Egg Donation & Surrogacy Consulting : Conceptual Options : Theresa Erickson : Embryo Donation, In-Vitro Fertilization

Intended Parents often have questions about what happen if the first "fresh" attempt doesn't work.  Most of the time, the back-up plan is to use frozen embryos for subsequent cycles.  This is true whether the embryos are being placed in the Intended Mother or in a Surrogate.

The European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology has recently completed a study that indicates that children born from frozen embryos do better and have a higher birth weight than children born from a fresh transfer.

The study evaluated babies born during the years 1995 - 2006.  The study included 1,267 children born from Frozen Embryos and 17,857 babies born after normal IVF with fresh embryos.  The results of the study showed that children who came from frozen embryos had higher birth weights, longer pregnancies, and less pre-term births.  There was no difference int he rate of birth defects whether the children came from frozen embryos or fresh embryos. 

It is unclear why the frozen embryo children did better than their fresh embryo counterparts.  One suggestion is that "weaker embryos" may have been weeded out by the freeze thaw process, leaving only the healthiest embryos to produce a pregnancy. 

So if your initial attempt doesn't work, don't get discouraged.  There is proof that the frozen embryos have just as good of a chance of being the child you have always wanted.

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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. 

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It took so much time and energy to get pregnant.  All the doctor's appointments, ultrasounds, shots and countless tears.  At last, the news you have been waiting for "You're Pregnant!".

Many couples who use IVF to achieve pregnancy have embryo's remaining even after they are pregnant.  Some couples choose to pay the storage fees considering the idea of siblings.  While other couples just aren't sure what to do with the remaining embryos. 

Embryo donation is an option that you may want to consider.  This can provide another couple the opportunity to experience the same joys you have...pregnancy and parenthood.  The Donor Parents can review profiles of Recipient Parents to decide who will receive their embryos or it can be done completely anonymously.  In either case, there is no cost to the Donor Parents. 

Giving the gift of life has rewards unlike anything else.  I urge couples who have unused frozen embryos to consider, for just a moment,  providing another family the opportunity to experience parenthood. 

www.ConceptualOptions.com

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