tools that are available on a single site rather than in multiple destinations, and to lead them to information regarding cost-effective and medically effective treatments.”

FertilityTies, prior to its launch, has had over 25,000 questions and over 250,000 comments posted. Users hail from the U.S., India, the U.K., Canada, Australia and across the world. Despite difficult economic times and the fact that the site is still in Beta mode, over 50 members have already committed to attending the June event, including Sarah Rice of Hartford, CT, who is helping to plan it.

“Fertility Ties has introduced me to a wonderful group of women and doctors in the fertility world who have taught me about ovulation predictor kits, what a cycle day is, but most importantly I was able to connect with other women who have had the same experiences as me,” said Rice. “The support and guidance I received from this online community during one of the most difficult times in my life, having suffered from two miscarriages, is invaluable. I found support from Dr. Q who took the time to answer my questions once I did achieve a healthy pregnancy. And the friendships I have made will last a lifetime."

FertilityTies June 6th event will take place at The Hilton New York Hotel, located at West 53rd Street and Avenue of the Americas, where assisted reproductive technologies will be discussed and members’ questions will be addressed by a panel of physicians. Alvarez says that she hopes the event, which will cover topics such as “Male and Female Infertility”, “Secondary Infertility & Ethics”, and “Acupuncture & Fertility”, will allow members to bond and get the reassurance they crave from top medical experts, bridging the divide between access to online information and information that can be obtained in the real world.

About FertilityTies and Veronica Alvarez, Founder & CEO

FertilityTies (www.FertilityTies.com) was founded and created by Veronica Alvarez, an accomplished professional with an extensive business background. While she herself has not undergone fertility treatments, she is passionate about online communities and “building products that help make the world a better place.” She has over 12 years of experience creating, building, and running some of the largest communities on the web, having worked with Yahoo! En espanol, Yahoo! Personals, Yahoo! Avatars and many other sites.
"I truly believe that by empowering people through access to information, a difference can be made, and what better community to build than one that is based on family values and a desire to have a family regardless of your gender, religious background or sexual orientation."
Alvarez’s desire to create FertilityTies arose not only from being touched by the lives of friends faced with infertility, and from meeting fertility specialists like FertilityTies’ Rudy Quintero, MD, but from a desire to serve markets that can greatly benefit from social media and Internet technology. Alvarez realized that she would like to help this particular growing niche (infertility is on the rise worldwide) to gain access to desired fertility information, and help them to avoid frustration from controversial items that appear in the media.


About Rudy Quintero, MD
Dr. Rudy Quintero, a Reproductive Endocrinologist in Los Angeles, is the key 24/7 medical expert who answers members’ questions on the site. (Note: He will not dispense medical advice, make a diagnosis or suggest treatment through the site).
Says Alvarez about Dr. Quintero: “He has been working with our members on a daily basis, providing information free of charge to those who were not his own patients in an effort to empower them with information. He’s a strong patient advocate who has already begun bringing new members to the site through his careful and competent responses to the questions posed. We see him as our pillar, someone who will be instrumental in the community’s continuing success.”


To connect with Dr. Quintero and other medical experts, to find out about the June FertilityTies’ event, and to learn more about the site, go to http://www.fertilityties.com/.
*The information on FertilityTies.com is for informational purposes only. The site does not provide any medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.*

March 15th Jewish Genetics Program at KJ

Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center Presents

Knowing Your Jewish Genetic Heritage: Awareness for the Sake of Your Children & Their Children (A Medical & Halachic Discussion)

Program to take place Sunday March 15th, 10:30am-12:00pm at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan

Monday, March 2, 2009 – On Sunday, March 15th, Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center, which provides resources and programs across North America for individuals, families, synagogues and mikvaot on topics of Taharat Hamishpacha (laws related to women and mikvah) and women’s health, will present a Jewish genetics symposium entitled “Knowing Your Jewish Genetic Heritage: Awareness for the Sake of Your Children and Their Children (A Medical & Halachic Discussion).” The event will take place from 10:30am to 12:00pm at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, 125 East 85th Street in Manhattan.

The Nishmat program offers a unique opportunity to hear from medical and Halachic experts about genetic testing and the Halachic implications of certain modern-day medical procedures. In light of recent news related to Jewish genetic diseases (e.g. the revelation that Mumbai’s terror victims Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg had children who were afflicted with Tay Sachs disease) and fertility treatments (the California “Octuplets,” egg donation becoming more prevalent in light of harsh economic times), issues surrounding genetics and fertility are once again prominently in the media spotlight.

