
|
Posted at 07:00 AM in Current Affairs, Fertility, Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
When the contracts are being drawn up the subject of maternity clothing can sometimes become a hot topic. IP's seem to think that if a woman has already had a baby or two or three she should have all the maternity clothing that she will ever need for her subsequent pregnancies. And IF any money is given toward clothes its usually between $500-$750 dollars. Has anyone PRICED maternity clothing lately?
Posted at 08:00 AM in Pregnancy, Shopping, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Maternity Clothes....what do you need? Surrogacy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Exclusive: By Alison Palmer 21/07/2009
These women all gave a body part to improve someone else’s life. Here they explain why they were so selfless
Every drop counts

Danielle Holmes, 32 lives with husband Richard in Muckamore, Belfast, with their children Kaya, three, and five-week-old Cayden. Danielle is a manager of a logistics company and Richard is a head chef.
“As my darling son, Riley, born 14 weeks early, lay in an incubator, hooked up to endless wires and tubes I felt so helpless. All I could do was feed his tiny 1lb 11oz body with my expressed breast milk.
Despite bleeds on the brain, collapsed lungs and other complications, he limped on. But four weeks in, with all the stress and heartache, my milk dried up. I was devastated. Doctors said formula milk would be too heavy, but there was a milk bank, breast milk donated by other mothers we could use.
Before I had Riley, I was repulsed by the thought but when you are in the situation we were in, knowing the best thing your very poorly child can have is breast milk, you’re eternally grateful for another mum’s donation. I believe the donated milk gave me another five weeks with Riley before he died after surgery for a bowel infection.
So two years later, when I gave birth to Kaya, I was determined to give something back. I contacted the milk bank at Fermanagh and they sent me special bottles and an insulated box and I began expressing.
Each day, as well as expressing for Kaya, I managed 120ml for the bank which I’d freeze. It doesn’t sound much but the tiniest babies only need a couple of millilitres, so every bit counts. I donated for seven months and hope to again now Cayden is five weeks old.
I mentioned having my long hair cut off on www.baby-greenhouse.co.uk and someone suggested I give it to a charity that makes wigs for children with cancer. It’s amazing you can do something so small, so insignificant to you that can make such a massive difference to another person’s life.”
/ For details of milk banks, visit www.ukamb.org or call 0208 383 3559. To donate hair, see www.littleprincesses.org.uk or www.locksoflove.org
How could I deny someone a life?

Leanne Flanagan, 22, of Cardiffis single with no children and works in a supermarket.
“I opened the letter and started to read. It said: ‘To my dear donor. Thank you for giving me the gift of life. My family and I cannot thank you enough. You will never know what you’ve done for me.’
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
When I signed up to be a bone marrow donor, I gave a blood sample and filled in some paperwork but I never thought I’d be a match.
Then, on my birthday the following year, in November 2007, I received a letter saying I was a potential match. I had some blood taken, then a fortnight later I got a letter to say I was a perfect match.
My family weren’t very happy because they were worried about health implications. But for me it was clear. There was someone out there, probably with leukaemia that would ultimately kill them, who knew there was a donor who could save them.
How could I deny them a chance of life?
I opted to give bone marrow through ‘peripheral blood stem cell donation’. It was simple.
For three days a nurse injected me with a special substance to boost my stem cells. Then on the fourth day the Anthony Nolan Trust paid for us to go to Londonwhere I spent five hours hooked up to a machine at University College Hospital.
I had a needle in each arm; one took blood out into a machine that collected the cells, the other put the ‘empty’ blood back in. I felt tired but nothing more.
I knew the whole process was anonymous so, when I received the letter via the trust I was bowled over.
I’ll never know the recipient but just to know there’s someone out there, still hopefully living a happy, healthy life because of me is just wonderful.”
To join the register or to find out more about the process see www.anthonynolan.org.uk or call 0207 284 1234.
It was very humbling

Cathy Sidaway, 29, a business development manager, lives in York. She’s single and has no children.
“I was leafing through a paper a couple of years ago when I saw an advert from an anonymous couple who needed an egg donor. I thought I could be that person. It all came at a very poignant time. My friend had suffered multiple miscarriages and a relative has endometriosis and was struggling to get pregnant.
I spent some time on the National Gamete Donation Trust’s (NGDT) forum for those considering donation and called the number.
I had extensive counselling. It threw up all sorts of emotions. I was asked how I’d feel telling my own future children that somewhere they may have a half-sibling. I hope they and any future partner would understand. I also had to go through various medical tests.
It was almost a year by the time, last February, I finally donated via Guy’s Hospital, London. I had to go through a similar process to IVF to create as many eggs as possible.
They collected 14 eggs. It was a little uncomfortable but not awful. Sadly the recipient hasn’t got pregnant yet but I’m hopeful it will work out for her soon.
I donated once more and I’m just about to donate again. I met the woman online and was only going to tell her about the process, but we got on so well I offered to be her donor.
I thought I’d donate four times, but we’ll see. All I know is I can give a woman a shot at motherhood. That’s a very humbling experience.”
For more information see www.ngdt.co.uk or call the helpline on 0845 226 9193.
I knew it could save a life

Rebecca Khan, 29, lives in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, with husband, Kyle, 32, and children, Elena, 23 months and Leah, seven weeks. She works for the NHS – and in recruitment.
“I knew blood in the umbilical cord was live-saving through my work with the blood and transfusion service. I also know it’s hard to find matches for the ethnic community. So, being half-Greek with a half-Jamaican husband, I was desperate to donate. Sadly not all hospitals have a cord blood donation team but mine, Barnet General, does. It wasn’t long before I had a call from the donation team who took me through all the details and helped me fill in a consent form that I kept in my pregnancy notes.
I was devastated when, after Elena’s birth, they hadn’t been able to retrieve a full sample. There wasn’t enough blood in the cord.
So I made sure all the paperwork was in order again when I gave birth to Leah and hoped that this time they’d be successful. They were.
I had an elective caesarean so I didn’t even see when they took the cord away. But it doesn’t matter how you give birth, you can still donate.
Once they cut the cord and establish mum and baby are OK the cord blood team take the placenta and cord. The cells in cord blood can be sent all over the world to help cure patients of life-threatening diseases such as blood cancers and immune disorders.
It’s wonderful that something so useless to you could save a life.”
/For more info about hospitals with a cord blood team or to register to be a donor visit http://cord.blood.co.uk or call 0800 783 5870 or 020 8437 1740.
Posted at 08:00 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Current Affairs, Egg Donation, Infertility, Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Bone Marrow Donation, Breast Milk Donation, Cord Blood, Egg Donation, Surrogacy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Pregnancy takes your mind and body through an ongoing stream of changes. On a basic level, your body is making unusual amounts of hormones. At certain times, this can cause you to feel exhausted, forgetful, or moody. On top of that, you will be preoccupied with how your body is quickly changing, worrying about how to manage symptoms, worrying about the pregnancy going well, finances, and keeping up with everyday life.
It is common to go through many of the following changes in a pregnancy:
First trimester: Extreme fatigue or morning sickness can color your daily life. Moodiness (as with premenstrual syndrome) is normal. Happiness and anxiety about the new pregnancy are also common.
Second trimester: Fatigue, morning sickness, and moodiness usually improve or go away. You may feel more forgetful and disorganized than before. Feeling heavier than normal, then looking visibly pregnant and feeling the baby move can make you feel any number of emotions.
Third trimester: Forgetfulness may continue. As your due date nears, it is common to feel more anxious about the childbirth. As you feel more tired and uncomfortable, you may find yourself being more irritable.
For some women, serious anxiety or depression problems improve during pregnancy. For others, they do not. If you suffer from insomnia, sadness, tearfulness, anxiety, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, irritability, appetite change, or poor concentration, talk to your health professional. Without treatment, mental health problems will get in the way of a healthy pregnancy.
Posted at 08:00 AM in Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Drug use and medications that are not approved by your health professional (for example, NSAID use during conception and early pregnancy, which may increase the risk of miscarriage)
Papaya, which when unripe can cause the muscles of the uterus to contract leaded to a miscarriage.
Alcohol
Tobacco smoke
Hot tubs and saunas
Toxoplasmosis or E.Coli infection, which may come from raw meat, poultry, or seafood; unwashed fruits or vegetables; and cat feces.
Mercury toxicity, which is known to come from shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, more than 6 oz of white albacore tuna per week, or fish which haven't tested as safe.
Pesticides, household cleaners, and paint will leach out fumes which can be harmful to a developing fetus, especially in the first trimester. While pregnant, use chemical-free cleaning alternatives. If you must use chemical cleaners, wear gloves, ventilate the area, and avoid inhaling fumes.
