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In a report to be published in parliament on Tuesday, the RCM warned that an extra 5,000 midwives were needed in England alone to deal with the highest birth rate in 40 years. It is calling on the Government to provide a guarantee not to cut midwife training places.

Each of the four parts of the UK has experienced a rise in the number of births in the last decade - 22 per cent in England, 17 per cent in Wales, 15 per cent in Northern Ireland and 12 per cent in Scotland. The RCM said England and Wales had been "overwhelmed" by the rising birth rate, but while midwife numbers were increasing a little the strain on numbers has led to antenatal care of expectant mothers becoming "threadbare".

There are also concerns about an ageing number of midwives, with too few following in their footsteps. Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the RCM, said: "England remains around 5,000 midwives short of the number required to provide mothers and babies with high-quality service they need and deserve.

"Maternity care is the earliest health intervention of all and getting care right for mothers and babies is a vital part of supporting families and building a foundation for good health in later life." She said that while more midwives are being employed in England and the availability of training is on the rise, efforts need to be redoubled because of the baby boom and the relentless rise in the numbers being born.

"A corner is being turned, but this is no time for backsliding from the Government," she said. "Maternity units are under intense strain and have been now for many years, with many midwives really at the end of their tether in terms of what they can tolerate.

"We are reaching a crucial tipping point for maternity services in England." The shortage of midwives has forced some NHS maternity hospitals to close their doors and temporarily turn women away who are about to give birth, according to the Sunday Times.

An RCM report last year found more than half of NHS trusts had to close their door an average of seven times a year and divert women to other maternity hospitals because they could not cope with numbers, the newspaper said. Jon Skewes, a director at the RCM, said: "We are concerned that our members are so stretched and that in some circumstances units have been forced to close on a temporary basis to ensure safety."

The RCM says it would like to see more midwife-led units and more home births to reduce the shortage of midwives, the appropriate deployment of properly trained and supervised maternity support workers and a guarantee from the Government not to cut midwife training places. The State of Maternity Services report showed that in 2011 there were 688,120 babies born in England, the highest number since 1971.

Provisional birth numbers from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for the first half of last year point to 2012 being another record-breaking year for births. The ONS forecasts that births in England could reach 743,000 by 2014.

Article: 20th January 2012 www.telegraph.co.uk

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Dr Lockwood has suggested that Egg freezing should be every father’s graduation present to his daughter. Dr Lockwood, of the Midland Fertility Centre, where half of Britain’s babies conceived from frozen eggs originated, said young women are still not getting the message about infertility.

She told The Times: ‘One part of me wants to say that [egg freezing] should be every dad’s graduation present for his daughter. It would be a very safe, low dose, and you could have 20 beautiful eggs in the freezer.

'But – and it’s a very big but – I’m concerned about how that would alter a woman’s life choices, that they might think: “Well, instead of having a family with Mr Not Quite Perfect, I can afford to wait for Mr Absolutely perfect”.

In Britain, women are delaying childbirth later than ever: the average woman here has her first child at 31, compared to 24 in 1962. About 6,500 eggs have been stored in Britain in the decade since egg freezing was licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Yet the chances of conceiving a baby from a frozen egg are low, and preparing for it is a painful, costly process involving potent fertility drugs, chemicals and surgery.

Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston is rumoured to have frozen her eggs, and in a recent episode of the U.S. reality television show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim injected herself with hormones in preparation for doing the same.

But despite egg freezing being something often talked about as a viable option, just 12 babies have been born from frozen eggs in this country. However this may slowly change after a recent report by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) stated that egg freezing is no longer experimental technology. The organisation has recommended that women freeze their eggs in their 20s and 30s to help them conceive later in life.

And it is timing that is key, says Dr Lockwood. 'By the time many women decide they want to freeze their eggs, they are often in their late 30s, when their eggs have declined in quality significantly. I get many calls from women around the age of 38 who want their eggs frozen,’ she told the Mail last month.