The March 15th program will consist of a panel discussion led by Susan Gross, MD, Chairperson of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at North Bronx Healthcare Network and Jacobi Hospital, and Yoetzet Halacha Atara Eis, a Halachic advisor in the area of Taharat Hamishpacha. Eis is currently on staff at nine synagogues throughout Manhattan and Kemp Mill Synagogue in Silver Spring, MD.

Gross and Eis will discuss issues that include: the Halachic background related to encouraging genetic testing, the preferred model of testing for Jewish genetic diseases and how to keep testing a private matter in order to prevent stigmatization. They will also touch on Halachic issues related to In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (the process of screening embryos so they are deemed healthy prior to implantation during IVF).

To find out more about this program and other programs of Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center, call 212-983-6975 or email mgc@afnishmat.org.

About Yoatzot Halacha
Yoatzot Halacha are chosen for their extensive Torah scholarship, leadership ability and deep religious commitment. To become certified, each Yoetzet devotes two years (over 1,000 hours) to talmudic and halachic study at Nishmat: The Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Study for Women in Jerusalem. There they also receive training from experts in modern medicine, psychology, gynecology, infertility, women's health and sexuality. Following comprehensive examinations administered by a panel of distinguished Roshei Kollel and Poskim, graduates of Nishmat’s Keren Ariel Halachic Institute are awarded the title of Yoetzet Halacha.

Since the first graduating class in 2000, more than fifty women have been certified as Yoatzot Halacha. Many serve Jewish communities across Israel and North America and are available via phone or internet to women all over the world. They have answered thousands of questions in connection with the observance of taharat hamishpacha and on topics of women’s health.

To read more about Yoatzot Halacha and the issues they address, visit www.yoatzot.org and www.jewishwomenshealth.org. To contact a Yoetzet Halacha directly, call Nishmat’s Golda Koschitzky Halachic Hotline toll-free at 1-877-YOETZET or visit www.yoatzot.org to send an email. Every call and email is anonymous and confidential.

About Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center
Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center was established in 2006 through a generous grant from Drs. Miriam and Felix Glaubach to enhance women’s observance of the laws of taharat hamishpacha and bring the expertise and compassion of Nishmat’s Yoatzot Halacha to Jewish communities across North America. Programs include Shabbat scholars-in-residence and Yoetzet-in-residence workshops, taharat hamishpacha “refresher” courses, Women’s Health and Halacha Days, and other classes, lectures and programs tailored to individual community’s needs.