Lead exposure typically through paints found in homes older than 1960 or toys which have originated from certain Chinese toy manufacturers.
Nail polish contains a number of hazardous chemicals linked to an increased risk of early pregnancy loss.
Hair permanents and Bleaches are generally discouraged during the first trimester. While there is no known connection to fetal harm it is best to be cautious.
Radiation exposure: X-rays, air travel, and electrical appliances. It is a good idea to avoid unnecessary X-rays. However, be sure to tell the technician that you are pregnant even when it is only dental x-rays. When necessary, they can be performed with a lead apron that shields your abdomen.
If you travel by plane frequently it is possible to exceed the cosmic radiation limit considered safe during pregnancy (1 millisievert, or mSv). Although the occasional flight doesn't pose a risk, frequent low-altitude domestic flights or several high-altitude international flights may increase a fetus's risk of developing cancer during childhood. You can track your exposure using software from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), available online at http://jag.cami.jccbi.gov/cariprofile.asp.
Posted at 08:00 AM in Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Reblog
(1)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Prospective Intended Parents and Carriers need to be aware that they are embarking upon an investment of time, money and risk when they enter into a surrogacy arrangement together. If you are a Carrier, you are taking time out of you and your family's life and investing that time toward your intended parent's dream of having a child. If you are an Intended Parent, you are asking someone to assume a certain amount of risk to help achieve your dream of having a child. Clearly, there are no guarantees offered by the Infertility Clinics. That being the case, prior to entering into this arrangement you should be aware that some risks can be minimized. Insurance or insurances are the best ways to offset some of the risk inherent to your relationship together.
The time to check these issues is now, not after you enter the Surrogacy contract. The reimbursements that will be paid to a carrier will depend upon whether or not you have insurance coverage. Your contract will need to address this issue, and make an appropriate accommodation. Pregnancy and birth are expensive. Health insurance can go a long way toward minimizing the financial risk. Depending on your state of residence, the costs will vary according to age, health and deductibles. Get the lowest deductible you can afford.
Insurance companies are in the business of making money and will go out of their way to not pay benefits. As an educated consumer, you must be sure that you have obstetrics coverage. Next be sure that you have been covered long enough that your pregnancy will not be deemed a preexisting condition for which benefits can be declined. Finally, check the "exclusions" section of the policy to be sure that a surrogacy arrangement does not take you out of coverage. If you are married and the health insurance is through your spouse's employer, check that policy. Occasionally when obstetrics is not part of the normal benefit package you can add it for an additional fee.
Another consideration of risk is your carrier's life. Why? Because there is a risk of death with any pregnancy and there needs to be a fund of money available to her family should she not be there for them. The recommended minimum of $250,000 of life insurance for a carrier is something to consider. This amount can be adjusted according to the carrier's profession, number of children she has and most importantly, what makes her family comfortable with the extra risk she is undertaking. From a legal perspective, having life insurance in effect through pregnancy helps provide financial insulation from a lawsuit should there be a birth related death.
A final consideration is insuring your carrier's ability to work. When a carrier is a stay-at-home parent, her duties have a certain value to her family. When a carrier has a job outside of the home, she helps provide another income stream and raises her family's lifestyle.
If a carrier becomes disabled due to surrogacy, the losses need to be replaced. One way to view the value of the loss is to determine the out of pocket cost to replace her contribution to the household. What is the cost of hiring a housekeeper, a cook or additional daycare while the carrier is on forced bedrest? Most Surrogacy Contracts address this issue with an out of pocket payment. Another alternative may be a short or long term disability insurance policy. Both may be considered to provide seamless coverage till the end of the contract, but certainly a long term disability would have the worst effect upon the carrier's financial well being.
Of course, by now you are wondering how much does this all cost? Costs will vary according to the carrier's age, health, height/weight ratio and lifestyle (smoker/non smoker) as well as the value placed upon the risk. The best time to get an idea of the cost and of any problems with underwriting is during the matching process so that the cost can be allocated within the Surrogacy Agreement.
Posted at 08:00 AM in Insurance, Intended Parents, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Insurance, Surrogacy Insurance
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Infertility is a challenging and rewarding field of nursing, and one that is evolving rapidly and dramatically, requiring nurses and other healthcare practitioners to constantly remain current with the latest state-of–the ART technology. Those in practice, as well as nurses in transition, accept that this ever changing arena requires an ongoing commitment to pursue new information, techniques, and best practices. And, equal in priority, is the IVF nurse’s sensitivity to parents’ quest to create families and the fragility of early embryonic life.
The Annual REI Nursing Congress: Scientific & Therapeutic Approaches To Assisted Reproductive Technology (STARTARTSM) provides a unique and comprehensive educational opportunity, featuring critical updates on the latest advances in reproductive medicine, from procedures and protocols to psychosocial and legal issues. The goal of this Congress is to provide late-breaking information and cutting-edge techniques to improve ART outcomes - a goal that is matched by the IVF nurses’ skills, compassion, and caring that make this field so remarkable.
This activity is intended for the education of nurses, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals specializing in reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technology. (It's great for surrogacy and egg donation agency owners too!)
During lunch on both Thursday, August 4 and Friday, August 5, participants will have the opportunity to join accredited sessions of interactive roundtable discussions. Topics will be posted at the meeting registration desk, where participants may sign up for discussions of issues of special interest. A moderator or faculty member will lead each group. (I am, once again, planning to lead a round table on the topic of Gestational Surrogacy.)
Register HERE https://www.123enroll.com/STARTART
I hope to see you there!!
Sharon
Posted at 07:32 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Current Affairs, Egg Donation, Embryo Technology, Fertility, Infertility, Male Factor, Medical, Pregnancy, Sperm Donation, Surrogacy, The Making of a Surrogacy Agency | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Annual REI Nursing Congress: Scientific & Therapeutic Approaches To Assisted Reproductive Technology, Las Vegas, SMART ART, START ART
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
The options of starting a family through surrogacy are peaking. Demand and competition are driving the clinical costs down, and it's more affordable for couples who want their own biological child or who want to raise a newborn through the gift of surrogacy and egg donation.
The giver of the gift of surrogacy and the people who are accepting it have needs and expectations of how the relationship should develop. If a comprehensive plan hasn't been made, then complications can arise.
Let's start by giving a hypothetical situation. Mr. and Mrs. Smith need the help of a surrogate. They accept the offer from a friend, Mary. They feel comfortable with this friendship and trust that this woman will take care of herself during the pregnancy. Mary asks for a certain amount of money to cover costs during pregnancy, and the Smiths agree. In the back of their mind, Mary is being "paid" to carry their baby.
Mary gets pregnant via in vitro fertilization (IVF) and is now carrying twins for the Smiths. The Smiths call her every day to see how she is. They ask if they can do anything. They want to attend all the appointments. They ask the OB if Mary's working, eating, sleeping and sexual activities are OK for their babies.
Mary feels overwhelmed and micromanaged. After all, she has given birth before, and she knows what she is doing. Resentment sets in. Soon she is avoiding phone calls and gritting her teeth through appointments, and her husband is wondering what in the world they got themselves into! The Smiths feel her pulling away and become worried and start to mistrust her actions. They have a right to ask these questions. After all, they are "paying" her, and she is carrying their children. The rest of the pregnancy is filled with stress on both sides, as Mary now can't wait to give birth and get these people off her back.
The babies are born healthy and strong, and the Smiths take them home. Now Mary hardly EVER hears from them. It may be months before she even sees them, and they used to be close friends. She feels used and left behind, forgetting how she felt during the pregnancy. Regret sets in.
As for the Smiths, they are coping with two new lives! They are not getting the sleep they used to and bills from the surrogacy and new babies are piling up. Their lives have been turned upside down, and they can barely get time alone with each other let alone make calls to Mary.
Discussing Expectations
Can you see what happened? No one really discussed expectations. The before, during and after pregnancy relationship needs were not met, and therefore, a bad taste has been left behind where the beauty of families working together to bring a much-wanted child into the world should have been.
Before anyone makes the choice of surrogacy, certain aspects need to be thoroughly thought out and discussed. Here is a short list:
* Should a family member be asked to be a surrogate?
* Would a friend be a good choice? (If the answer is yes in either of these categories, then there is a separate list of concerns to think about.)
* What race, religion and marital status would you like a surrogate to be?
* What is the working status preference of a surrogate?
* What do you envision your role in the pregnancy?
* What are your expectations as to the amount of contact with the surrogate during and after the pregnancy?
* What are the financial expectations, and how will that be handled?
These questions are just the tip of the iceberg, but they open up a dialog and can make a huge difference in a surrogate relationship.