Last year Brigitte Adams decided to freeze her eggs at the age of 38, to safeguard what was left of her fertility ‘A frozen egg from a 38-year-old will be better than a fresh one from a 42-year-old, but pregnancy is still not very likely.’ Dr Lockwood added that a 30-year-old who freezes her eggs would have a 30-40 per cent chance of having a child. After 38, this falls to 25 per cent.

And even freezing your eggs at 30 could have its downsides, she said. 'Will it mean a woman waits around all her life for Mr Perfect, knowing she has healthy eggs from her 30-year-old self in the freezer, but then becomes bitter because she has rejected all the Mr Pretty Well Good Enoughs and found herself single and childless at 45, with frozen eggs that turned out not to work?’

Other experts have cautioned that egg freezing is by no means a fail-safe insurance policy. Dr Magdy Asaad, clinical director of the London Fertility Centre, says the chances of getting a baby from a frozen egg are about 1 to 3 per cent for each egg. Also, only eight out of ten eggs survive the thawing process and there are still some concerns about whether egg freezing is effective or safe in terms of the long-term health of children.

There have also been suggestions that chemicals applied to the egg wall during flash-freezing could potentially damage the egg. Egg freezing is funded by the NHS if carried out for women having cancer treatment. Otherwise it costs £5,000 per cycle, then £200 a year to pay for safe storage of the eggs.

One woman who chose to freeze her eggs was Brigitte Adams. Last year, at the age of 38, she decided to take action to safeguard what was left of her fertility. She told The Times: 'I know I have less than a 30 per cent chance - but it's better than zero chance. I feel I have at least done something proactive and have a back-up plan.' She has gone on to found the website Eggsurance to encourage other women to think about freezing their eggs as an 'insurance policy' that can be used later.

Ms Adams was 37 when she started thinking about the procedure. 'I just always expected that at my age I would already have kids. I also had some close friends who were either going through difficult IVF treatments or looking into the adoption process. 'I contacted a fertility doctor in my city who told me to “just get pregnant". Not exactly what I wanted to hear.' She adds that she assumed because she ate well and exercised that she must have a healthy supply of eggs. 'So I was surprised when I learned that maternal age directly correlates to the health of your eggs.'

Her family were incredibly supportive, she says. 'My parents were all for it and even offered to pay for some of the treatment costs. My friends, on the other hand, were shocked initially as they did not know anybody who had had their eggs frozen. 'However, once I explained the procedure to them they were extremely supportive and of great help. You really need a strong support system through a process like this as it is both physically and emotionally challenging.'

Article: 26th November 2012 www.dailymail.co.uk

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During pregnancy, nicotine can affect a baby’s developing lungs, predisposing the infant to childhood asthma. Although this risk is well-known, researchers from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in California in the US wanted to investigate the implications for future generations. They tested the effect of nicotine exposure during pregnancy on rats, looking not only at their pups, named F1, but also at second generation pups, F2.

The researchers found exposure inside the womb resulted in F1 offspring having reduced lung function consistent with asthma. However, it also impaired lung function of F1’s offspring F2, even though the F1 rats were not exposed to nicotine once they were born. A gene function associated with normal lung development was also reduced in both generations of offspring, says a report published in the journal BMC Medicine. Dr Virender Rehan, who led the study, said: ‘When we looked at the effect of nicotine on DNA in the testes or ovaries of the rats they found that nicotine increased the level of methylation in the testes but reduced it in the ovaries.

‘Nicotine also altered methylation of histone proteins in a sex-dependent manner. ‘These epigenetic marks may be the mechanism behind how nicotine-induced asthma is transmitted from one generation to the next.’ He said asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and while there are many factors which contribute to asthma, maternal smoking during pregnancy is an avoidable risk. ‘The effects of smoking during pregnancy are, it seems very long lasting’ he added. ‘Stop smoking education and intervention aimed at mothers-to-be and women planning pregnancy needs to take into account the fact that nicotine itself contains dangers to their children and their children’s children.’

