13 May 2007
Allyson Gofton understands better than most how Mother's Day can be a painful reminder for some couples of their inability to have a family.
This Mother's Day Allyson is teaming up with the Nurture Foundation to help raise funds to support research into conditions such as infertility, miscarriage and pregnancy complications that prevent families having a much-wanted child. She's encouraging New Zealanders to celebrate the gift of motherhood by making a donation to Nurture.
Allyson, her husband Warwick and son Jean-Luc have much to celebrate this Mother's Day with the safe arrival of gorgeous new daughter and sister, Olive-Rose on April 27th. Olive-Rose was conceived with the aid of fertility treatment and delivered by caesarean section four weeks early due to a condition known as placenta previa which can cause sudden haemorrhage, increasing the risk of stillbirth, premature birth or an undernourished baby.
The Next Food Editor and Wattie's Food In A Minute presenter also experienced a difficult pregnancy leading up to the premature birth of Jean-Luc when she was hospitalised with pre-eclampsia, a condition that can seriously compromise the health of both baby and mother. Jean-Luc then spent 12 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit.
As the Nurture Foundation's first Ambassador, Allyson has agreed to help Nurture raise awareness of the prevalence of reproductive issues in New Zealand and to highlight the need for funding to support research into reproductive problems which deeply affect the lives of many New Zealanders:
One in six New Zealand couples experience infertility
One in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage
One in five first-time mothers is at risk of serious pregnancy complications
Every year 600 New Zealand babies are stillborn or die within the first 28 days of birth - that's higher than the annual road toll.
Allyson says, "Mother's Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the love and support of your own mother. What better way to do that than to make a donation to Nurture to help more New Zealanders experience the gift of parenthood.
"I am personally very fortunate to have had the benefit of expert care throughout two medically challenging pregnancies. I have no doubt that my family has benefited from the research and learning that has gone before and I am thrilled to have this opportunity to help Nurture in its endeavours to find new ways to predict and prevent distressing reproductive problems such as miscarriage, stillbirth, infertility and pregnancy complications.
"Whether you're a mum, would like to be a mum, or just want to acknowledge the love and care you received from your own mum please make a donation to Nurture this Mothers Day - because everyone deserves the chance to nurture a child."
Donations can be made online at www.nurture.org.nz .
Source: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0705/S00094.htm
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