Having someone to mediate is also helpful. A successful surrogate arrangement can be done independently, but having a third party assist you with relationship management can be invaluable. Having a third party to handle the escrow account can be a great relief on both the intended parents and surrogate. Mixing the topics of money and babies is a sticky situation at best and should be avoided - if possible - in order to concentrate on the pregnancy and the surrogacy relationship. A well-managed escrow account can make all the difference.
Posted at 07:20 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Intended Parents, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Surrogacy, Surrogacy Relationships
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 08:00 AM in Books, Current Affairs, Intended Parents, Parenting 101, Pregnancy, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Expecting 411, Baby 411 and Toddler 411 by Michele Hakakha, MD and Ari Brown, MD are wonderful books for the first time parent and for those with lots of experience! Not only are these books written by doctors they had an advisory board to help them and trust me, no detail is left out! These books are very well organized with sections and chapters and a clear question and answer format along with icons to indicate Helpful Hints, Red Flags, Old Wives Tales and Disturbing Material Ahead to name a few. The Baby 411 and Toddler 411 books have Insider Secrets and Feedback from the Real World. I highly recommend this entire set!
Do you want to WIN your own BRAND NEW set of these great 411 books? Here's how you do it! Visit Infertility Answers, look over the website and recommend it to someone you know(the recommendation button is at the bottom of each page) and then sign into the Guest Book! Leave a comment about the site and your name and e-mail address along with the date and you will be put in a drawing to have this entire set delivered to you by December 17th! This Contest starts today and will end on December 7th 2010. You will be contacted by e-mail on December 11th! Expecting 411 is signed by both authors!
Thank you and GOOD LUCK!
Posted at 07:00 AM in Books, Current Affairs, Games, Intended Parents, Parenting 101, Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Surrogates of often asked to travel while pregnant. If not to actually have the baby in a surrogacy friendly state then to travel to the Intended Parents home state for a visit or ultrasound appointment so that they can feel a part of the pregnancy process. Although I do not recommend travel for the birth for surrogates, I actually did that very thing myself...twice! Below are some tips I found over at babycenter.com. (why reinvent the wheel, right?)
If you have any travel tips or stories to share, please do!
Sharon
Although rules vary, many airlines don't allow pregnant women to fly during the last week or month of their pregnancy without a note from their healthcare provider. Airline regulations aside, most healthcare providers discourage travel after 36 weeks unless it's absolutely necessary.
Ask your doctor or midwife whether there are any medical concerns you need to worry about or upcoming tests you need to work around, or whether you're actually okay to travel, period. High-risk pregnancies need extra TLC, which may prohibit travel. Time your travel around any prenatal tests you want or need to schedule. The following tests are typically performed during the specified weeks of pregnancy: chorionic villus sampling (CVS) (10 to 12 weeks); amniocentesis (15 to 18 weeks); multiple marker screening (15 to 20 weeks); ultrasound (16 to 20 weeks); glucose screening test (GCT) (24 to 28 weeks); group B strep screening (35 to 37 weeks). (And if you're Rh-negative, you'll need your shot of Rh immunoglobulin at 28 weeks.) If you decide to have one or more of these tests, allow time to get the results — and strategize next steps, if appropriate — before leaving on an extended trip. Before you leave, prepare a list of key names and phone numbers you'll need in case of emergency and pack it in your carry-on luggage. If you are in your second or third trimester, bring along a copy of your prenatal chart, too, and keep it with you at all times during your trip. The chart should include your age, your last menstrual period, your due date, the number and outcomes of any prior pregnancies, your risk factors for disease, pregnancy-related lab tests and ultrasounds, your medical and surgical history, and a flow sheet of vital signs taken at each visit. If you're planning an extended visit, have your healthcare provider refer you to someone in the area for check-ups or emergencies. Be careful to pack a sufficient supply of prescription medications, prenatal vitamins, and even over-the-counter remedies you may need during your trip — especially if you're going someplace where those medications aren't readily available. It's a good idea to keep prescription medicine in its original container, so if your bags are searched it will be clear that you're not using medication without a prescription. Find out if it covers pregnancy complications during travel to your intended destinations (particularly if they include foreign countries). If not, you may want to purchase additional insurance. This special insurance covers expenses if you miss all or part of your trip, or run up emergency expenses on the road. Make sure the policy covers pregnancy complications as well as emergency medical transport from your chosen destination(s). If you haven't already, join an auto club that provides road service in case your car breaks down or has a flat tire. Carry the phone numbers for any airlines you'll be using in case you need to confirm or reschedule flights. And always carry a cell phone, especially if you're traveling alone.2. Consider your prenatal test schedule
3. Gather your medical records and vital health information
4. Make sure you have all the medications you need
5. Check your health insurance policy
6. Buy travel insurance
7. Prepare for the unexpected
8. If flying in your third trimester, check your airline's policies
Posted at 01:00 AM in Pregnancy, Surrogacy, Travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Gestational Surrogates, Intended Parents, IPs Involved in pregnancy, Pregnancy, Surrogacy, Surrogates traveling, Traditional Surrogacy, Travel while pregnant, Traveling surrogates
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
The most common neural tube defects are spina bifida(an incomplete closure of the spinal cord and spinal column), anencephaly (severe underdevelopment of the brain), and encephalocele (when brain tissue protrudes out to the skin from an abnormal opening in the skull). All of these defects occur during the first 28 days of pregnancy - usually before a woman even knows she's pregnant.
That's why it's so important for all women of childbearing age to get enough folic acid - not just those who are planning to become pregnant. Only 50% of pregnancies are planned, so any woman who could become pregnant should make sure she's getting enough folic acid. (and women planning on becoming egg donors and surrogates)
Doctors and scientists still aren't completely sure why folic acid has such a profound effect on the prevention of neural tube defects, but they do know that this vitamin is crucial in the development of DNA. As a result, folic acid plays a large role in cell growth and development, as well as tissue formation.
Posted at 05:47 AM in Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: folic acid, prenatal vitamins
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
I hear this question again and again and there are several places on the web that offer pretty much the same answer I have pasted below. I have always been upset with RE's and their nurses for not warning Surrogates or anyone going through IVF that implantation bleeding may happen...this bleeding can occur even while becoming pregnant naturally. I hope that this calms some fears!
If you are trying to get pregnant, you may hear about implantation bleeding. The term implantation bleeding implies that you would see the amount of blood that you typically see with your period, but this generally isn't the case when you are experiencing implantation. Implantation bleeding occurs when an egg has been fertilized and implants into the lining of the uterus. Because the lining uterus is made up of blood, there can be a bit of blood expelled in some women.
Implantation will appear before you expect your period and many people mistaken it for spotting before their period begins. As mentioned before, most women do not experience a full on bleeding with implantation. Instead, they may experience a bit of spotting in their panties or even some pinkish or brown discharge. This usually is usually not a flowing type of blood, so if that is what you are experiencing it might be better to assume that you have your period. If you happen to get a positive pregnancy test and you are experiencing a flow of blood you might want to get in touch with your doctor to ensure that all is well.
Because there is typically so little and it is before you would expect your period it would be normal to think you are just getting ready to start your period. But, if you are attempting to get pregnant and you know that you ovulated and you had sex around that time it might be a good indication that you are in fact pregnant. Of course, you can't confirm pregnancy with the presence of a bit of blood, but it may be a very good indication that you'll get a positive pregnancy test in the very near future.
It's important to remember that you will usually experience implantation a week or more before you would expect your period, depending on when you ovulate. Also, if you don't happen to see any spotting around this time you shouldn't assume that you aren't pregnant. While a big deal is made about implantation bleeding in a lot of books and all over the Internet, there are actually very few women that actually report experiencing the phenomenon. This could be because most of us assume that we are just spotting before our period starts or it could just be so little blood that it goes unnoticed.
Implantation bleeding is something that many women assume that they will experience, but generally doctors believe that it is the exception not the rule. Knowing this, you probably shouldn't watch for implantation bleeding. Because you know that it does happen every so often you also do not need to be alarmed if you do experience it!
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.org
Posted at 02:00 AM in Fertility, Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Implantation Bleeding
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 06:00 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Books, Infertility, Intended Parents, Male Factor, Parenting 101, Pregnancy, Religion | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: A LaMoteh Book Review, Fran Pitre, GIFT, Infertility, TWINS x 3
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
STDs are an important topic that can sometimes get brushed aside when thinking about surrogacy and third party births.
Yet, according to the CDC, Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most important, preventable causes of infertility. These infections, if left untreated can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) for up to 40 percent of women. PID can not only lead to infertility, but also to potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy.
An unnoticed STD can cause serious problems during pregnancy.
