Genetics, cloning, IVF and other things..

[RICHARD]

And I suggest you read the story of the OC couple and their babies. May not be my choice but you truely misrepresent the story of this couple and their family.

Also offensively too harsh.

How?

I gave what I heard about the story,then an opinion. Give me something to work with, I'll give you Richardspeak, you won't understand it and we'll agree not to.

(Richardspeak? shades of 1984!)

Let's try it this way. I guess my critique of that story is how 'replaceable' lives are. "Hey, we lost three kids in a horrible accident. Let's get three more to replace them." It's the idea that parents can have kids, raise them, lose them way too soon, then decide that three more can cover the pain and loss.

I guess I would be way too attached to my first three kids to go out and get new ones if they were lost.

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Should anyone trip thru a hospital and get a chance to visit preemies, please do so.

Especially if it's quads or more.

Now, let's go into the financial part of IVF, multiple births and health care.

I haven't a clue as to what an IVF costs. A lot? More? Too expensive?
IF it goes to more that one attempt?

Prenatal care is the cheapest part-if the mom doesn't have any problems-show up at an appointment, get a sonogram and read all the pamphlets.

Now, Find out what a bed in a NICU (newborn intensive care unit) costs, factor in nurse's care, pediatric specialists and multiply that by days and number of children. Sadly, there are no "group rates" or "kids eat free" days when you deal with hospital/insurance billing.

And we haven't even talked about eggs that are implanted, take and are aborted, still births and live births that expire.

How does that/would that impact the mom, dad or family?

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About daddy's contributions-

Years ago someone published a study that blamed male infertility on tight undies. I think that me making a statement like the one I made is akin to the "experts" and their assessment of the Fruit of the Loom phenomenon. If that's the case, the population numbers would bear it out?

Something like comparing the number of men's bikini underwear sold to the census numbers during the peak in sales??

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Food-

Recently there was a suggestion that you can 'choose' the sex of a child be skipping breakfast? How scientific was that study?


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About drinking and doping....

If a mother can pass along an addiction, might the father's habits affect the genes passed to his kids?

I know that that isn't always the case, but if it can happen?

[Karen]

Hey, Richard, I was a premie, as were all my siblings. Back before IVF even existed. What have you got against us? Do not babies born too early, through no fault of the babies themselves, deserve love and care?

My friend's IVF twins were premies, and yet they are now happy healthy three-year-old, much loved by many.

[Edwina's Secretary]

RICHARD...your lack of compassion for parents of autistic children and the Orange County parents is exceptional.

Anyone who is interested, can read the story. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/c...42-lori-ladera

This couple lost three children in a horrible accident. They wanted children. They used IV to concieve. There were three viable eggs. They chose to have all three implanted. All three were born and are in good condition.

RICHARD...you don't agree with this. Okay.

Have you ever known parents of an autistic child? If so, I suggest you confront them with your idea of their "fault" in the child's condition.

If not, I suggest you get to know such a family. Tell them your suspicions about their use of drugs, alcohol, or other self-abuse.

See if they agree with you.

[RICHARD]

Hey, Richard, I was a premie, as were all my siblings. Back before IVF even existed. What have you got against us? Do not babies born too early, through no fault of the babies themselves, deserve love and care?

My friend's IVF twins were premies, and yet they are now happy healthy three-year-old, much loved by many.

Before I get into trouble.

All newborns deserve love and care. I didn't intend to make it sound like early births didn't need the care or attention.

In the 'good old days' a set of trips or quads was rare. As we have progressed in medicine, trips and quads, quints- up to septuplets are more and more common.

My concern lies with multiple egg IVFs.

Jackie said it best. I would like to see limits on eggs/embryo implantation.

Implanting five or more eggs and having them all take, raises the bar as far as the health of the mother and the kids.

Placenta problems, incompetent cervix, blood pressure, blood chemistry, fluid retention, pregnancy related diabetes.

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I have seen the billings on multiple birth/extended stays for preemie births and I was floored. I in no way was saying that the children did not deserve any or all the care they received. As a matter of fact, the NICU nurses I have known were more caring than the other specialties.

It's way tougher to care for someone who can't say how they feel!

I just have problems with the costs of healthcare - The five dollar aspirin is alive and well.

[Medusa]

What I've been hearing regarding the increase in autism has been the link between immunizations in young children and autism. Not having researched it further, I can't say for sure, obviously, but if it takes a celebrity to bring it to the public's attention, so be it. If there's truth to it, then we all benefit. If not, no harm, no foul.

In another vein, any time we "mess w/nature", we're bound to get into a cloudy area. An example is the new drugs on the market for decreasing the number of menstrual periods a year. I understand that the monthly cycle can have its inconveniences but I'm one of those women who actually didn't mind her period and, now that I'm not having them any more, I would LOVE to experience it again, cramps and all. Sometimes I think I was born into the wrong era. Our sister ancestors used to go to their menstrual huts, take care of themselves, and impart wisdom to others, sometimes in the form of psychic predictions even. I used to take aspirin, drink tea, curl up w/a book and cat or dog, sit by the fire and take it in stride. And, yes, I was a working mother. I taught exercise and aerobic classes, among other things, sometimes as many as 6 classes a day. The world didn't stop because Mary was on her moon time. However, if I had had the luxury of not working during my cycle, I would have taken better care of myself. We push ourselves too much today and sometimes forget that we're women first and working people second. I don't know what harm these drugs can do to the body; I can't imagine that they can have only a positive effect. This isn't a value judgment; it's an opinion that a woman's menstrual period is natural and we should embrace it rather than attempt to abolish it.

[Karen]

What I've been hearing regarding the increase in autism has been the link between immunizations in young children and autism. Not having researched it further, I can't say for sure, obviously, but if it takes a celebrity to bring it to the public's attention, so be it. If there's truth to it, then we all benefit. If not, no harm, no foul.

Study after study after study has proven no link between vaccinations and autism. It's one of those "urban legend" kind of things. People believe what they want to believe, regardless of the facts. Blaming a vaccination is easier than examining their own actions, past drug use, or environmental factors, for example ... if it is the vaccination's "fault" then it can't be MY fault ...

[RICHARD]

Immunzations......

I had a blood test done before surgery. It came back with one little problem,
I had no antibodies to keep me from getting the measles!

I did have the shots when I was a kid so I was a little skeptical. I went for my shots and jokingly told the nurse that I probably would get the measles from the injection.

I was told that it was impossible because it was a "dead" form of the illness.

Later that week I was getting dressed for a softball game and noticed that I had little red dots all over my body. SO much for science!