Article: 30th October 2012 www.dailymail.co.uk

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Thousands of visitors are expected for the Big Weekend, a non-stop party between August 24 and 27. The Gaydar main arena on Bloom Street/Sackville Street will host some of the hottest acts. Confirmed artists include Steps, Amelia Lily, 2 Shoes,Alexander Stewart Bjorn Again, Scarletts Rose, Louise Dearman, Alison Moyet and Cleo Sol. On stage at Sackville Gardens there is a programme of live bands with new talent and more established acts performing throughout the weekend. Between 4pm and 11pm on the Sunday the focus will be on female bands, performers and comedians.

One of the highlights of Pride is the Parade on Saturday August 25 from 1pm. More than 100 floats will make their way through the city’s streets providing a carnival of colour and attracting thousands of spectators. It starts on Deansgate opposite the Hilton Hotel and finishes on Whitworth Street, just outside the Gay Village. Details of the full route is here.

This year’s theme is ‘Queer’d Science’ to honour the 100th anniversary of codebreaker Alan Turing whose work at Bletchley Park helped crack the Nazi enigma cipher. The gay computer pioneer was prosecuted for gross indecency for having relations with another man in 1952 when it was illegal. He committed suicide two years later. A legal bid to clear his name has been launched in the Lords.

The village market will be on throughout the Big Weekend with stalls selling treats including sweets, clothing, jewellery. The Lifestyle Expo will run between 11am and 6pm from Saturday August 25 to Monday, August 27 with information about community groups, health and sports clubs as well as legal advice. Visit Pride Angel at the Lifestyle expo.

The pace of the weekend will slow on Monday August 27 at 9.15pm with the George House Trust candlelit vigil to remember those who have lost their lives to HIV and those who are fighting the epidemic worldwide. The vigil, which takes place in Sackville Gardens, closes Pride week. A Pride wristband is needed to get into the Big Weekend site around Canal Street, but not for the Parade or the candlelit vigil. A weekend ticket for the festival is £20 and a day pass £12. Child weekend tickets are £7.50 and day passes, £5.

Why not come along to the Lifestyle Expo to chat with Pride Angel about gay and lesbian parenting options.

Article: 24th August 2012 www.menmedia.co.uk

A technique to remove pieces of ovary, store it for decades and then replace it with delicate surgery could effectively put a woman's menopause 'on ice', doctors said. The only thing preventing them from having babies into their old age would be their physical ability to carry a pregnancy, they said.

The controversial notion would allow career women peace of mind with a fertility insurance policy so they can find a partner, settle down and become financially secure before starting a family. By delaying the menopause they could also avoid the increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease that come with the end of their fertile life but may raise the risk of breast and womb cancer.

A conference heard how more than 20 babies have been born worldwide to patients who either had their own ovarian tissue removed before treatment that would have left them infertile, and replaced afterwards, or twins where one donated tissue to the other. Most of the children have been conceived naturally without the need for IVF for drugs.

Dr Sherman Silber, an American surgeon, has been involved in transplants for 11 women at St Luke’s Hospital in St Louis, Missouri, US. He said: "A woman born today has a 50 per cent chance of living to 100. That means they are going to be spending half of their lives post-menopause. “But you could have grafts removed as a young woman and then have the first replaced as you approach menopausal age. You could then put a slice back every decade.

“Some women might want to go through the menopause, but others might not.” That would mean women would not have to “watch their body clocks”, he said, and would only be physically limited by their ability to carry a baby and give birth.

The telegraph undertook a poll to decide ‘Should women be able to have a baby in later life?’ The answers from their readers where as follows:

No - the natural body clock exists for a reason and it is not fair on the child. 67.39% (1,833 votes)

Yes - there is no reason why mature women would not be excellent mothers. 32.61% (887 votes)

Total Votes: 2,720

Article extracts: 9th July 2012 www.telgraph.co.uk

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Demand for IVF from older women is rising dramatically, but they don’t realise the chances of success are limited, said Pasquale Patrizio, of the Yale Fertility Center in the U.S. He said the latest research showed success rates for women aged 42 and over had stayed static at less than 10 per cent.

