Lifestyle
Galway Fertility Clinic turns 21
Celebrating a son or daughters 21st Birthday is a memorable event in most parents’ lives but for the first clients of the Galway Fertility Clinic, this year’s celebrations will be even more significant as the clinic turns 21 along with many of its very first babies.
For over two decades the Clinic has been at the forefront of introducing the latest IVF technologies and expertise in order to achieve the best chance of success for the hopeful parents. The Clinic is recognised not only in Ireland but worldwide, for it’s high standards, exceptional levels of patient care and it’s impressive success rates. We are incredibly lucky to have this centre of excellence right here in the west of Ireland.
Gone are the days when success was just left to luck. Galway Fertility Clinic’s many advanced medical developments have changed countless lives and have opened up fertility options for potential parents and families across the world. Whether you’re beginning to consider your fertility options or have been dealing with this issue for some time, the Clinic provides expert advice and assistance for you with a caring and compassionate approach. For many, choosing which fertility centre to attend is one of the most important decisions they will ever make.
The team at the Clinic take the stress and mystery out of the process with one-on-one care, seven days a week. In addition to treatment options, Galway Fertility Clinic provides you with holistic advice on this vital, most important journey. The Clinic considers all factors affecting fertility including nutrition and lifestyle choices.
Dr. Declan Egan, Medical Director of the Galway Fertility Clinic said “I am very proud of the team we have in the Clinic. We have grown from strength to strength over the last two decades and the dedication of the staff combined with the investment in proven technology has brought us to the forefront of assisted fertility treatments within Ireland and worldwide. Our philosophy is simply to provide the highest standard of care to each individual case”.
Treatment cost is a big factor for clients. The total cost of treatment can vary wildly, depending on which clinic you choose and which treatment you require. It is vital for clients to do their research to make sure that they are completely aware of the total cost of treatment. The best way to get an accurate picture of overall cost is to compare ‘like with like’ in different facilities. Galway Fertility Clinic is very proud of the fact that they offer the best service with no hidden costs. For example, one IVF cycle in Galway Fertility Clinic ranges from €4,500 to €4,800. In other centres and many overseas clinics, this is the only the base price. Other services such as Blastocyst culturing and use of EmbryoScope incubators and EmbryoGlue are expensive additions. At Galway Fertility Clinic, these are included in your IVF fee. These additional costs can amount to many thousands of euro, on top of to the amount that you initially budgeted for, so it’s important to do your research before choosing the right clinic for you.
A number of lifestyle factors can contribute significantly to infertility. Your chances of a successful pregnancy will increase by improving your overall health and well-being. The main factors affecting fertility are diet and exercise, weight management, smoking, alcohol and caffeine intake and stress. In some cases, changing these habits for even a three month period can have a positive affect on fertility. Galway Fertility Clinic have partnered with experts to support and advise clients on how to optimise their health, thereby increasing their chances of success.
You may not want to have a baby just yet but it’s never too early to start thinking about preparing for your future fertility. Lifestyle choices such as smoking and alcohol intake are factors to consider long before you decide to explore fertility options. Egg freezing (or Cryopreservation) has received international press attention in recent years following the decision of both Facebook and Apple to help in covering this cost for female employees. This service, available at Galway Fertility Clinic, gives you a chance of having a baby at a time of your choosing, perhaps years later when your eggs quality or ovarian reserve makes it difficult to conceive naturally. It is important to realise that freezing your eggs will not be a guarantee for a baby in the future, and it is a costly process that nobody undertakes lightly. However for women who are faced with the dilemma of losing their fertility perhaps due to chemotherapy or early menopause, it can give hope that they can still have a baby.
The chance of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy are increased when your eggs are frozen when younger. For example, if you freeze your eggs at 25 and decide to have a baby at 35, your eggs are 10 years younger and have better odds of success. Semen cryopreservation has been available for men prior to treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy for decades, and it is great progress that Irish women now have this option too.
This month, the Clinic welcomes the addition of specialist Dr. Nikhil Purandare to the team. Dr. Purandare has recently been appointed to Galway University Hospital as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, and Fertility Specialist, further strengthening and increasing the team at Galway Fertility Clinic to four fertility consultants.
Success rates at the Clinic have increased significantly, to well above European and Irish averages. In fact, Galway Fertility Clinic rates are amongst the highest in Ireland. With the first of its babies turning 21 this year, the legacy of Galway Fertility Clinic is already impressive and sure to continue to grow alongside this ever-changing exciting world.
To find out more on the best options and services available for you, check out www.fertilityclinic.ie or call 091 515600.
Health, Beauty and Lifestyle with Denise McNamara
A native of Ballinasloe has expanded his baby clothing business and created a range of unique tableware and cutlery – all made from bamboo. Entrepreneur Enda Barton, who set up BambooBaby during the lockdown when he lost his job, has recently taken the huge leap of leaving his job in a computer company to work full-time in the business.
While there are some companies that sell baby tableware made from bamboo, this is the first Irish company to produce tableware themselves.
“I started BambooBaby with clothing, and the idea of having a tableware range made from 100% bamboo came to me when I was thinking about what our customers would want,” explains Enda.
“This makes it particular attractive for those who are gifting because now they can order a bundle of clothes, and add a beautiful sustainable feeding set to go in with the clothes which makes a really unique gift.”
Each item has smooth edges that are gentle on little gums and easy for babies to hold, facilitating their seamless transition from liquids to solids. The plates are divided into sections to encouraging them to eat varied foods and develop healthy eating habits from an early age.
