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

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.    

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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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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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On March 12, 2008 Jamie-Rose Roberts was born.  The unsuspecting newborn had no idea how special she really is.

Lisa and James Roberts had dreams of a large family.  They had already had a son, Cameron, when James found out that he had cancer.  In an attempt to create their large family, James and Lisa decided to freeze James' sperm before he would undergo chemotherapy. 

Despite the treatment, the cancer spread and James died in October 2004. 

Over the next few years, Lisa thought about the frozen sperm, but couldn't bare having a child without James.  Then in February 2007, Lisa was ready for their second child.

Lisa had an egg retrieval which only produced two (2) eggs.  James' sperm where injected into the eggs and the wait started.  By the next day, there was only one (1) embryo and it was not of good quality.  Lisa was given a 20% chance of getting pregnant with the embryo. 

The embryo transfer was successful and Lisa had an uncomplicated, normal pregnancy. 

When Jamie was born, Lisa says "She was the image of her father."  Cameron suggested that his sister be named after their late father.  Thus Jamie-Rose is cared for and loved by her mother, brother and watched over by her father.

This is such a warm, feel-good story.  I wanted to share it with you.

www.conceptualoptions.com

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Today is Easter Sunday which typically is a day spent with family.  We usually have a quiet morning and then family starts to arrive for brunch and an afternoon together.  While everyone is at our house, the house is loud and the kids are running from one end of the house to the other.  By the evening everyone is ready to relax and sit quietly.

As a surrogate the holidays have an extra special benefit.  All four (4) families I have helped to have children call me on holidays.  All our lives get busy and the surrogate children, just like my own, grow bigger and have busier schedules.  Through out our day to day lives we don't always make the time to call each other.  So when we do get an opportunity to talk for 10 or 15 minutes it is always appreciated. 

Today when I was on the phone it was amazing to me that all but one of the children could wish me a Happy Easter on their own.  This was extra special.  I was able to talk with five (5) of the six (6) kids I had a hand in bringing into the world.  The sixth is too young, but I did get some baby talk out of her as well.  This makes my heart grow. 

It is moments like today that truly make me appreciate all I have. 

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There was a report done by University of Melbourne (Australia) that showed that moms who have their babies using IVF (with or without a donor or surrogate) have a lower level of confidence when it comes to caring for their newborn baby. 

I was quite surprised to read this.  After everything a woman goes through to have a child using IVF I would think the opposite would be true.  These women have already overcome so many obstacles I would expect them to have a huge sense of empowerment.  A feeling of anything is possible and the confidence of "there isn't anything I can't do".

All new parents have felt anxious and overwhelmed by bringing their first child home from the hospital.  There are no books that can clearly prepare you for the change in priorities and patterns in your life.  For so many this can be extremely exhausting.  This is not something that is tied to IVF, this is universal. 

This makes me remember a time with my son (who is my second child);  It was about 2:00a.m., he was a week old and  was just crying and crying.  I was walking with him in my arms downstairs.  I tried everything, but there was no pleasing him. The house was quiet, everyone else was upstairs sleeping, so his cry just echoed in my ears.   I had tried everything till finally I completely broke down crying.  At that moment I was thinking "I can't do this, I'm not a good enough mother to have two kids".  The more upset I became the harder it was to calm him down.  Finally I sat down, took a deep breath and then just like magic, he fell asleep.  When we both woke up a few hours later, I had my confidence back and was ready for the new day.

Regardless of how your baby came to be, celebrate the moments and know you are the best mom you can be.  There will be times when you need help and there will be times you can run the entire world while making dinner and vacuuming the house with the baby in a carrier on your chest!!

Being a mother is the hardest thing a woman can be.  Put forward your best efforts and your child will know your love is true. 

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