There was an article in the Toronto Sun which highlighted the growing amount of women holding off motherhood due to misleading information about advances in fertility science. The paper interviewed Judith Daniluk, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, who counsels many women trying to get pregnant in their late 30s and early 40s and sometimes older.

“Many of these women were surprised to learn that their chances of a successful pregnancy were significantly reduced based on age-related fertility declines — declines that couldn’t be compensated for by the use of assisted reproductive technologies and treatments. It was heartbreaking to see their disappointment and despair when they were unable to achieve a viable pregnancy,” she said.

Daniluk is conducting an ongoing study to assess why women are putting off pregnancy and to identify the sources from which women are gathering their knowledge regarding fertility. Already, her study is finding that 45.5% of the respondents expect to give birth between 36 and 41, and 13.2% think they will have children at 42 or older. Nearly half said they expect to use a sperm donor, an egg donor or invitro-fertilization to achieve their goals. More than half said they were likely to freeze and store their eggs.

Daniluk calls out misleading websites, uninformed doctors and high-profile middle-aged moms like Celine Dion as some of the sources which enable women to think they can delay childbirth. What often is left unsaid, or buried under the surface of fertilization treatment discussions is that is extremely expensive and not very reliable for anyone over 34. It also comes with higher chances of multiple births, miscarriage, pregnancy-induced hypertension and birth defects the older the candidate.

“We need to be sure women and their partners have accurate information upon which to base their child-bearing decisions, but we also need to ensure family physicians are provided with continuing education about the advances and limitations of assisted human reproduction,” she said.

Of course one of the major underlying causes of delay in pregnancy among women today is the current climate of our modern society. Daniluk goes on to point out the modern life challenges facing women today further in the article. Speaking for myself, I would love to have baby and be a mother, but first I would love to fall in love with a great man here in NYC, feel grounded in my career and financial security, etc. Myself, like many women are experiencing more difficulties balancing family goals with our career, education and wellbeing goals.

Before I began the path of doulahood, I too had it in my mind that I could easily delay pregnancy till I was in my later 30s early 40’s if I had to (not to say that I still can’t).Now, I am more familiar with the realities that lay underneath the surfaces and am finding that I am being to dip my toe into the consequences of such delays. Women should be encouraged to discuss their concerns and fears about delaying pregnancy freely. Such discussions with friends, partners and honestly ourselves, can give way to a new dialogue which could help women as we continue to figure out our next steps on our life paths. It is very important to hold mirrors in front of our faces when we ask why the delay. Acknowledging and being with the truths, whatever they may be are the first steps to getting to where we need to be. Ironically, as it is in birth, mothers tend to birth quicker the more they let their fears and worries flow and go.

While I don’t think that delivery gowns are the next big “it” thing, Pretty Pusher’s organic delivery gown maybe on to something when it comes to the world of maternity fashion. The gown, which also comes with a matching headband, is compostable.

I try to shy away from covering too many clothing/fashion stories, as for both expectant mother and baby, each of their bodies change so rapidly that the concept of spending money on new garments is inefficient. I mostly recommend using bellybands, friend’s clothing, or purchasing garments from thrift shops during pregnancy and for rapidly growing babies. Fashionistas, don’t worry though, you can find several fashionable pieces via this method. Even if a garment is not made with organic materials, if you buy it from a second hand vendor or borrow it from a friend, you are still doing your part when it comes to protecting the environment by extending the garment’s lifecycle.

If more maternity garments and infant clothing pieces were as fashionable (as is this gown, which can easily be used as a sexy night gown as well) organic and compostable as this Pretty Pusher’s piece, it would definitely be an incentive for the the ecoconsumer to purchase. This niche(yet popular) maternity industry can benefit by adapting more from the cradle-to-cradle mentality.

I just discovered the baby carrier brand, Boba, who is based out of Boulder, Colorado. What struck me most about Boba, aside from their passion to provide the means for parent to raise confident, joyful, compassionate children, is their attention to ergonomics. The parents and founders of Boba choose to run their green business in their hometown of Boulder with the help of local mountaineering professionals. Together, Boba manufactures ergonomically correct well-designed handmade carriers for toddlers 15lbs to 45lbs.

To enable a healthy sitting position for child, the carriers were design with foot straps. These straps help to anchor the toddler’s weight and alignment while it is being carried. Ultimately, the toddler is guided into a natural position, which naturally tilts the pelvis, fills out the hip sockets, and aligns the spine.

Here are more of its benefits:

*the more leg support the less pressure absorbed by the spine
*takes the pressure off of the hamstrings
*reduces the leg dangle
*gives feet a place to rest
*ensures complete blood flow throughout legs
*no pinching of the major nerve behind the thigh
*envelops the whole back while securing your toddler
*gives them the option to put arms in or out
*pulls them closer to you
*prevents the “leaning away from you” feeling
*reduces shoulder strap pressure
*allows you to stand straight as you should
*brings your center of gravity toward your body

The organic Boba carriers are made with 100% soft brushed GOTS certified organic cotton straps and trim, 100% certified organic cotton canvas panel and consist of no buttons or snaps for added soft comfort. The organic carriers range from $118- $125 and you can purchase them online or at your local retailer.

Boba 2G on the Today Show from Brad Young on Vimeo.

In addition to having a wonderful product collection, Boba’s parent company, Nap, Inc. has strong CSR virtues. Management commits to using bicycles for at least 50% of their local transportation needs, the company uses only virtual business cards, packaging supplies are either recycled or donated for re-use and the company supports several organizations.

It was only in 1948 when the television series, Mary Kay and Johnny, “showed” a woman’s pregnancy on television. Then on December 8, 1952, the I Love Lucy episode, “Lucy Is Enceinte“, aired. Enceinte is French for excepting. Producers did not want or nor allowed any mention of the word pregnant on the show. As they could not deny the fact that their star was in fact pregnant, they incorporated her pregnancy into the story line. Lucy was excepting a baby:

“Lucy Goes to the Hospital”, aired on January 19, 1953. The original airdate was chosen to coincide with Lucille Ball’s real-life delivery of Desi, Jr. who was born via c-section. The episode was watched by 71.7% of all American television sets, which beat out the current record of that time as the most watched event in the country. The second highest rating of that time was Dwight Eisenhower’s inauguration coverage, which pulled in a 67.7% rating. Talk about influencing a generation.

Who doesn’t love I Love Lucy? It was a hilarious show, but being that this was such a source of cultural influence, it had in fact negatively contributed to society’s altered perception of birth and how to embrace the natural process and what it truly entails. Fast-forward to today’s popular culture and how birth is portrayed and received:

There are too many misguided celebrity and media figures who continue to pump fear driven jargon about birth and pregnancy. One would think that in 65 years of broadcast, a more realistic, empowering portrayal of birth would be streamed over the main stream as well as be supported when done so.

Birth is a beautiful and powerful experience. Women are more than capable to have a healthy pregnancy and birth. It can and it should be approached as a natural process and event, and conveyed as an exciting life passage instead of a dreaded/feared event. Women should be educated and empowered to know their choices, options, ways to ease labor pains and discomfort and the support available to them to help them create a beautiful birth experience in addition to more transparency when it comes to drugs used for labor and their effects, c-sections and formula vs. breastmilk. there are a lot of producers, writer, marketers and reporters who need to look at themselves in the mirror more often before willingly contributing to the defacing of women and their natural strengths and gifts.