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

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.

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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.

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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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In Europe there is a blood test that has been used to test the AMH (Anti-Mullierian Hormone) levels in women.  Michael Alper, Chief Medical Officer of Boston IVF believes this test is an excellent predictor of a woman's egg count.  The test is done from a blood sample.

At this time the FDA has not approved this for use in the United States, however it is possible that your doctor can provide the test.  You would need to consult with your phsycian.

So if you are anxious about the ticking of your biological clock - This could be the test for you. 

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So many people have an idea of whether they would prefer to have a boy or girl when talking about having a baby.  Searchers have found that you can increase your chances for having a boy by simply changing your breakfast habits.

Women who eat a breakfast made of high-energy foods dramatically increase their odds of getting pregnant with a boy. Fiona Mathews, of the University of Exeter, said eating high-calorie breakfasts seemed to be the best guarantee of influencing the gender of a baby in favor of boys before conception. 

The discovery of a link between calories and gender may explain why it is that in the past 40 years there has been a small but steady decline in the proportion of boys born in the developed world.

Up to 59% of women who get pregnant after eating high-energy breakfasts end up giving birth to a son.  Researchers have found only 43% of women who always skipped breakfast before conceiving managed to produce boys.

So if you are interested in trying to conceive a boy, let me suggest you stick to your "Wheaties".

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Science and Technology is always growing in the field of infertility.  I found this article which I thoughht you might enjoy reading.

It just amazes me what we are able to do.

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I found a website today that I really enjoyed reading.  It is written by a Reproductive Endocrinologist about his experiences.  It has an a question and answer area as well as an area with true stories.

In the story that I was reading, the women who was going through the ovary stimulation was the Intended Mother.  As I was reading it, it dawned on me that this would be excellent information for my intended parents and donors alike to know.

The benefit to using an experienced donor is not just simply that they understand the commitment and the medications.  It is that once the medical records are forwarded to the IVF Physician you are using, they know from past experience what medication and how much works to get the best results from that donor. 

I hope you enjoy reading this sight as much as I did.  I will returning to read more in the future.

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We are coming up to the dreaded "Income Tax Deadline".  By midnight tonight, many of us will know if we owe Uncle Sam or if he will be lining our pockets with a little something.

Some states allow you to use the medical costs of IVF and/or surrogacy as a tax write-off.  While this won't be the interest on your mortgage, it is better than nothing.  I would suggest that you contact your Tax Consultant or CPA to ask what the specifics are for the area where you live.

If you are just getting started down the road of treatment or surrogacy, you will want to be sure to save every receipt and invoice.  I know when I was a surrogate, I would fax the invoices to my agency and then mail the original to my Intended Parents.  The agency always took care of getting the invoice paid, while the parents had the documentation for the following years taxes.

And remember, by this time next year you will have a dependent to add!

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"IntSo often I am asked by Intended Parents how many embryos should be transferred.  Time and time again I explain to them that their IVF Physician will talk to them on the morning of the transfer.  During this meeting, the IVF Physician will discuss the quality of the embryos they have. 

If Intended Parents go into the transfer without preconceived ideas of how many embryos they want used, then I think there would be less chance for anyone to be disappointed.  If your embryos are of high quality, you will transfer fewer of them. 

I recently read an article about a 31 year old woman in Manhasset, New York who gave birth to identical triplets.  She used IVF, had one (1) embryo transferred and that embryo split to be triplets.  So although they were being conservative about the number of embryos transferred, they still ended up with a high-risk multiple pregnancy.

Lets not forget why we're doing this....for a baby. 

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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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I came accross this "feel good" story about a family in the UK.  Thought I would share it with you.

http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/s/1044456_ice_ice_baby

It's a short, but well worth while article.  Enjoy.

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Many times when I speak with Intended Parents about retaining an egg donor they are wanting a donor who is available now.  While I completely understand their desire to move forward, I would like to explain the time line involved with Assisted Reproduction.

Intended Parents can feel discouraged when they find a donor they think is perfect and then they find out she isn't available for a few months.  To the parent who wants a baby or pregnancy now, that does sound like it is a long way out.  The reality is, it takes several weeks for the paperwork to be completed before a cycle can be started.

