Kate Garraway and Zita West: live webchat about fertility, Wednesday 22 May, 12.45pm to 1.45pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Kate Garraway and Zita West are joining us for a live webchat on Wednesday lunchtime between 12.45 and 1.45pm

Kate and Zita have been working together recently as ambassadors for the Get Britain Fertile campaign with First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test. The campaign uses an image of Kate transformed by prosthetics into a 70-year-old pregnant woman; First Response says this was done to raise awareness of the fact that the average age at which women in the UK have children is one of the world's highest.

However, the image has come under much criticism on this thread. In particular, Mumsnetters have queried whether women are, in fact, really that unaware of the risks - and why the campaign does not appear to be equally aimed at men.

The Get Britain Fertile press team say, "The campaign was set up to to supply men and women with accurate and up-to-date fertility tips and advice, to improve chances of conception whenever they decide to start conceiving."

Kate Garraway has been presenting GMTV Daybreak for 13 years, and is the mother of two children, to whom she gave birth at the ages of 38 and 42. Zita West is a midwife, acupuncturist and nutritional adviser. She worked in the NHS for more than 20 years, and in 2002 set up the Zita West clinic, a multidisciplinary practice for helping women to conceive. She joined Mumsnet for live webchat back in 2007.

Put your questions to Kate and Zita tomorrow (Weds 22 May) at 12.45pm or, if you're unable to make that time, post them here in advance.

[KateandZita]

@Heavywheezing

Do you think it's reasonable for women to think how many children they would like over their whole fertile life?
I think it's good to front a campaign like this.
I say this as a mum of two, first baby at 34 second at 37. I'd like the option to have another but I think I'm too old and too tired at 39.

I should have had children earlier so I'd like the option of having more. Time waits for no woman!

Zita says: I really do think men and women need to look ahead and think about how many children they would like. In another thread I have outlined just how long it can take to have a family. The biggest thing is not to look back and have any regrets.

You are certainly not too old to have another baby at 39. Many women in my clinic are in their late thirties and early forties and they make fabulous mothers.

[KateandZita]

@DreamsTurnToGoldDust

I really dont understand this campaign, what are the statistics for woman who have children in either their late thirties or early forties with no fertility problems? I and many of my friends have had children later, none of us have come across any negativity. I find this mock up photo deeply offensive.

I think its highly irresponsible to encourage woman to have children younger who are either not in a financial position or in a stable relationship. You can enducate more about fertility issues after 35 but again I havent met anyone who wasnt aware of this.

And however you say this now on this forum this campaign does seem to be aimed at woman, not men.

KATE SAYS I wonder whether you think that the campaign is more aimed at women because so far it is mostly women commentators who have engaged with it and so therefore they are speaking from a women's perspective. I can reassure you the campaign is focused on both sexes but as Zita has already said all too often it is women she sees in her practice who are experiencing the pain of infertility. No one is telling younger (or older women for that matter) to DO anything and certainly not anything irresponsible of something that doesn't feel right for them. The aim is to simply raise awareness of the issues so more women don't sleepwalk into infertility and to offer help and advice to couples trying to conceive.

[parabelle]

Male factor fertility is increasing. It is also very common now to have the couple with the issue- not just the woman. Women want to know when to have sex, understand their fertile window and they focus too much on ovulation and not enough on the sperm. So I disagree. The campaign is not pointless and is much needed to educate and empower men and women.

If this is the case, what are your plans to educate men and empower them? Your campaign thus far seems to be merely about women.

[VCPTracy]

My mum had me at 16 (im now 34) and My youngest sister at 41, she will admit at being a better mum at 41 than she was at 16, she says she had more patience, was less bothered by what others thought and followed her instincts more. Its not the age at which you have a baby its if you are a good parent, although having a baby at 70, which is what that picture depicts (even if its not the message they are wishing to convey) is ridiculous and I think all 70 yr old will agree!

[EduCated]

So please, what outcomes are you aiming for, in tangible measurable terms? Otherwise this just seems like a barely masked marketing campaign, which is fine if you call it what it is.

[Lighthousekeeping]

I could ask my ten year old niece and I'm sure she'd tell me the same thing. Women aren't stupid I don't know anyone that would think its easier to get pregnant in their forties than twenties. Not one person. I hate this campaign it's ridiculous and a waste of money.

[KateandZita]

@Andcake

I married at 29 and hoped to get pregnant in my early 30's unfortunately the husband left for someone else and I spent the whole of my 30's in a race against time to meet a partner I liked enough to have children with. I cried myself to sleep with the huge longing to have a child and the awareness of my ticking clock. I know/knew many women (career women) who feel as sad and ths campaign will just make them more miserable.

I finally achieved motherhood at 40 after trying for 3 yrs to conceive. I had no choice in my predicament. If I was to follow the advice of this campaign what age should I have just bought some donor sperm and done it myself?