That’s why it’s important to pay special attention during National STD Awareness Month. However, if you look at the way efforts are being made to drive awareness, you might think STDs only afflict young people – or that they’re the only ones vulnerable to the inflictions of an STD. This year, the CDC, Planned Parenthood, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and others are sponsoring a great awareness campaign by MTV to encourage young people to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases. It’s called Get Yourself Tested or GYT and it’s a terrific campaign.
But what about the rest of us? Women in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond are an important demographic too! While it is critical to teach young people how to protect themselves, it is important to focus on the remainder of the population as well. Especially because the highest number of newly acquired cases of HIV/AIDS have been found in middle-aged adults, ages 35 to 44. According to the CDC, the next highest age group is people ages 45 to 54 with the least affected group being the youngest, ages 25 to 34.
The new faces of STDs are not just sexually overactive teens or drug users, it’s the women approaching 40 who aren’t using condoms or the divorced 42-year-old dad who’s dating again after many years and doesn’t know how to bring up the subject of using protection of STD testing.
While there are certainly plenty of causes for this, it might just be that grownups are not so good at using proper protection. In a
Yet, it is this age group who’s sexual health is possibly most important. Throughout the years where we are trying to have children and start a family, are the same years we are taking the most risks – even if we don’t realize it.
Grownups — here’s our message during STD Awareness Month, please hear it. STDs and HIV are preventable. Please be sure to make STD screening an important part of your surrogacy. You may be struggling with your own fertility problems and having an STD impact your third party birth would be devastating.
Michelle Sobel is the co-founder of STD Test Express, the leader in Online Care for private STD testing and is the only service to provide free phone consultation with physicians for results counseling and follow-up care. Michelle has been a leader in promoting health through Online Care for nearly a decade and continues to break the barriers of health services with regular contributions to new innovations.www.stdtestexpress.com
Posted at 06:02 AM in Infertility, Medical, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Chlamydia, gonorrhea , Michelle Sobel, STD Express
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Finally! A book that explores the relationship between surrogates (gestational carriers) and their Intended Mothers. Well written and full of real life examples, Dr. Teman draws on anthropological fieldwork among Jewish Israeli women and shares with her readers what many of us in the Third Party Family Building industry want all surrogates/carriers and their Intended Mothers to know: that being a Gestational Carrier has complex and varied emotions attached, not to the fetus but more likely to the intended mother and that, for the most part, the carrier is disassociated from the baby growing in her womb. Tamar, a surrogate, says it best "And that's why I say, I didn't just give birth to a baby, I gave birth to a mother." Shlomit, an Intended Mother also states, "I always say, my mother gave birth to me the first time, she gave me life. But my surrogate gave me life a second time."
Birthing a Mother is divided into four unique parts: Dividing, Connecting, Separating, and Redefining. The entire work here is brilliant and, as a past Gestational Carrier myself, I can relate to the many stories shared within each part quite easily. A reference of "a child through the mail" caught my attention and I thought about my first Intended Mother who, because of distance, was not a 'partner' in the pregnancy the way that she might have wanted. Perhaps she thought of her twins as mail order until I flew down to her so she could take part in the last few weeks of the pregnancy.
I am sure that Intended Parents will see their thoughts and fears reflected in Birthing a Mother The Surrogate Body and the Pregnant Self and be able to use this information learned to understand their own intimate relationship with their Gestational Carrier.
Posted at 11:45 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Books, Infertility, Intended Parents, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Birthing a Mother The Surrogate Body and the Pregnant Self, Dr. Teman, Gestational Carriers, Infertility, LaMothe Book Review, Surrogacy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
I had the wonderful privilege to review Mom and Dad and The Journey They Had! Written by Molly Rose Siobhan Summer and presented by Guess Who? Multimedia and Pacific Fertility Center: I really didn't know what to expect as the story begins with a 'traditional' family preparing to add child number two. They sing and dance all the while getting ready for their very special delivery. Near the end of this story, which starts out focusing on the importance of preparing to bring a baby home, Mom and Dad sit down with the soon to be 'big brother' and tell him about the problems they had conceiving him. In a very matter of fact manner the parents share how they went to a doctor and found a young woman to donate her egg. The main focus of the conversation is how he was the one they had been waiting for all along. The message was so subtle that really all a child listening to this story hears is that "you were always wanted and always loved and we were waiting for YOU".
I highly recommend this very engaging and heartwarming musical to any family who used assisted reproduction (egg donation) to have a baby of their own.
Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/
Posted at 10:45 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Books, Egg Donation, Intended Parents, Music, Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Egg Donation, Egg Donors, Infertility, LaMothe Book Reviews, Molly Rose Siobhan Summer, Mom and Dad and The Journey They Had, Pregnancy, Telling your child about Egg Donation
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 12:01 AM in Egg Donation, Infertility, Intended Parents, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Gestational Carriers, Intended Parents, IUI, IVF, Surrogacy, Surrogate pregnancy, Traditional Surrogacy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:00 AM in Intended Parents, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Gestational Surrogacy, Intended Parents, Psychological Support, Surrogacy, Traditional Surrogacy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 02:55 PM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Books, Egg Donation, Intended Parents, Parenting 101, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Daddy and Pop, Egg Donor, Gay Parenting, Guess Who? Multimedia, LaMothe Book Review, Surrogacy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 11:49 PM in Intended Parents, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Intended Parents, Pregnancy, Surrogacy, Traveling Surrogate
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:00 AM in Intended Parents, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Bed Rest, Pregnancy, Surrogacy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:00 AM in Infertility, Intended Parents, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Pregnancy, Surrogacy. Life Insurance for Surrogates
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 02:00 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Books, Egg Donation, Fertility, Infertility, Intended Parents, Male Factor, Medical, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Dr. WILLIAM SCHOOLCRAFT, Egg Donation, If at First You Don't Conceive: A Complete Guide to Infertility from One of the Nation's Leading Clinics Surrogacy, Infertility
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:00 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Current Affairs, Fertility, Infertility, Pregnancy, Surrogacy, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Editorial Review Board, Pregnancy Corner, Sharon LaMothe, Surrogacy Expert
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:18 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Infertility, Intended Parents, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: 14 Mistakes to Avoid for Surrogates and Carriers, Identity Theft, Intended Parents, Scams, Surrogacy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
I wanted to share with you a trailer that was sent to me for a film made by Deirdre Fishel, a Brooklyn based independent documentary filmmaker. She recently made a personal film about her process (and that of three other women) to parent solo using donor sperm.
Apparently the film is nearly finished, but before she can put it out in the world where it can hopefully be a positive contribution to the changing family paradigm, they need to raise the last bit of money. For this purpose they have put a trailer on line and created the possibility for individuals to donate.
I would appreciate it if you would have a look at:
http://mindseyeprods.com/spermdonorx.htm
Frankly, I found it fascinating and well worth the few minutes it takes to watch. You have the option to donate if you would like as well.
Would love to hear your comments!
Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
Posted at 01:00 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Current Affairs, Film, Intended Parents, Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Deirdre Fishel, Intended Parents, Sperm Donation, Sperm Donor X
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Along with keeping mom healthy, regular exercise during pregnancy helps prevent excessive newborn weight, a new study shows.
Published in the October issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Norwegian researchers found that the odds of delivering a too-big baby dropped by as much as 28 percent in women who exercised regularly in their second and third trimesters during their first pregnancy.
"Women often adopt healthier habits before and during pregnancy, like stopping caffeine use. This study suggests that adding exercise to that list may be icing on the cake," said Dr. Robert Welch, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Mich.
Known medically as fetal macrosomia, a heavier birth weight poses a risk to both the baby and the mother. If a baby weighs more than 8.8 pounds, the risk of delivery problems, C-sections, postpartum hemorrhage and low Apgar scores all increase, according to background information in the study. Larger birth weights have also been associated with an increased risk of obesity later in life, according to the researchers.
The study also reported that the number of too-big babies appears to be on the rise, while the number of women exercising during pregnancy is on the decline.
To measure what effect regular exercise has on newborn weight, the Norwegian researchers reviewed data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study. That database included information on nearly 37,000 women, whose pregnancies lasted at least 37 weeks.
All of the women were pregnant with one child. Two-thirds of the women were normal weight, and 20 percent were overweight, but not obese.
Exercise information was gathered at weeks 17 and 30 of the pregnancies. In women who'd never been pregnant before, 43 percent said they exercised three times a week or more before pregnancy. In women who'd previously been pregnant, 32 percent said they exercised three times a week or more.
By the 30th week of pregnancy, 25 percent reported never exercising, and 19 percent said they exercised one to three times a month. Twenty-nine percent reported exercising one to two times weekly, while 24 percent said they were exercising three or more times each week.