An FDA approved silicone suction base is attached to secure the tableware in place, minimising spills and messes. Though silicone is a synthetic material, it outshines its plastic counterparts in terms of durability, temperature tolerance, and environmental impact. Unlike plastic, silicone does not degrade into harmful microplastics, which means it’s better for the environment.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
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Positivity, empowerment, encouragement and hope will be the focus in schools this Thursday, when children will get to celebrate National Confidence Day in classrooms right across the country.
A host of Irish celebrities have come together to participate in an inspirational and motivational half hour show, produced by STARCAMP with Gala Retail for the children of Ireland, with contributions from An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Alisha Weir (Matilda in the movie by the same name), Rory’s Stories and Cillian O’ Connor, an Irish favourite in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent. “If children watch only one thing this year, let it be this”, stated Principal Sean Cummins.
Earlier this week, ahead of National Confidence Day on Thursday, STARCAMP with Gala Retail carried out a national survey about confidence and children’s well-being in children. Just under 2,000 parents from all 26 counties across Ireland with primary school aged children took part. The research uncovered that:
- 66% of parents said that they would like their children to be more confident.
- 97% believe that it is very important that life skills such as handshakes, resilience and the importance of losing be taught to children.
- When asked if parents would like the school environment to be changed in any way, (they were allowed to choose up to 2 options), only 6% believe that the it is fine as is. 64% believing more life skills should be taught in school. 52% would like to see more creativity, 32% would like to see more emphasis on their holistic development, 10% would like to see more sport.
- 75% of those whose children use devices believe that it has a negative effect on their confidence.
- 42% of parents admit that they problem solve for their children too much.
- Out of 7 traits that were listed that parents would wish for their child going forward, including academic excellence, sociability, creativity, confidence, resilience, sporting ability and street smartness, 40% chose resilience, 35% chose confidence, 13% chose being sociable, 5% chose street smart, 3% rated creativity as the most important trait, 2% chose academic excellence and 1% chose being sporty.
- Further analysis from the survey showed a concern that the majority of parents share for their children. When asked about their children’s anxieties and worries, a concerning 13% of parents said that their primary school child suffered from anxiety. A further 38% said that their child worries too much, with less than half, 46%, stating that their child had normal worries in life and a further 2% that don’t seem to worry about anything.
- 43% would like if their child’s social skills were better.
- 85% believe that group activities (such as performance and sport) are extremely important in their child’s development, a further 14% find it important. Less than 1% state that it is of no importance.
Commenting on the findings, Aideen O’Grady, Founder of Starcamp says:
“Research clearly shows that parents across all 32 counties of Ireland desire a more holistic lifestyle for their children. An overwhelming 97% would like to see more emphasis on life skills, with a strong desire for more balance in the classroom and not for the main emphasis to be on academia. As always, excessive technology is playing a negative role in our children’s lives and sadly, the majority of parents feel that their child is not confident enough. The fact that the majority are genuinely concerned with their children’s anxiety and stress levels is quite disturbing, particularly with a group of children so young and innocent. I always appreciate these findings, whatever the outcome, because it gives us the opportunity to make changes.”
STARCAMP recently decided to take baby steps towards encouraging positivity, confidence and growth in children outside of their camp environment. This Thursday, for National Confidence Day, they have produced a special half hour show which will be available to watch in all classrooms and homes across Ireland. Over 300,000 are expected to tune in on Thursday. Over 270 STARCAMP with Gala Retail camps will take place this summer across Ireland, with almost 30,000 children attending. The theme is resilience and there is a new section on life skills. “From small acorns grow mighty oaks. If we can start with a positive little seedling like this show in the classroom or home, and build on it little by little, focus on the positive and laugh, dance and rejoice more – just imagine how our children could feel about themselves. And then, just imagine what they could achieve!”
The “I BELIEVE IN ME” Confidence Show for Children will be available for all to watch and can be streamed on Thursday, May 25th, from the Starcamp website www.starcamp.ie for a limited time.
Country Living with Francis Farragher
Sometimes, I’m taken aback a bit, by some of the younger acquaintances that I enjoy a few scoops with. They’re kind of surprised that I’m not a fan of Donald Trump; that I’ve no problem with gay rights; and that I have sympathy for the plight of the Ukrainians who have come to Ireland to avoid being slaughtered by the Russians.
There is, I feel, some lingering gene from famine times which clicks in with me – and a lot of other Irish people too – where a little alarm bell of the mind rings and transports me back to a time of only a few generations back when the Great Hunger ravished our land, killing around one million people with at least as many more, taking the emigrant boats, mainly to America, to try and survive.
At times, it’s worthwhile to have a little historical reflection, on the greatest catastrophe to have ever hit our island when we were a colony of the United Kingdom following the 1801 Act of Union. We were a largely tenant population – the poorest of the poor – relying almost exclusively on the potato crop to feed the general masses.
Although the penal laws had largely been repealed during the Daniel O’Connell era, there were only two classes of people in Ireland during those days of the 1800s: the English and Anglo-Irish families and landlords who owned practically all of the land and then at the other end of the ladder, the far greater majority of the population, the native Irish, who had to pay rent and eke out a living from two or three acres of often poor quality land.
As bad as things were up until 1845, at least the potato crop managed to keep the people fed. Potatoes ironically had been introduced by the landed gentry about a century before that as a garden crop, with one main variety grown, known as the Irish Lumper. Disaster though was to strike through 1845 in the form of potato disease with the name of Phytophrthora infestans, which in simple wordage translated into a word that’s now part of the Irish psyche – the blight.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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