We are getting ready to go into Memorial Day Weekend, a three day holiday that represents the start of summer. This is the time that we are suppose to remember those people who have fought and died for our country.
Above all else - Be Safe.
I will be back to blogging with all of you on Tuesday. Enjoy the extra days.
While not all IVF Physicians or Centers request a surrogate to stay on bed rest for a few days after the embryo transfer it is worth planning for.
Staying in bed and resting for two to three days after the transfer will provide the most ideal surroundings for the embryo. The transfer itself doesn't require much of you as a surrogate, however the work your body is getting ready to do is huge. The embryo is far more likely to attach in a calm and quite uterus that one that is bouncing around and having turmoil.
As a surrogate, I always looked forward to a few days without my kids. Most of the time I would stay with the Intended Parents either at their home or in a hotel. This gave us the opportunity to get to know each other better. I have to admit after the second solid day in bed, I was hurting! It is amazing how laying still can make an active person so sore.
After having a pregnancy test, whether it was positive or negative, at least I felt like I had given it a gallant effort. I didn't need to question myself about what I could have or should have done differently.
It is truly my recommendation that you plan ahead once you have your tentative calendar to make it possible for you to have three undisturbed days in bed.
It's interesting that while I do my research to create my blog, I run across 100 articles that deal with infertility and women, while there may be 1 article about men. I would like to take a moment to do my part to change this!
One in 33 California children are born with a birth defect. While scientists still don't know what causes most effects, it is known that sperm DNA errors are as much a factor as egg DNA errors.
University of California, Berkeley has performed a study that shows a man's diet has a direct link to sperm DNA errors. In the study utilizing new technology to label sperm DNA, men who ate little folate, a B-vitamin abundant in orange juice and green veggies, had more sperm with the wrong number of chromosomes. That could lead to miscarriages and birth defects like Down Syndrome.
Sperm develop over 10 weeks, giving men a defined window before conception to make healthier sperm. Women, on the other hand, are born with a finite number of eggs. This means men's genes, constantly dividing into new sperm, may be even more vulnerable than women's.
If you are thinking about conceiving a child or you are trying to conceive a child, it is recommended that both partners drink plenty of orange juice, eat green veggies and take vitamins. This can only help you achieve a healthier lifestyle and aid you in conception.
It seems as though the same question keeps getting posed to me by both Intended Parents and Surrogates alike. Once the match is made what happens?
When the initial call to a surrogate is made to let them know that there are Intended Parents interested in working with them, the time to meet is usually made within a weeks time. Before they know it the meeting takes place, the next day (sometimes two) the match is made and then what? This is when patience plays a big part. While on the management end of the case, we are busy getting the proper paperwork to the Intended Parents, the surrogate is not seeing any action.
It usually takes about a week before we have the right paperwork returned from the Intended Parents in order to send the surrogate the "Match Agreement". Once the Match Agreement is signed and returned by the surrogate we will provide her with the Referrals to all the professionals she will need to contact. It is the surrogate's responsibility to contact the Psychologist and the IVF Center to schedule screening appointments that fit their schedule. While the surrogate is the person making these appointments, it is also very important for us to know these dates as well.
Once the screening is complete, it is time for the contracts. The contract phase can take up to four weeks to complete. Most surrogates get anxious and begin to worry that something went wrong or did the Intended Parents back out, etc.... This is not the case. It takes time to draft the contract, then the intended parents need to have contract review with their attorney, then it gets forwarded to the surrogate. At this point it's the surrogate's turn. She needs to have contract review with her attorney and then any changes are submitted to the intended parent's attorney and the negotiation goes on until all parties are happy with the contract. Once the contract is in it's final form, this is when it is signed by each party.
Now that contracts are final, the surrogate may start medication. Now things feel like they're moving again! The surrogate will be going to the doctor's regularly for blood labs and ultrasound appointments. Before you know it the Transfer Day will be here.
Now that the embryo(s) have been transferred, it's time to wait again. Most doctor's will perform the blood pregnancy test 10 to 14 days after the transfer of the embryos. And you thought it felt like forever for the contracts to be complete!!!
This of course is just the start.
Recently there was a study performed at Assof Harofeh Medical Center where Dr. Shevah Friedler studied the effects of laughter on IVF patients.