Pre-pregnancy exercise didn't seem to make a difference in a baby's birth weight, but exercise during pregnancy did. In women who'd never been pregnant before, those who were exercising at least three times a week had a 28 percent reduced risk of a large birth weight baby, while those who were still regularly exercising at 30 weeks had a 23 percent decreased risk of having a too-big baby.
The effects of exercise didn't appear to be as consistently beneficial in women who'd already had children. When these women danced or participated in low-impact aerobics, they also reduced the likelihood of delivering a large baby, but when they swam or trained in fitness centers, the benefit disappeared.
Although the study wasn't able to address why this was so, Dr. Steven Allen, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Scott & White Healthcare in Temple, Texas, said it may be that this may be a risk factor that's less modifiable in subsequent pregnancies, or "they may not have had enough exercise."
Allen said that while exercise during pregnancy is definitely a good idea, these findings might be different if done with a different population. For example, American women are likely more ethnically diverse and have different average body-mass index levels.
But, in any case, Allen said, "Exercise should be encouraged for everyone who's healthy enough to do it. Exercise shouldn't be discontinued just because you're pregnant."
Allen added that research in the United States has also shown that women who exercise are less likely to have preterm deliveries.
Welch cautioned that as women progress in pregnancy, they should avoid any exercise that has them lay flat on their back, because this can restrict blood flow to both baby and mom. Also, contact sports are out, as is anything where falling might be likely, such as horseback riding.
He said he tells his patients to keep their heart rate to no more than 120 beats per minute during exercise. This allows you to get an aerobic workout, but isn't so much that it might shunt blood away from the baby, Welch explained.
SOURCES: Robert Welch, M.D., chairman, obstetrics and gynecology, Providence Hospital, Southfield, Mich.; Steven Allen, M.D., chairman, obstetrics and gynecology, Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas; October 2009 Obstetrics and Gynecology
Posted at 01:00 AM in Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Exercise During Pregnancy , Pregnancy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|

Posted at 12:00 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Fertility, Infertility, Intended Parents, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Acupuncture, In Vitro Fertilization, Infertility , IVF
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Women who take antidepressants face a difficult choice when they become pregnant, and for many the risks vs. benefits of continuing treatment are not clear, a joint report from the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists finds.
The report confirms that there are far more questions than answers about the dangers antidepressants pose to the babies born to women who take them.
It also presents guidelines to help doctors and patients identify who should and should not consider stopping drug treatment.
Pregnant women who experience psychotic episodes, have bipolar disorder, or who are suicidal or have a history of suicide attempts should not be taken off antidepressants, the report concludes.
"We know that untreated depression poses real risks to babies. That is not conjecture," Yale University School of Medicine ob-gyn Charles Lockwood, MD, tells WebMD. "We know much less about the risks associated with antidepressant use. It is clear that more study is needed."
According to one study, the rate of antidepressant use during pregnancy more than doubled between 1999 and 2003. The study found that in 2003, one in eight women took an antidepressant at some point during her pregnancy.
Greater use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants like Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft were largely responsible for the increase.
These drugs were generally considered safe for pregnant women at the time, but safety concerns soon emerged, especially regarding Paxil.
Separate studies from Sweden and the U.S. suggested an increased risk for congenital heart defects in babies born to women who took Paxil during pregnancy.
The reports led the FDA to issue an advisory in December 2005 warning about the potential risk based on early results of two studies.
But the joint panel found the evidence linking Paxil use during pregnancy to heart problems in newborns to be inconclusive.
Lockwood tells WebMD that if the risk is real, it is probably not limited to Paxil alone.
"It is very likely to be a class effect and not just this one drug," he says.
SSRI use during pregnancy has also been linked in some studies to an increased risk for miscarriage, low birth weight, and preterm delivery.
But once again, the report found no definitive link between the use of the antidepressants and these pregnancy outcomes.
"Antidepressant use in pregnancy is well studied, but available research has not yet adequately controlled for other factors that may influence birth outcomes including maternal illness or behaviors that can adversely affect pregnancy," the joint panel writes.
The report was published in both the American Psychiatric Association journal General Hospital Psychiatry and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The joint panel concludes that a gradual reducing of antidepressant dosages and stopping antidepressants altogether may be appropriate for women who hope to become pregnant if they have had mild or no symptoms for six months or longer.
The group also recommended that:
Psychiatrist Ariela Frieder, MD, who specializes in treating pregnant women with depression at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, tells WebMD that her patients tend to be very concerned about how antidepressants will affect their baby and much less aware of the dangers posed by untreated depression.
Frieder was a practicing ob-gyn in her native Argentina before moving to New York where she did her residency in psychiatry.
"Many women want to stop treatment abruptly and even stop on their own, but this can be very risky," she says.
Jennifer Wu, MD, an ob-gyn who practices at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital, agrees.
"The old conventional wisdom was that pregnancy was a honeymoon period for depression and that patients would be able to come off their medications and be OK," she tells WebMD. "But we have learned that this is not true. It has become more and more apparent that pregnancy is a vulnerable time for patients with a history of depression."
Posted at 01:00 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Intended Parents, Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:00 AM in Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Pregnancy, Spencer Price, When Life Begins
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:00 AM in Egg Donation, Fertility, Infertility, Intended Parents, Male Factor, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Egg Donation, Embryo Donation, Fertility, Infertility, Infertility Answers, Pregnancy, Sperm Donation, Surrogacy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:10 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Current Affairs, Infertility, Intended Parents, Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: AFA, American Fertility Association, Fertility, Infertility, Pregnancy, USA Today
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
What is Pregnancy?Pregnancy is not a disease but is the process of carrying one or more fetus or embryo inside the uterus of a female. It is also called graviditas. In humans, childbirth occurs about 38 weeks after conception (fertilization of the ovary) and approximately 40 weeks from the last normal menstrual period (LNMP). Thus, pregnancy is the gestation period between conception and childbirth lasting for about nine months. Obstetrics is the surgical field that studies and cares for high risk pregnancy. Midwifery is the field that cares for pregnancy and pregnant women who do not need surgical procedure at childbirth.
After conception, a woman’s body undergoes a lot of changes both in the physiological and homeostatic mechanisms to ensure the fetus is provided for. They can be categorized as follows:
A) Physiological symptoms:
Morning sickness – vomiting bouts early in the morning is common.
Missed menstrual cycle(s) is another obvious sign of pregnancy.
B) Muscular and skeletal symptoms:
1) Reproductive organs and fetus expand in the gestation period, resulting in weight gain. This enables the necessary increased blood volume and water retention.
2) The body posture changes – the pelvis tilts and the back arches to keep balance because the uterus expands as the baby grows.
3) The gait changes because the lower back the muscles contract to maintain proper alignment and balance.
4) The woman’s foot grows by about half its normal size for balance and to carry additional weight.
5) To increase laxity and elasticity, some skeletal joints widen.
C) Cardiovascular symptoms:
1) Blood volume increases by 40% in the first two trimesters.
2) Increased plasma leads to higher levels of aldosterone and progesterone hormone levels. This suppresses the hypothalamic axis and subsequent menstrual cycle.
3) Higher erythropoietin levels cause the red blood cells to increase in number.
4) Increased breathing and cardiac output is another symptom.
5) Blood pressure fluctuates.
D) Respiratory symptoms:
1) Functional capacity of the respiratory organs decreases as the uterus expands and pushes the diaphragm.
2) Progesterone rests the set point to a lower pressure of carbon dioxide to maintain higher respiration rate at this lower level of carbon dioxide.
E) Metabolic symptoms:
1) The increased steroid hormones, lactogen and cortisol cause the increased and concentrated supply of nutrients for fetal growth and fat deposition.
2) The woman’s resistance to insulin increases.
3) The liver increases gluconeogenesis to increase the maternal glucose levels for the fetus.
F) Other changes:
1) Prolactin levels increase due to maternal pituitary gland enlargement by 50%.
2) Parathyroid hormone is increased due to increases of calcium uptake in the gut and re-absorption by the kidney.
3) Adrenal hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone also increase.
4) Placenta produces lactogen for use of the fetus.
5) Placenta also stimulates lipolysis and fatty acid metabolism by the mother to conserve glucose for the fetus.
6) The maternal tissue’s sensitivity to insulin is also much lower during gestation.
Diagnosis of PregnancyPrior to testing for pregnancy, the gynecologist will query about the missed menstrual period and how many cycles were missed to calculate the approximate date of conception and age of the fetus if pregnancy is confirmed.
Physical examination: A physical examination to check for darkening of the cervix, vagina and vulva; softening of the uterus isthmus (vaginal portion of the cervix) are undertaken.
