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.

[CharlesDancer]

Perhaps they could have had a male fronting the campaign alongside Kate and Zita for a bit of balance.

[EuroShaggleton]

Or they could let the campaign quietly die, as it seems to have completely backfired and be based on no more than a couple of anecdotes about couples saying "ooo, I wish we had started earlier"....

[CabbageLooking]

Well that was half an hour of my life that I'll never get back and I should probably have spent shagging in a desperate last ditch attempt to get pregnant by the nearest fertile man.

[Haberdashery]

JuicyPear

[TallyGrenshall]

Well, that was a whole load of posts to say nothing informative at all really.

[Piffpaffpoff]

I was 35 when I had my first and 37 when I had my second. Every single first-time-mum chum that I had worried about whether they were too old to have a second (or third). We all knew the clock was ticking. It had been drilled into us by the Daily Mail and many other much more reliable sources.

I think this campaign is a pile of nonsense to be honest and I just don't see the point of it. Although I might do, if First Response brings out some shiney new ovulation predictor kit especially for older ladies shortly. (cynical? Moi? )

[Lighthousekeeping]

kareningalasmith.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/infertility-patriarchy-profit-and-me-or-kerching-infertility-and-woman-blaming-woman-shaming-woman-controlling/

[SauceForTheGander]

Oh dear. That was a bit awkward and not what the clever PR team were expecting am sure.

[ChocsAwayInMyGob]

If, as Kate claimed, this campaign IS aimed at men as well as women, will they be doing articles in men's magazines? No, I doubt it.

This is just First Response trying to panic and guilt women into increasing First Responses sales figures.

It is impossible to decide you will have a baby at 25 since you may be single at that age, or only meet young commitment phobes.

Speak to the men Zita and Kate. Go to Maxim and FHM and Men's Health. Don't patronise us.

[WilsonFrickett]

Agree Sauce. Awkward.

I'm a bit disappointed in Zita West's toeing of the PR line if I'm honest.

[ImTooHecsyForYourParty]

My worry would be that basically telling women to get cracking with the kids or they're screwed may result in them having a child before they're ready - or settling for an unsuitable man.

It really shouldn't be baby at any cost. It isn't just about a woman easily having a child. It's about bringing a person into the world who has the right to be raised by parents who are ready to take on that commitment and can afford it!

I don't think that there are many women out there who don't know about declining fertility. Yes. Fertility declines. What are your options? Find a bloke, any bloke will do? Have a child when you don't have money? have a child in your 20s even if you aren't emotionally ready to be a parent, because that's what women are for?

I was in my mid 20s when I had my children. It was the right time for me but it was pure luck that I had met someone I wanted to have children with. If I hadn't, what were my options? Walk round the streets offering myself? "Impregnate me, impregnate me"

How many women do they think are with a man that they want to have children with, have the money to afford children, are emotionally ready to be a parent (and the man is too!) and are sitting there thinking oooh, I'll just give it until I'm 40 and then have a crack at it.

People don't have a baby because the circumstances are not right for them to have a baby.

If your circumstances are not right for you to have a child you have no business having one! It's not just about you having a child - it's about a child having you!

[MadBusLady]

Couldn't agree more Hec. The whole "pop a couple out" way some people talk about this is really alarming. It may (generalising wildly here) be linked to a point of view that sees the whole thing as being more about having lovely snuggly babies, than about deciding to create other human people, which is how I see it.

[Ilovemyrabbits]

I had fertility issues at 30. I would have had the same issues at 21, as that's when I had my first miscarriage. By the 4th, I was 36 and dd was born.

I find it totally disconcerting that a woman could front a campaign like this that is CLEARLY directed towards the marketing of First Response fertility products. It shows no concern for women who are caught up in the emotional turbulence of recurrent miscarriage or/and infertility. What an awful, awful campaign.

[DharmaBums]

I feel really angry and affronted at the responses from zita and Kate. It's obvious the campaign has been targeted at women and not men ( choice of media for instance - femail, really? men?) and I think their responses were patronising. I for one will not be buying any first response branded products EVER and will be turning over when KG is on tv. Crappy answers both - probably reading off a PR crib sheet...

[enormouse]

I agree with you dharma. It all felt a bit trite and lacking emotional depth or understanding.

[olivertheoctopus]

I find this utterly perplexing. It seems that this 'campaign' is aimed at what I perceive to me a minority of women who are in committed relationships from a young age but actively choose not to have kids until their 30's. Whereas my own experience, and that of many on here, and that of virtually every single friend I can think of, is actually that most of these women haven't actually MET their long-term 'yes I would like to have babies with you' partner until relatively late in life. How many couples are there out there these days who have met at uni or wherever and then decided to wait a decade before having kids? Not my experience at all.

[DuelingFanjo]

Didn't Kate see my question?fft.

[OddSockMonster]

Well, I'm quite glad now that I only ever relied on Boots own brand pregnancy tests.

What were the deleted posts about? I wasn't around earlier to see them?

[SauceForTheGander]

They are claiming they are doing something

1. There is a need for
   
2. Altruistically sharing their personal and professional experience to meet this need
   

They were unable to convince me of either. As has already been said, Campaign looks like a cover to launch a fertility checker kit.

[Gigondas]

I am with dharma on response . Was particularly about Zita west response as I have actually been to her clinic . Don't think will bother recommending it now.

[SauceForTheGander]

Though I felt a bit sorry for MN in office trying to be all cheery and "riiiiiiighhht, well thanks for coming guys! Good luck with the campaign!"

[MeiMeiMeiMei]

Epic PR fail there