One hundred women with fertility problems were invited to a medical clown's performance after an IVF Transfer. Another group of 100 women underwent the same IVF, but did not attend the clown's performance. The group that spent time laughing at the clown had a 15% higher pregnancy rate than the group without laughter.
Dr. Friedler said "Laughter is a serious matter. It is known that it triggers a body mechanism that influences the immune system and heart and lung systems, and there is a real connection between laughter and medicine and humor and health."
So I suggest that you rent as many comedies as you can stand while you are on bed rest. Perhaps this will assist you with achieving a pregnancy.
We all know the basics about what not to do while pregnant; don't smoke, don't drink alcohol, don't take drugs, don't clean the cat's litter box, etc. Did you know that there are foods you should avoid while pregnant?
There are some foods that need to be avoided due to the risk they pose on the growing baby.
Pregnant women should make sure that all meat they eat is fully cooked. That means no more rare steaks or burgers. Raw meat can contain salmonella which will make both the mother and baby sick.
Listeria is a bacteria that can cross the placenta and cause infection or blood poisoning to the baby. Some soft cheeses like brie, feta and Gorgonzola can contain listeria. These cheeses don't always use pasteurized milk leaving it susceptible to bacteria. If you are wanting to eat these cheeses, check the label to make sure it is made from pasteurized milk, then you and the baby will be safe. Cold cuts can also contain listeria. If you heat up the meat before eating it, that will reduce the risk.
Fish has become a concern to pregnant women. Shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and fish used in sushi are all known for having a higher mercury levels than other fish. High levels of mercury have been directly linked to developmental delays and in some cases brain damage. It is also recommended to avoid raw shellfish during pregnancy.
Pregnant women should avoid raw eggs. Raw eggs can also contain salmonella. This means no snacking on raw cooking dough or brownie mix! You may want to use caution with sauces that are made with raw eggs, such as hollandaise sauce.
While I don't want to cause alarm if you have already eaten any of these foods; I'm sure both you and the baby are fine. Do take extra precautions throughout your pregnancy. There are still plenty of delicious healthy choices out there.
They say every pregnancy is different from the one before. This is also true when it comes to "morning sickness". I managed to carry five pregnancies without a single moment of queasiness, yet the last pregnancy was not so lucky.
The mere sight of a food commercial or a certain smell in the air was all it would take to make my stomach turn. I could prepare chicken because I instantly though about the animal in it's former state! It is just amazing to me how your body can play such tricks on you. Even through it all, I had what would be considered a mild case of morning sickness. I was able to eat and never had to actually run to a toilet, I was just in a state of queasy.
It can be helpful to eat smaller portions more often. It has been shown that an empty stomach tends to make your morning sickness even worse. Your stomach has no food to help absorb the acids so they tend to go crazy making you feel ill. This is where the name "morning sickness" came from. Since we do not eat while we sleep, most women feels their worst right when they wake up.
A few of the foods that seem to work like magic are crackers, melons, pretzels, cheese, nuts, toast or yogurt. And most of all, remember this condition will not last forever. The end result is worth the discomfort of today.
There is a new test on the forefront of identifying ectopic pregnancies. The test is being developed by doctor's at Queen's Hospital in the UK. The test involves a blood test that could result in earlier diagnosis of the ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancies is increasing. 20 years ago the rate was 1 in 200 pregnancies, today the rate is 1 in 60 pregnancies in their 30's. Experts blame the growing trend to put off motherhood until later in life, making it more difficult for the embryo to reach the womb before it implants.
The new diagnostic test is based on testing for eight "markers" in the blood, which show up between four and six weeks into a pregnancy.
An early diagnosis will mean that patients can be treated using just an injection, rather than having to have surgery.
This new test could save lives and provide a second chance to women to have a child.
As we approach Mother's Day, I can't help to reflect on my own life. While I am a mother, my thoughts always go to my mother, not myself. I think about the many times throughout my life she held my hand or helped me through difficult situations. The unconditional love that always presented itself is worth acknowledging.
As a surrogate it brings a feeling of fulfillment to be able to reflect on the hand you played in allowing another woman to celebrate this day. I find that this is a great time to make a call or send an e-mail to just say hi.
Take the time to acknowledge the special woman in your life. Enjoy your day.
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