Crain's New York Business Article that quotes me

Can we swing it?; Baby boom may be ending as parents wonder if they can afford childrenBYLINE: Miriam Kreinin SouccarSECTION: BUSINESS LIVES; Pg. 27LENGTH: 783 words
Nearly every night, the dreaded Excel spreadsheet comes out.
Shira Weiss and her husband turn to the computer program over and over again to recalculate their household budget. They aren't trying to figure out whether they can afford a larger house or a new car. They are trying to make what they once assumed would be an obvious decision: whether to have a third child.
Both Ms. Weiss, a public relations consultant, and her husband, director of sales and marketing at a dental imaging company, still have jobs. But fear over the worsening recession is putting them into a prepartum depression.
``We always wanted to have three kids, but there's that question mark hanging over the economy. We don't know if it's going to get better or worse,'' says 35-year-old Ms. Weiss. ``So here we are wondering, is a third child a luxury item?''
The great baby boom of the 21st century may be coming to an end. After more than five years of Bugaboo stroller traffic jams on sidewalks from the Upper East Side to Westchester, the economic crisis is putting a damper on procreation. Though it's too early to know if birthrates are actually going down, many families are rethinking their plans to have a third or fourth child, or even a first. In a city where expensive fertility treatments and adoption are more common because many women put off conceiving until they are older, the decision to proceed right now is even more vexing.
``the current economic climate has brought more focus on the high cost of raising a child to age 18 and then putting a child through college,'' says Susan Newman, a social psychologist. ``As more and more people lose jobs, couples are being forced to think hard before they add to their families.''
Fertility rates typically fall in times of economic uncertainty. During and after the Great Depression, women went from having an average of three children during the previous decade to two for the first time in U.S. history. And following the 1973 recession, birth rates fell to 65.0 per 1,000 people in 1976 from 68.8 in 1973, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
The downturn in the New York City area--where large families have become a status symbol for the wealthy in recent years--may be even sharper because costs for housing and school are higher here than in many parts of the country.
``One of the perks of being an upper-middle-class family in Brooklyn or Manhattan was to have kids and send them to private school,'' says William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution. ``Those folks may be especially hard-hit and will probably delay [having] kids for the short term.''
Tammy Kahn Fennell, vice president of VintageRareStuff.com, has been married for three years and was planning to start trying to conceive. But since the recession started, the 27-year-old and her husband have become too scared to take the plunge.
``Businesses go out real fast in this market, so I need to be working at 100%,'' Ms. Fennell says. ``If I had to go on bed rest or something during the pregnancy, I don't think we could survive at this point. And then, of course, there's paying for the baby, too.''
Difficult decisions
the already difficult decision is even harder for people who want to adopt or have to go through lengthy and costly fertility treatments.
Ms. Weiss turned to IVF to get pregnant with her second son and will need to repeat those treatments if she decides to have a third. The whole process costs at least $30,000.
Publicist Becky Fawcett and her husband spent their life savings of $200,000 on fertility treatments and finally adoption fees to become parents. Their son is now 3, and they are trying to adopt another baby. Luckily, they paid 90% of the adoption fees for their second child before her husband, who worked for Bear Stearns, lost his job.
``If we had to pay that money today, having a second child would have had to go on hold,'' Ms. Fawcett says. ``It would kill me right now if what stood between me becoming a mother again was money.''
The battle between the bank account and the biological clock is creating disagreements in some marriages, even among couples who can conceive naturally.
Sarah Caron, a freelance writer and editor, is anxious to have a third child soon. Her husband, a manager at an electronics store, thinks two might be enough, especially now.
The couple talks about the subject often, and Ms. Caron even coaches her 1-year-old and 3-year-old to nod their heads in front of their dad when she asks them if they want a new sibling.
Despite the worsening recession, Ms. Caron is confident she will win out. ``I'm sure we'll work it out somehow in my favor,'' she says. ``My goal is to start trying again by summer.''

Teaching Toddlers

I have a toddler at home and I find myself often saying "No...", "You're going to go to time-out," "Don't take your brother's toys." For the most part, he's great - adorable, surprising every day (in a good way) with new words that escape his lips and intrigue me. But he's an explorer and he likes to push all of our buttons from time to time. So again, I turned to the "Moms on Call" to get some tips on how to handle the tantrums and other troubles with toddlers. In addition to the below tips, you can get a full and incredible tutorial in their Online Toddler Seminar at http://www.momsoncall.com/ :

"Three point teaching techniques

On an incident by incident level, there is a way to keep our cool and go beyond just saying “No”.
This is the 'teacher' part of being a consistent trustworthy role model. Just saying 'no' leaves a toddler to try to develop appropriate coping mechanisms on their own, and typically they will not do that.

They say to themselves. 'Michael took my toy. I am not happy about it and it makes me want to bite him' If we just say 'no,' we are leaving out an important aspect of the parent/child relationship; the teaching part. Here is where the three point teaching technique comes into play. We can go beyond a simple 'no' and teach our children good coping mechanisms. When should Parents start these techniques? As soon as they see Defiant behaviors.

There are two primary behaviors

1) Accidental

2) Defiant.

Accidental behaviors like crying for accidentally falling is NOT a reason to use these methods. But a Toddler who looks you in the eye while doing something they know is wrong is exhibiting Defiant behavior.

Sometimes defiant behavior starts at 13 months, sometimes not until they are 2 or 3 years old.
When your child looks you in the eye and exhibits a defiant behavior, he/she is saying “Give me a boundary. Are you bigger and smarter than me? Are boundaries going to stay in place or not?”

Three point teaching technique

When toddlers do not get their way, or another child snatches their toy, they get angry or disappointed and they usually will cry.

Allow them to have a few minutes of cry time and encourage them to use words to express their feelings.

Suggest other ways of handling disappointment and anger. Toddlers will not be able to come up with good coping mechanisms on their own. The cycle of behavior modification is this:

Step one – Identify the unwanted behavior.
Step two –State the disciplinary consequence.
Step three – State the desirable behavior.

Try saying "It is O.K. to be sad that Michael took your toy, but it is not O.K. to have a fit. If you have a fit again, you will sit in time-out. Try using words and asking Michael for the toy back. Try saying ‘Michael, can I have my toy back?'” We agree that this sounds very ‘Pollyanna,’ but if you are consistent, your child will learn better ways of handling disappointment, sadness and anger.