Clinical blood and urine tests: Urine tests and clinical blood tests can detect pregnancy as early as 6-8 days after conception. Blood pregnancy tests are more accurate then urine tests. Home pregnancy tests kits are available but these can detect a pregnancy only 12-15 days after conception.
Ultrasound: Modern 3D ultrasound images provide great details for prenatal diagnosis. A sonograph can determine the fetal age fairly accurately. This shows the fetal image and movements. One can also detect the organs, fingers and toes, etc on a Sonograph.
In simple terms, pregnancy denotes the fertilization of the female ovary by the male sperm in the semen as a result of sexual intercourse. Scientifically speaking, it occurs due to penetration of the female gamete (ovary or egg) by the male gamete spermatozoon and is referred to as conception. Pregnancy can also occur due to in vitro-fertilization and this method is used in cases of infertility.
Pregnancy does not have different types, but it does have different stages since the gestation period is as long as nine months. Various physical and physiological changes take place in the pregnant woman during this long, child-bearing period.
First trimester (Embryonic stage): The first stage is the embryonic stage which lasts for about 8 weeks. At this point, the fetal stage begins and at this point the fetus is as tiny as 1.2 inches in length. This is a very critical stage where a lot of care needs to be taken. Any over-exertion or misadventure can cause a miscarriage and loss of the fetus. The outer layers of the embryo grow and form a placenta, for the purpose of receiving essential nutrients through the uterine wall, or endometrium. The umbilical cord in a newborn child consists of the remnants of the connection to the placenta.
The developing embryo undergoes tremendous growth and all major structures including hands, feet, head, brain and other organs begin to develop and grow in this phase. Also, brain activity is first detected between the 5th and 6th week in this phase. This is still considered primitive neural activity rather than the beginning of the thinking process, which develops much later. It is only after the 23rd week the fetus has developed a sustainable human brain and can survive outside of the womb.
Second trimester: This is the 4th month to 6th month of gestation period. The woman is more energetic and puts on more weight in this phase. The symptom of morning sickness also fades away. Although the fetus starts growing in the first stage, the first movements of the fetus (also called quickening) are felt in the second trimester. The placenta is now fully functioning and the fetus is making insulin and urinating. The reproductive organs of the fetus can now be recognized and one can distinguish it as male or female in this phase.
Third trimester (final stage): In this phase, the fetus grows very rapidly, gaining weight by almost 28gms per day as this is the final weight gain. The woman’s belly appears drooping and heavy. The fetus also moves and turns regularly and the movement can be felt easily. Sometimes this can become quite disruptive and strong to the woman and can cause pain if it is near the woman’s ribs and spine. This phase is a little uncomfortable for the woman, not only because of problems related to posture and weight, but also because of symptoms like weak bladder control and backache. If during this period, a baby is born prematurely, it has chances of survival because its brain and body functions are prepared for ex-utero viability.
As pregnancy is not a disease the treatment would actually involve the care woman needs to take in order to carry the fetus through its full term of nine months and ensure safe childbirth.
Additional Nutrition: Balancing carbohydrates, fat, and proteins and eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, usually ensures good nutrition for anyone. But this is specially so in pregnant women because they are eating for themselves and the growing fetus. Professional and specific dietary advice is essential for those pregnant women whose diets are affected by health issues, religious beliefs etc. Nutrients rich in calcium and vitamin D are also necessary for the development of fetal bones. Foods rich in folic acid, vitamin B9 (to avoid fetal defects), and legumes to keep the digestive system clean are also essential.
Deliberate weight gain: For the proper development of the fetus, the total caloric intake must be increased. The amount of weight gained during pregnancy varies among woman to woman. But, The National Health Service recommends that overall weight gain during the 9-month gestation period for women who start pregnancy at normal weight should ideally be 10 to 12 kg. Being either underweight or overweight in pregnancy can undermine the health of the fetus. Those who are anorexic or obese should consume a diet prescribed by the healthcare professional so as not to undermine the health of either mother or child.

Pregnancy inhibits normal life to a large extent. For example, in the initial stages there might be signs of weakness and morning sickness. In the later stages there is a lot of weight gain causing slowed movements, constant hunger, etc.
Sometimes certain symptoms may develop which cause discomfort during pregnancy like constipation, persistent vomiting and nausea, backache, heartburn and acidity, dizziness, edema in the feet, varicose veins, etc. These have to be dealt with as per the severity of the symptoms.
Sexual intercourse is not taboo during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the baby is protected from penetrative thrusting by the amniotic fluid in the womb and by the woman’s. In fact, studies show that exposure to semen can increase the natural immunity of a pregnant woman. Secondly, the regular expansion of the cervix during intercourse makes childbirth less uncomfortable for the woman, but due care needs to be taken to prevent a miscarriage, especially in the first phase of pregnancy. Sex has to be avoided only if the attending physician feels that there are other complications and is vital for the survival of the fetus and health of the mother.
Prevention of Pregnancy Measure taken to prevent conception and pregnancy are called birth control measures or contraceptive measures. This can be in the form of actions, devices or medications to deliberately prevent pregnancy.
Behavioral methods: The frequency and timings of the intercourse within the menstrual cycle of the woman are coordinated by the couple in order to prevent pregnancy.
Coitus interruptus: The oldest method of preventing pregnancy is the interruption of the intercourse just before male ejaculation so that the semen does not enter the woman’s vagina and hence the sperms do not reach the ovaries.
Oral contraceptives: Use of contraceptives is very ancient. Even the Ancient Egyptian set of instructions on creating a contraceptive pessary. Today there are various pills easily available commercially which are very good contraceptives and can prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Condoms: This is an external barrier method of contraception which prevents the sperm entering the female reproductive tract. Condoms are made of latex or polyurethane and are medically safe for use. Different condoms are available for both male and female use.
Hormonal method: Hormonal emergency contraceptives, also known as the morning-after-pill can be used for up to three days after intercourse to prevent pregnancy. This method is also useful in the case of condom failure (breaking during intercourse).
Intra-uterine devices: Copper intra-uterine devices may also be used as emergency contraception. For effective prevention they must be inserted within five days of unprotected intercourse. Also, some of these devices can be places inside the uterus.
Induced abortion: In the first trimester the suction-aspiration abortion can be used to prevent unwanted childbirth. In the second trimester, dilation and evacuation has to be done to end pregnancy as long as the gestation is not more than 8 weeks.
Sterilization: Surgical sterilization can be done to prevent pregnancies. The form of tubal ligation is used in women where the fallopian tubes are cut, clamped and blocked to prevent sperm from fertilizing the egg. In men, vasectomy is done. This method is used only when the couple is sure they do not want any more children because it has a permanent effect.
Non-vaginal intercourse: Oral sex or anal sex instead of vaginal sex would reduce the chances of pregnancy. But this is not a preference of majority of couples.
Abstinence: Not indulging in sex at all is the most effective method of all to prevent pregnancy. Of course this is not a feasible method in most couples, so is not suggested by doctors.
Posted at 01:00 AM in Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Its always good to know your insurance benefits! Below is a news release from Tricare this month.
Sharon
Infertility is a difficult condition for families to cope with. Many TRICARE beneficiaries may be wondering what their options are if they find themselves in a situation where infertility becomes an issue. The answer is, with a few important exceptions, TRICARE covers most infertility treatments.
Diagnostic services to identify physical illnesses or injuries to the reproductive system are covered for both men and women. Infertility treatments, corrective treatments and surgeries for women are also covered. However, treatment of male infertility including erectile dysfunction may be cost shared, which is determined on a case by case basis.
Therapies covered by TRICARE include hormonal treatment, corrective surgery, antibiotics, administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or radiation therapy depending on the cause. These therapies are covered for both sexes.
Treatments excluded from TRICARE coverage include in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for women. Reversal of surgical sterilization is not covered for either sex.
Although TRICARE does not cover IVF, there are four military treatment facilities (MTF) where IVF medical training programs are conducted. The four MTFs are: Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio; Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu; Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; and the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. Beneficiaries who participate in these programs will be responsible for all MTF costs.
These IVF programs are available to military members and their families. However, the IVF treatments are not covered by TRICARE and beneficiaries are responsible for all costs.