Even if a woman conceives, being older makes it less likely a live baby will be born and pushes up the risk of abnormalities. Professor Patrizio said: ‘There is an alarming misconception about fertility among women. As clinicians, we should begin educating women more aggressively.’

He and his colleagues have noticed more women coming to their fertility clinic at age 43 or older, expecting that pregnancy can be instantly achieved. He added: ‘We are really seeing more and more patients upset after failing in having their own biological child after age 43 so we had to report on this.

‘Their typical reaction is, “what do you mean you cannot help me? I am healthy, I exercise, and I cannot have my own baby?’’’ The latest report comes as UK figures show 40-somethings are becoming pregnant at more than double the rate of two decades ago.

But there is growing concern among British doctors over the ‘epidemic of pregnancy’ in women in middle age. Some of the country’s leading fertility specialists have warned that women who put off having children are ‘defying nature’ and risk never becoming mothers.

The Yale researchers said women who delayed pregnancies in their most fertile years were ‘vaguely aware’ that fertility decreased with age, but only when they experienced age-related infertility first-hand did they begin to understand the reality of their situation.

Britain's oldest first time mum: Sue Tollefsen says she made a mistake in waiting until she was 57 to give birth to daughter Freya. The growing popularity of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has given women the impression that female fertility may be manipulated at any stage in life, and the problem is made worse by images of celebrities who seem to effortlessly give birth at advanced ages, said Professor Patrizio. U.S. figures show the number of IVF cycles performed between 2003 and 2009 for women aged over 40 increased by 41 per cent – four times as fast as for women aged under 35.

Professor Patrizio said: ‘Even though the number of women turning to ART has increased, the number of IVF cycles resulting in pregnancy in women above age 42 has mostly remained static at 9 per cent.

‘If pregnancy is achieved at an older age, women then face higher risk of pregnancy loss, birth defects, and other complications. ‘Women should be given the appropriate information about postponing fertility, obstetric risks, and the limited success of ART in advanced age to allow them to make informed decisions about when, if at all, they hope to become pregnant.’ Professor Patrizio said women should take advantage of egg-freezing if they wanted to postpone motherhood.

Alternative options such as egg donation, which leads to the highest pregnancy rates reported for any type of fertility treatment, are also available. He added: ‘There is an urgent need to educate women that reproductive ageing is irreversible and, more importantly that there are options to safeguard against the risk of future infertility.’

Last month, Britain’s oldest first-time mother, Sue Tollefsen, admitted she had made a mistake in waiting until she was 57. She regretted not having a baby earlier because she might not be around to see her daughter grow up.

Article: 6th April 2012 www.dailymail.co.uk

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Researchers from Yale University found exposure to radiation from mobiles during pregnancy affects the brain development of offspring, potentially leading to greater activity, anxiety and poor memory.

They concluded mobiles could have a negative effect on babies in the womb after studying pregnant mice. However, a group of British scientists have poured scorn on the study labeling it 'alarmist and unjustified.'

They pointed out that the unborn mice would have received a dose of radiation that was proportionally far higher than an unborn baby would get. They added that while the whole bodies of the mice were exposed a pregnant woman would tend to hold their phone a metre away from their uterus.

The experts, from the University College of London, among others, added that a comparison is impossible between rodents and humans because mice are born after just 19 days with a brain that's at a far earlier stage of development compared to human babies.

The introduction of the Yale study, published in the latest issue of the journal Scientific Reports, focuses on the rising number of ADHD cases in children, implying it could be linked to their research in mice.

ADHD is a development disorder characterised by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Between three and seven per cent of school-age children suffer from the disorder. Affected children tend to perform poorly at school and are at increased risk of delinquency.

Diagnosis has increased at an average rate of three per year since 1997, making the condition 'a growing public concern,' according to the scientists. The researchers measured the brain electrical activity of adult mice that were exposed to radiation as foetuses and conducted a series of psychological and behavioural tests.