As much as is realistically possible- be consistent; the misconception is “Well, I’ve been doing it two or three times and it has not worked.” That’s not enough. Be consistent a hundred times over. It is in a child’s behavioral DNA to regularly test their boundaries. We know it is not easy. Remember using the three point teaching technique is not the only time that we will address our child’s behavior. Do not gauge success based on whether or not the child continues to misbehave. Toddlers misbehave, it is their way of testing their boundaries; They want the boundaries to stay in place and they want to know that someone bigger and stronger than them is keeping them safe.

You are successful if the child does not like the immediate consequences of their actions.
Throw out the notion that the children all have to respond to the same discipline technique.
Use the cycle of behavior modification:

Step one – Identify the unwanted behavior.
Step two –State the disciplinary consequence.
Step three – Teach the desirable behavior.

Most importantly, when they misbehave again, follow through with your discipline. It makes you trustworthy.

After the discipline, offer forgiveness, offer a giant hug and move on.

These tidbits brought to you by Jennifer Walker RN BSN mother of 3, author, parent educator and co-founder of http://www.momsoncall.com/.
Jennifer is 39 and resides in Woodstock Georgia with her husband and three sons, Grayson 11 yrs. and the 8 year old twins, Hamilton and Bryce.

Outings with 1 Year olds

This blog post probably only applies to you if you're located where whether outside isn't frightening - brrr...as it is in New York! The first tip talks about an outdoor activity, so if you're in California, you might be able to implement it now.

This is what Jennifer Walker, pediatric nurse, mom of 3, and co-founder of "Moms on Call," http://www.momsoncall.com/, suggests regarding outings with 1 year olds. Walker is also an instructor in the online seminars that can be downloaded on the "Moms on Call" web site that are geared for parents of toddlers and parents of babies. I am currently in the midst of watching the "'Moms on Call' Online Toddler Seminar" and getting some great tips on handling tantrums with my "Terrible Two" year old.

And now...Let's hear from Jennifer:

"Outings with one year olds

There are some great inexpensive ways to entertain them as well as satisfy the inner explorer.

Taking a stroll on an outdoor trail gives toddlers a chance to explore but keeps them in sight. For the walkers, they amazingly will stay on the path. It is great because they can decide which direction to go - forward or backward and they love the chance to be the leader.

It is also fun for them to collect items from the trail such as leaves and rocks to make crafts out of later or simply for experiencing the enjoyment of picking up rocks and putting them in a baggie. This simple act will thrill most little ones.

Just be careful that none of those rocks make it in their mouth!

One year olds also enjoy botanical gardens. The local gardens provide great colors and textures. Take your one year old and let them feel the different textures of the leaves and flowers. Are they soft or scratchy? This is a great place to point out and identify colors and count how many flowers are on a particular plant..

Indoors, toddlers love opportunities to have some freedom, so going to the local tennis court with several tennis balls for them to chase and throw goes a long way and helps improve their coordination. You can also bring a beach ball and play with them on the large indoor court or indoor gym area. Bring some wipes for those crawlers so you can wash their hands when you are done."

Yoatzot Halacha Program Coming to Manhattan November '08

Women to Women Guidance for Observant Jews

Issues of Jewish family law are so private and sensitive that some observant women have questions they keep to themselves. Preferring to “play it safe” rather than ask their male rabbi the most private of questions, these women often miss out on a simple answer or ruling that isn’t as stringent as they would assume. Others may not realize the need to be more stringent in certain areas of Halacha.

Recently, rabbis in Israel and throughout North America have partnered with Yoatzot Halacha, female advisors on matters of Jewish family law and women’s health. This initiative assures that female congregants and community members feel at ease seeking advice on intimate matters. The Yoatzot keep all questions in confidence and always consult with a rabbi for questions requiring rabbinic ruling.

Women preparing to become Yoatzot Halacha are chosen for their extensive Torah scholarship, leadership ability, and deep religious commitment. They devote two years (over 1000 hours) to intensive study with rabbinic authorities in Taharat Hamishpachah (Jewish family law).

Yoatzot receive training from experts in modern medicine, psychology, gynecology, infertility, women's health, family dynamics and sexuality.

To date, they have helped thousands of women enhance their observance of taharat hamishpacha, and find solutions in the areas of women’s health and Halacha.

Nishmat, The Jerusalem Center for Advanced Jewish Study for Women, graduated the first Yoatzot Halacha in 2000. Over 50 Yoatzot currently service Jewish communities in Israel and North America.