Get more information on covered infertility treatments by visiting your TRICARE regional contractor’s Web site:
Posted at 01:00 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Infertility, Intended Parents, Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: ART, Infertility, IVF, TRICARE
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
In talking with Evelina, who is in GA (and on the EDSPA Board) and very involved with fighting this (which may be voted into law by next Thursday!) This bill is about only being able to MAKE 2 or 3 embryos at a TIME....not just what you can transfer. So if you are under 40 and have 12 eggs, only 2 can be fertilized...if you are over 40 then only 3 can be fertilized! No more then that....We need to clearly get the truth of this bill a crossed to everyone because who is going to want to make just 2 or 3 embryos at a time? Who can pick and choose which eggs would be the best to fertilize AND then there would be NO EMBRYOS LEFT for freezing! (perhaps you can freeze the eggs however that is not perfected yet and the cost....well....it just wouldn't be worth it) Apparently it's the right to lifers who are pouring money into this GA bill so that there will/would be no more 'babies on ice"...
On another note, if this bill passes I hear that the ASRM will consider moving the Oct. meeting to another location.
Please forgive me for posting this but I wanted everyone to read this!
Sharon LaMothe (comments welcome!)
This was posted by Mark Perloe~
Your urgent and immediate action on two bills introduced in the Georgia State Senate is of vital importance. .
The Georgia Senate Health & Human Services Committee will hold a hearing on two bills: SB 169 and SB 204 this Thursday, March 5, at 9:00 AM in Room 450 of the State Capitol. At the hearing, the committee will hear testimony on the bills. Reproductive medicine physicians from across the state, along with Resolve and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) oppose both of the bills. The hearing is open to the public and we encourages you to attend the hearing and send a letter to the Committee members before Thursday. To send a letter immediately, click here.
Senate Bill 169 would restrict doctors' ability to perform IVF in accordance with best medical standards. Here are the key provisions:
- No more than 2 or 3 eggs could ever be fertilized in a cycle; if a woman produced more eggs, they still could not be used.
- Only 2 embryos could ever be transferred to the uterus, unless the woman is age 40 or over (then a max of 3).
- No extra embryos could be cryopreserved. If they are created, they have to be transferred.
- No financial relief, such as insurance coverage, is proposed to help with the added financial burden of using less effective treatment. Patients will still have to pay out of pocket for less effective treatment.
- Bans all financial compensation for donor gametes, such as egg donor, sperm donor, or embryo donation, which would reduce the pool of available donors in Georgia.
SB 204 is an embryo adoption bill. It would subject embryo donation to all the same provisions as required by law for adoption of a child. This would subject infertility patients needing an embryo donation to go through the judicial proceedings, home visits, and other procedures required for an adoption. Such treatment is not appropriate nor is it needed for embryo donation.
If you care about open access to the best care possible, let the Committee members know before Thursday that you oppose these two bills. To send a letter or fax to the Committee, simply click here http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://secure2.convio.net%2Fres%2Fsite%2FAdvocacy%3Fcmd%3Ddisplay%26page%3DUserAction%26id%3D219 for a letter template that will be automatically sent to each of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee members. You can also call your state Senator even if they are not on the Committee and tell them you oppose these two bills. A full list of the Committee members can be found by clicking on the link below, then clicking on the Senators name for a link to their direct contact information: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.legis.ga.gov%2Flegis%2F2009_10%2Fsenate%2Fhealth.php
Please be respectful in all communications to the elected officials and their staff. Please remember that rude communications work against our interests.
Thank you for taking action today and showing the Georgia Senate that you care about open and available access to care for the women and men diagnosed with infertility in the state of Georgia.
To send a letter to the Committee members immediately, click here. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://secure2.convio.net%2Fres%2Fsite%2FAdvocacy%3Fcmd%3Ddisplay%26page%3DUserAction%26id%3D219
To view the full text of the bills please follow the links below:
SB 169: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.legis.state.ga.us%2Flegis%2F2009_10%2Fsum%2Fsb169.htm
SB 204: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.legis.state.ga.us%2Flegis%2F2009_10%2Fsum%2Fsb204.htm
Georgia Economic Impact
• More than $200 million in revenue and countless jobs would be lost by Georgia medical practices, psychologists, lawyers, pharmacists, as well as by those in the restaurant and lodging industry who provide services to those traveling for care.
• An expected 50-60% drop in live births associated with legislation limiting the number of oocytes fertilized or transferred would create a powerful incentive for Georgia couples to seek care outside Georgia. Alternatively, they would have to consider multiple treatment cycles to achieve the same success rate as we now see. The cost for additional treatment cycles as well as lost productivity due to time away from jobs can not be immediately calculated.
• Embryo donation is the most a cost effective option for many couples hoping to build a family. Yet this legislation would impose additional legal expenses and home studies that would create a significant cost barrier for many with limited financial resources. As a result this option would no longer be available for many couples
• The majority of higher order multiple pregnancies [triplets or more] result from ovulation induction and not IVF. This legislation will result in a marked decrease in local IVF services and a dramatic increase in the number of ovulation induction cycles with the higher risk of multiple births and the resultant costs.
• The American Society of Reproductive Medicine is planning its annual meeting in Atlanta this fall. Approximately 5,000 people are expected to attend. Passing this legislation will induce many to stay at home. The resultant revenue loss for our convention and travel industry comes at a very difficult time for our economy.
• This legislation will preclude the use of preimplantation embryo screening to prevent diseases such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, Huntington’s diease and other genetic conditions that result in an enormous financial burden to the individual and often to the state to provide ongoing medical care.
• The financial cost of defending court challenges to HBB during an economic downturn is a needless tax on government funds.
• Biotech industry seeking to relocate will likely have second thoughts about moving to Georgia with passage of this legislation.
Unanswered Questions
• Will cryopreserved embryos that already exist be subject to this law?
• Will this law be applicable to embryos that have been created in another state?
• Will this law apply if the individuals are not Georgia state residents?
• Does this law allow for inheritance rights for embryos deemed to be children?
• Are embryos entitled to social security survivor benefits?
• Will embryos be entitled to child support in the case of divorce to cover the expense of storage?
• Will women who have undergone embryo transfer be able to use the HOV lane….there is an additional “child” on board.
• What happens to embryos that were frozen more than two at a time?
• What about agencies that charge a fee to match recipients and embryo donors while not providing a medical service? Will this be considered the same as selling a baby?
• If an embryo has been frozen longer than 18 years is it still a child? How do you calculate a child's age if the embryo is 20 years old, but the child was born two years ago, how old is the child?
• Not too infrequently, a one cell embryo splits resulting in twins. As this bill describes a single cell embryo as a child do we consider these identical twins as one child or two?
• If an embryo has been frozen longer than 18 years is it still a child? How do you calculate a child's age if the embryo is 20 years old, but the child was born two years ago, are we dealing with a child or an adult?
• The bill states that its purpose is to promote the best interest of the child. As cryopreserved embryos are classified as children and only 20-30% of embryo transfers results in pregnancy, we must ask if this means all embryos should undergo cryopreservation rather than transferring them to avoid the 80% loss rate for these "children"?
--------------------
Posted at 11:59 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Embryo Technology, Infertility, Intended Parents, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: ASRM, Georgia Senate Health & Human Services Committee SB 169 and SB 204, IVF, Reproductive Technology
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:00 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Current Affairs, Egg Donation, Infertility, Pregnancy, Science | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: ART, Egg Freezing, Fertility Education
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
The NST is another way of externally monitoring your baby. The NST can be done as early as the 27th week of pregnancy, and it measures the Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) accelerations with normal movement. For this test, you will sit with knees and back partially elevated with a cushion under the right hip, which moves your uterus to the left.
The monitors are placed on your abdomen to measure the FHR and the ability of the uterus to contract. If there is no activity after 30 - 40 minutes, you will be given something to drink or a small meal which may stimulate fetal activity. (ask for chocolate!) Other interventions that might encourage fetal movement include the use of fetal acoustic stimulation (sending sounds to the fetus) and gently placing your hands on your abdomen and moving the fetus.
A NST may be performed if:
The test can indicate if the baby is not receiving enough oxygen because of placental or umbilical cord problems; it can also indicate other types of fetal distress.
Posted at 01:00 AM in Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: How is a Non-Stress test administered? (NST)
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Below are tips for the working pregnant woman...whether pregnant for yourself or as a surrogate. Many women just concentrate on the getting pregnant part and don't look down the road as far as their employer maybe concerned. Hopefully the list below will offer some tips to pave the way to a happy and healthy working relationship with your employer.
Many women find themselves juggling the inside "job" of growing a baby and the outside job of working for pay. For some, especially those who do not suffer from pregnancy sickness and whose jobs are important to them, work is a welcome way to wait out the nine months. These mothers want to work right up until the first contraction. Other women may need a month or more to prepare their nest and focus on the life inside; they may plan to leave their jobs at a particular time, often in the last trimester. Some mothers, due to pregnancy complications, need to quit even in the early months. Whatever your pregnancy situation and your job, here are 10 Tips to Working while Pregnant:
If you intend to stop working after your baby comes, give your employer plenty of time to find a replacement, and yourself enough time to finish up important projects. Tell them when you plan to quit and ask how they would like you to help make the transition a smooth one. You will act responsibly, but your stated intention to quit makes it clear that your pregnancy and family come first.