They found that the mice that were exposed to radiation tended to be more hyperactive and had increased anxiety and reduced memory capacity. Senior author Professor Hugh Taylor said: 'We have shown that behavioural problems in mice that resemble ADHD are caused by mobile phone exposure in the womb.

'The rise in behavioural disorders in human children may be in part due to foetal cellular telephone irradiation exposure.' In the study the authors concluded human tests would be needed before 'extrapolating these behavioural findings to humans.' But Prof Taylor, who is a member of EHHI - an organisation 'dedicated to protecting human health from environmental harms through research' - added that limiting a foetus' exposure to mobile phone radiation seemed warranted.

However, Professor Jim Stevenson from the University of Southampton denounced the study as 'irresponsible.' He told the UK charitable trust, Sense about Science: 'There is to date only little evidence of an association,' adding that no evidence from the latest mouse study supported the conjecture.

Professor Katya Rubia, from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, added that the link made between mice and humans was 'alarmist and unjustified.'

She said the fact the exposed mice in the study were more active could not be translated to complex disorders such as ADHD. She pointed out that anxiety levels decreased in exposed mice whereas it is typically higher in children with ADHD. Professor Eric Taylor from King's College London said the rate of ADHD problems has actually been steady for more than 20 years and any increase is most probably due to greater recognition of the disorder.

A spokesman from the Health Protection Agency, told Mail Online: 'There is no hard scientific evidence that radio signals from mobile phones pose a risk to public health providing they are within ICNIRP (international body) guidelines.

'Very many studies into the effects of radio waves on health have been published over the past several decades. The authors of this study acknowledge themselves that their work had certain limitations. 'The Health Protection Agency constantly monitors and reviews this scientific research and will consider this study, along with other peer reviewed research, as part of that process.'

The latest controversial study comes just two years after scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles, found children exposed to mobile phones in the womb had a 30 per cent rise in behavioural difficulties at the age of seven. The study looked at 29,000 youngsters, but some British scientists said the findings could be due to lifestyle factors rather than mobiles. They pointed out that mothers glued to their mobiles may very well be less likely to interact as much with their children.

Article: 16th March 2012 www.dailymail.co.uk

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Joanna Darrell, of the Beaumont Society, which helps men who wish to or have changed gender told the newspaper that the unnamed father got in touch to enquire for help having a child after having undergone surgery.

Through the charity, the unnamed man had hormone treatment to reactivate his womb. The womb had not actually been removed during his original surgery. “He got back in touch about six months ago to thank the society for its help and to say he had the baby,” Ms Darrell said.

Thomas Beatie, a trans man who lives legally in his acquired gender in the United States, conceived and has given birth to three children since 2007. His wife Nancy is unable to conceive. The Oregon couple’s first daughter was born in June 2008 and a son followed a year later and a son in 2010.

Despite being legally defined as a man for over ten years and having had some gender reassignment surgery, Beatie kept his female reproductive organs. He is thought to have had natural births with his three children and his wife breastfed both.

Before starting a family, Beatie had been on hormone treatments, but stopped taking them in order to resume menstruating and conceive through artificial insemination. All children were conceived with the help of sperm donors.

Last month, Yuval Topper, became the first Israeli trans man to give birth. Mr Topper underwent gender confirmation surgery three years ago. He was travelling to Jerusalem, but stopped to give birth in Tel Aviv.

There is a cancer risk associated with retaining a uterus and ovaries after they are exposed to high levels of testosterone associated with gender reassignment which means many choose to have them removed. Christopher Inglefield, a surgeon specialising in gender reassignment surgery told the Sunday Times: “The obvious thing is to get them to store eggs before they have the surgery, so they can have babies later using a female surrogate.”

But not everyone is supportive of trans men having children. Trevor Stammers, director of medical ethics at St Mary’s University College told the newspaper: “The fact that the medical profession is facilitating and encouraging this is a serious problem. You are hardly going to end up with a baby that’s going to have a happy, productive and optimal childhood.”

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