Once a donor is selected by the Intended Parents, the case manager will contact the donor to let her know that her next available cycle is contracted.  At this time, the donor will be given a match agreement to confirm she is aware of the commitment.  Once that is received, we will make arrangements for the donor to be screening by the Psychologist and the Intended Parents IVF Physician.  Sometimes it can be a few weeks before there is an opening at the IVF Center for the donor to be seen.  The cycle can not be started until after the donor passes all the screening.

While all the screening is taking place, the contracts are started.  The contracts can take anywhere from three (3) to five (5) weeks to complete.  This time line is dependent on how many revisions are made by each party and how efficiently all parties sign and return the contract.

Once the contracts are full executed and the donor has passed all the medical screening the cycle can begin. 

So if you are interested in a donor today, but she isn't available for 2-3 months, don't get discouraged.  That is actually perfect timing for getting all the paperwork and screening in order.  Then you will be having your cycle close to her availability instead of months after retaining her.

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Infertility can be a draining process.  For many couples, it starts by wanting a child and then finding out for some reason it won't be so easy for them.  Depending on why you aren't getting pregnant the solutions can be exhausting.

Infertility affects some 6 million Americans.  For most, this is a major life crisis that puts enormous stress on a marriage.  While some couples become stronger;  learning to lean on and support each other through the experience.  Other couples feel it drives them apart.  This is not to say that they don't still love one another, but the feelings of loss are overwhelming. 

You need to understand that everyone copes differently.  Some people become quiet, because the pain to much to face.  While others want to take it head on and consume themselves in the search discussing every avenue of the situation.  It is important to understand both your partners and your own way of dealing with this.  Most importantly is to communicate and let each other know how you are feeling. 

While searching for the right donor or surrogate, don't loose sight of who you are.  Continue to live, have fun with each other.  Enjoy dinner out, go see a movie - Do the things you have enjoyed together.  Not only will this give you something else to focus on, but it will remind you of what you love about the other person.

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Todd and Heather Tilton celebrated their 25th birthday on March 17, 2008.  They were the first "test tube" twins born in the United States.

The thing that made them feel unique when growing up was knowing the lengths their parents went to have them.  "I always felt that I was very wanted because it was such a big decision and very difficult", Heather said.  "It shows my parents determination".

I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did.  It's great to know that IVF babies grow up to be well adjusted adults, just like any of us. 

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There is a lot of hype about whether acupuncture aids in conception with IVF.  Some professionals believe it absolutely helps while others think it is just another expense to the couple.

Eric Manheimer, a research associate at the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Center for Integrative Medicine looked at seven trials that included 1,366 women undergoing IVF.  Each trial compared acupuncture given within one day of the embryo transfer to sham acupuncture (using a placebo needle) or no acupunction.  They found that the women who had the acupuncture increased their chances of becoming pregnant by 65 percent.    This means that 10 women would need to be treated with acupunction to result in one additional pregnancy. 

It was also found that in Centers where the pregnancy rates are already high, the benefit of acupuncture was small and non-significant. 

At this time, most IVF patients who are participating in acupunction are doing so without the suggestion of their doctor.  Rather, they choose to do so themselves.   Dr. Owen K. Davis, co-director and associate professor at the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City said "I don't think we can say conclusively that acupuncture is effective or is anywhere near being a standard care, but it's not something I would discourage someone from trying if they wanted to.  But I'm far removed from prescribing it to patients".

As a surrogate, I have worked with Intended Parents who felt it would be helpful.  I went the Acupuncturist once a week while cycling to the transfer.  Then the Acupuncturist met me at the IVF Center one hour before the transfer.  I saw her one more time before my pregnancy test.  I was pregnant, but no more pregnant than the other three times it was successful without acupuncture.  I will say that acupuncture is very relaxing.  You are at peace with yourself  while you are laying there.   

At this time incorporating acupunction into your IVF treatment is an individual decision.  If you feel better having acupuncture, then if may work for you.

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