The success of programs in Riverdale, NY, Silver Spring, MD and Englewood, NJ has led to a new larger initiative throughout Manhattan offering Yoatzot Halacha as advisors to women in the community as well as spectacular lectures and learning programs (i.e. “Health & Halacha Day”).

The Manhattan initiative will officially begin November 21. On the Upper West Side, Lincoln Square Synagogue, The Jewish Center, Kehilat Rayim Ahuvim, Congregation Ramath Orah and Congregation Shearith Israel (Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue) have signed on. East Side participating synagogues are Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, Fifth Avenue Synagogue, Congregation Orach Chaim and The New York Synagogue.

“The Yoetzet Halacha program is a great boon to women who are committed to Halacha,” said Rabbi Haskel Lookstein of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. “The availability of the Yoatzot to answer questions and to consult on a variety of sensitive issues that relate to nidda (a woman’s biological monthly cycle), mikveh (ritual bath), fertility questions and the like, can only enhance women’s religious commitment in general and, specifically, with regard to these and other related issues. I fully expect to give the Yoatzot a lot of ‘business.’ They are uniquely qualified for this purpose.”

Rabbi Stephen Friedman, rabbi of Congregation Ramath Orah on the Upper West Side added: “The mere mention of this program happening has created great excitement and anticipation at our synagogue. We are definitely thrilled to be a part of this.”

The concept of Yoatzot Halacha is widely gaining acceptance and generating further interest throughout other Orthodox communities in North America and Israel.

To find out more about the success of Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center, Yoatzot Halacha, and how they are helping observant Jewish women, email sweiss@weissmediagroup.com.

Customized Vitamins

Customized vitamins are a new trend. Whether the focus is on healthy aging, tackling obesity or genetic predispositions, Americans no longer need to rely on Centrum and wonder if they’re getting what they really need.

Here are 4 companies that offer vitamins and nutritional supplements that have the individual in mind:

1) Suracell am and pm core supplements:

Given to you by an MD or medi-spa only, here's how Suracell works: You take a cheek swab and send your DNA kit to Suracell’s lab for testing to measure key healthy aging factors (i.e. blood sugar and body fat control), then a vitamin package is customized to suit your individual needs to age better.

Afraid to decode your own DNA? Simply opt for the core nutritional need supplements SANS the DNA test. People on this program tell me they have clearer skin, better concentration during hte day, higher energy levels, and have said “sayonara” to insomnia at night.

http://www.agebetternow.com/ offers a free month supply (just $13.95 for shipping & handling versus 69.95 for 30 day supply of am and pm essential genetic formula, comprised of over 70 vitamins, minerals, and enzymes combined with potent rainforest CAE extract for anti-aging). The DNA test is given out only by a Dr. or medi-spa: $190

Next up from Suracell? DNA-focused customized skin cream, to be announced.

2) Mitamins: Go to this company’s web site and it allows you to check off various conditions from bone and eye health to body odor (blech!) and customize a nutritional supplement program that’s ideally suited to your needs.

Mitamins’ team consists of physicians, nutritionists, biochemists and herbalists.

Cost depends on how much you kvetch - I mean, how may "conditions" you check off: i.e., monthly cost for a formulation based on Acne & Allergies & Anti-aging & Backache & Body Odor & Bone Health is $37.92 plus shipping and handling. No DNA test. http://www.mitamins.com/

3) Signature Supplements: No doctor visit or blood test, these supplements are designed for you on the basis of a questionnaire you fill out online. Unlike Mitamins which gives you boxes to check off, SS gives you multiple choice answers to choose from – This could signal a red flag to nutritionists, but the company says it tested over 20,000 individuals and has the method of personalized formulation downpat.

Their customers also rave about clearer skin, as well as PMS cures through this customized blend. What it will cost you: anywhere from $40 to $80 for a one-month supply, depending on the ingredients in your formula. http://www.signaturesupplements.com/

4) GenoTrim by Salugen: If the latest ban on fast food isn’t enough to keep your waistline in check, try getting a nutritional supplement made up for you to fight off predisposition to excess girth.

Like Suracell, Salugen offers a DNA test for GenoTrim, but unlike the former which measures healthy aging factors, Salugen’s DNA test for GenoTrim measures fat genes (Did you know there’s a “sweet tooth gene”?).

Cost for Monthly supply of vitamins: 99.95, The DNA test? A hefty 424.95. Now that will add serious weight to your wallet! http://www.genotrim.com/