As females get older the chances of conceiving each month reduce. From 35 to 40 years your chance of conceiving each month is 10-15%. After 40 years of age it can reduce to as low as 5% chance each month. Your chances of miscarriage also increase after 35. The amount of women having babies after 35 is increasing and many do conceive without problems or having IVF but you do have to be aware of the fertility time clock.

Ovulation calendars If you Google fertility or ovulation calendar alot of sites will come up. Ovulation calendars show you most fertile days for getting pregnant. Plans are based on the fact that, for most women, ovulation happens approximately 14 days before the next menstrual period. As ovulation approaches, your chances of getting pregnant will increase. Knowing when you ovulate will help you time intercourse that can result in getting pregnant. Somes calendars will even say if you are trying for a boy or girl, the planner will give you links to other information that will suggest some actions that may influence the sex of the child. Though I am not to sure about this.

Family Planning http://www.familyplanning.org.nz He whakamarama mo nga mahi a Family Planning Family Planning provides sexual and reproductive health information, clinical services, education, training and research. Fertility Services Advice and initial investigations for couples experiencing difficulty with conception. Pre-pregnancy Advice Advice on what to do before starting a pregnancy.

Natural Fertility website www.naturalfertility.co.nz provides information on sexual and reproductive health

The present recommendation is 0.8mg of folic acid daily for 4 weeks before conception until 3months post conception. Recommendations can change so to keep updated by speaking to your LMC (Doctor, Midwife) and see the www.nzfsa.govt.nz website which states: Folate is a B vitamin that is vital for healthy growth and development of blood cells and nerve tissue. Folate is found naturally in food, especially green vegetables and grains. Why we need folate Folate is important for everyone for cell growth and reproduction. Folate deficiency can result in a type of anaemia called 'megaloblastic anaemia'. Megaloblastic anaemia is a blood disorder characterised by the presence of enlarged immature red blood cells (megaloblasts).

Rubella immunisation is offered free in New Zealand for all children at ages 15 months and 4 to 5 years as MMR - as measles, mumps and rubella. Sometimes even if you have been given these vaccines as a child your immunity can reduce and it is advised to check your immunity pre pregnancy. Women in the first three months of pregnancy who develop rubella have a very high risk of their child having serious health problems.

To find out more about rubella immunisation contact The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC), PO Box 17360 Greenlane Auckland Tel 0800 IMMUNE (466 863) website www.immune.org.nz