I too have a lot of time for zits (sorry had to google Kate to find out who she is) and just feel this campaign will just make women miserable. If I ever needed a pregnancy test again I would not buy first response. Actually I hate the fact I am contributing to this thread as 'engaging people in a conversation' to raise their profile was probably their objective.

Zita says: It really saddens me to hear your story. I am so pleased that you now have a baby and I do see situations like yours so frequently in my clinic. I know these real issues and I know women often don't meet their partners until later or have painful relationship break ups just at the point where they want a child. This campaign is not about advising men or women to have babies young. It is about becoming more fertility aware and not about judging, attacking or condemning men or women at any stage. The reason I got involved was to support men and women.

[SeriousStuff]

Can you please acknowledge the questions referring to waiting until you find the right man rather than settling for the sake of having children younger? I think this is a key argument.

[KateandZita]

@FrankellyMyDearIDontGiveADamn

Whilst i "get" the basic intention behind this campaign, I'm afraid I'm another woman who finds it patronising. Those of us who are over 30 are constantly bombarded with messages that we are too career driven and selfish for "waiting" to have children.

It fails to take into account the fact that many women are not in the right relationship at their most fertile age or are not financially able to support children. Or, as in my case, have fertility issues that they are unaware of until they actually start trying to conceive. I would love to have had children in my 20s, but have been struggling with previously unknown fertility issues for 3 years. At the age of 32 I feel utterly wretched when I read commentators and experts essentially saying "it's your own fault for not trying sooner."

KATE SAYS: I know exactly what you mean by being bombarded with mixed messages. We actively encourage teenagers not to have babies, we applaud young career women in their twenties and then before you know it you find yourself as I did at a friend's wedding and being quizzed by everyone about why you haven't got round to reproducing yet. If we listened to society we would be in a total spin. I am hoping this campaign will help everyone who is interested to get the information and facts they need to equip themselves to make their own life choices. I really wish you well with tackling your own fertility issues and I hope having Zita West's expertise available may shed light on your problems.

[SeriousStuff]

Came through as I posted - thanks

[KateandZita]

@Lighthousekeeping

I could ask my ten year old niece and I'm sure she'd tell me the same thing. Women aren't stupid I don't know anyone that would think its easier to get pregnant in their forties than twenties. Not one person. I hate this campaign it's ridiculous and a waste of money.

Zita says: I disagree. In my experience, a significant number of men and women do not know all the facts.

[SarahMumsnet]

Hey everyone - thanks for all your questions. Kate and Zita are about to finish up now - thanks to them, too, for coming on.

[KateandZita]

Thank you so much for all your interest. It has been fascinating to hear all your views. I hope you continue to follow the campaign as it progresses.
Kate and Zita xx

[EduCated]

Well that was informative helpful enlightening educational ...um...

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

I agree Edu, although I have to say I actually feel rather cross, poster after poster have said they dont understand the campaign and that we know any one who doesnt realise that our fertility starts declining in our middle 30s. We`ve just been told over and over again here that actually the majority of people dont know that

[Lighthousekeeping]

I'm my experience working in the area as well, they do know the facts.

[KentishWine]

Still no idea what this campaign is about.

I totally disagree with Zita that People are not well informed. Many men and women do not know about fertility awareness. Why do they seek my advice if they know everything?

Zita, the men and women who seek your advice may not be well informed, but the majority of people are. This is like a GP saying "god, everyone in this country is really sick". Nope, just the people who come to see you.

[Lighthousekeeping]

Maybe the people that go to see Zita just think they can chuck money at the problem and it will work? The rest of just get on with it.

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

I guess we should have asked how much money are Kate and Zita getting for fronting this mass marketing ploy campaign.

[Lighthousekeeping]

I bet the Daily Fail loves it

[Andcake]

Maybe we should start a mn boycott of first response for creating this sexist daily ail encouraging campaign!

[KentishWine]

I certainly wont be reaching for a First Response if/when I need to test. Probably not the outcome the marketing team was after.

[LittleDirewolfBitJoffrey]

Just read through this thread. Felt very much that the patronising tone of the campaign is being well and truly helped along by Kate and Zita. But nice of them to add kisses to their goodbye post. That made me feel like they cared

[Greythorne]

Too late for the chat, but my question is when is the media campaign aimed at men starting, with a male spokeperson talking about male factor infertility and commitment-phobic men?

[rhetorician]

Don't get it either, surely the campaign should focus on other issues that (as posters here have said over and over) that lead to later parenthood. And these are more structural than men not being ready to commit and come down to questions relating to financial security, job security, employment patterns, inaccessiblity of housing, lack of good affordable childcare, career structures that seemingly cannot accommodate parenthood...I think focussing on the personal fulfilment part of the equation weakens potentially powerful arguments and (inadvertently? Indirectly?) blames women.