If you want to return to your job after the baby is born, use caution. You want to keep your options open for a satisfactory maternity leave and at the same time protect your position. While it is illegal to discriminate against someone who is pregnant, the corporate world is often confused by a worker becoming a mother. A promotion you are in line for may be jeopardized by the fact of your pregnancy. You may risk being given less challenging assignments because of your "condition." You may be uncertain how your coworkers will take the news. Some may be sympathetic to your occasional memory lapses and your first trimester miseries. Others, you fear, will be worried about having to "cover" for you on days when you aren't at your best.
The best time to tell is just after people begin to suspect you might be pregnant and before they are sure. Although you are excited about your news, most women recommend against revealing a pregnancy in the early months. Be careful not to wait too long to tell, either. You don't want to give your employer any reason to think you are untrustworthy; any suggestion that you concealed your pregnancy for your own gain may make you look as though you are not a "team player."
Don't expect to function every day on your job at the same level as you did before you were pregnant. If you want to stay employed yet find your current position too strenuous, ask for a temporary transfer to a less demanding job. Better to be honest with your supervisor than be disgruntled and inefficient. If you don't want to change jobs, ask if you could work part-time, do some of your work at home, or have flexible hours where you could work harder or longer on more comfortable days.
Interview yourself. If you truly know what you want, you are more likely to get it. Determine what you ideally want, what you can afford and what's best for your pregnancy and your family. Can you grow a baby and do your job? Do you want to? Bear in mind that complications or situations during your pregnancy (or after delivery) may make some of these decisions for you. Unless your doctor or your baby determines otherwise, could you work through most of your pregnancy? Would you rather start maternity leave early? Continue your job on a part-time basis from home? After the baby is born, do you want to come back to your present job, or one that is more compatible with family life? Do you want full-time work or part-time?
Working while pregnant should not mean being torn between protecting your job and mothering your baby, you can do both. Whether you want to take off and return as soon as possible or work as long as possible and return as late as possible, you should be able to work out the best plan for you, your baby, and your family. That plan may be very specific or quite general. One mother we know was certain that she was more committed to her baby than her job, so she had nothing to lose. Not knowing how she'd feel about working, she asked her employer if they could negotiate after the baby came. In the meantime, she offered to keep up with projects from home on an hourly pay basis. After the baby was born, she worked a few hours a week from home, came in for meetings at four and six weeks (with the baby) and at eight weeks knew enough to negotiate a continuation of work from home for an hourly wage -- that way she felt neither party would be short-changed. She worked 10 to 20 hours a week from home for the company for four years.
Know what your company's maternity leave policies are (you should have been given a copy of them when you were hired) and what the laws allow. If you know and trust a coworker who previously negotiated a leave package with this company, ask what she did, what she got, and what she'd advise you to do. If you do not have a copy of the maternity leave policy, you can get one from the personnel director. (However, he or she may also inform your boss.) If the company does not already have a maternity leave policy and is small enough not to be legally required to have one, you may have to be a pioneer, negotiating the policy for the benefit of your future pregnant coworkers. If you can, check out the maternity leave policies of other companies before you talk to your supervisor.
When reviewing your company's policy, be sure you understand:
After selecting the time and person to tell (and preferably when that person is having a good day), present your case. How to tell depends upon your pregnancy, your job, your wishes, and the reception you imagine you will get from your supervisor and coworkers. As in any negotiations, consider where the other person is coming from. Your supervisor wants to know when you are leaving, when you are coming back, and how best to fill in the gap while you're gone. Be ready with those answers. Realistically, your supervisor is more concerned about the company's operations than your personal needs. Your employer must consider the possibility that you may later decide not to return to work (although studies show that attractive maternity leave policies and a family-friendly workplace make it more likely that women will return).
Only you can guess how much maternity leave time you need; only your company can guess how much time they can afford to be without you. Remember, your bargaining power depends not only on how you present your case, but also on your value to the company. If you have a unique skill required for a special job, you have more clout than if there are many others within the company who can do your job just as well. Be realistic about your needs, your negotiating power, and the needs of the company, but remember, too, that companies want to be seen as family-friendly in their maternity leave policies.
Posted at 01:00 AM in Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: 10 TIPS TO WORKING WHILE PREGNANT
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
The most common neural tube defects are spina bifida(an incomplete closure of the spinal cord and spinal column), anencephaly (severe underdevelopment of the brain), and encephalocele (when brain tissue protrudes out to the skin from an abnormal opening in the skull). All of these defects occur during the first 28 days of pregnancy - usually before a woman even knows she's pregnant.
That's why it's so important for all women of childbearing age to get enough folic acid - not just those who are planning to become pregnant. Only 50% of pregnancies are planned, so any woman who could become pregnant should make sure she's getting enough folic acid. (and women planning on becoming egg donors and surrogates)
Doctors and scientists still aren't completely sure why folic acid has such a profound effect on the prevention of neural tube defects, but they do know that this vitamin is crucial in the development of DNA. As a result, folic acid plays a large role in cell growth and development, as well as tissue formation.

Posted at 01:00 AM in Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: prenatal vitamins, folic acid, Pregnancy, Surrogacy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:00 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Infertility, Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Co-Pay Babies and other Phrases, Infertility, Pregnancy, Surrogacy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:00 AM in Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Does the blood of the mother run through the baby she is carrying?
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:00 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Infertility, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Intended Parents, Surrogacy, When can we CELEBRATE?!?!
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Posted at 01:00 AM in Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Subchorionic Bleeding
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Melbourne, Oct 9 (ANI): Unregulated sperm donation Down Under has led to an unusual situation where children of lesbians are mixing socially creating potential risk for incestuous relationships.
According to one of South Australia’’s foremost experts in reproductive technology, Andrew Dutney, one reported case, about 30 lesbians were impregnated by sperm from one man, the Advertiser reported.
The mothers then organised picnics with all the children, raising the fear they might socialize with their half-siblings without realizing they were related.
In another case, a mans sperm produced 29 children, all of whom were living in Adelaide. These children are unaware who their siblings are.
All of these children were born about 10 years ago, which means they will reach adolescence in a few years.
In South Australia, the law says infertility treatments are only for infertile couples or those at risk for transmitting a serious defect. Thus, gays and lesbians generally have to find donors outside the system, Dutney said, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Dutney, the former chairman of the SA Council on Reproductive Technology and Associate Professor of Theology at Flinders University, said the SA regulations were at fault and should be repealed altogether, leaving reproductive medical units to comply with the national ethical guidelines. (ANI)
Posted at 01:00 AM in Egg Donation, Infertility, Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Egg Donation Questions, Single man inseminating 30 lesbians sparks incest fears Down Under
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Many women find themselves juggling the inside "job" of growing a baby and the outside job of working for pay. For some, especially those who do not suffer from pregnancy sickness and whose jobs are important to them, work is a welcome way to wait out the nine months. These mothers want to work right up until the first contraction. Other women may need a month or more to prepare their nest and focus on the life inside; they may plan to leave their jobs at a particular time, often in the last trimester. Some mothers, due to pregnancy complications, need to quit even in the early months. Whatever your pregnancy situation and your job, here are 10 Tips to Working while Pregnant:
If you intend to stop working after your baby comes, give your employer plenty of time to find a replacement, and yourself enough time to finish up important projects. Tell them when you plan to quit and ask how they would like you to help make the transition a smooth one. You will act responsibly, but your stated intention to quit makes it clear that your pregnancy and family come first.
If you want to return to your job after the baby is born, use caution. You want to keep your options open for a satisfactory maternity leave and at the same time protect your position. While it is illegal to discriminate against someone who is pregnant, the corporate world is often confused by a worker becoming a mother. A promotion you are in line for may be jeopardized by the fact of your pregnancy. You may risk being given less challenging assignments because of your "condition." You may be uncertain how your coworkers will take the news. Some may be sympathetic to your occasional memory lapses and your first trimester miseries. Others, you fear, will be worried about having to "cover" for you on days when you aren't at your best.
The best time to tell is just after people begin to suspect you might be pregnant and before they are sure. Although you are excited about your news, most women recommend against revealing a pregnancy in the early months. Be careful not to wait too long to tell, either. You don't want to give your employer any reason to think you are untrustworthy; any suggestion that you concealed your pregnancy for your own gain may make you look as though you are not a "team player."
Don't expect to function every day on your job at the same level as you did before you were pregnant. If you want to stay employed yet find your current position too strenuous, ask for a temporary transfer to a less demanding job. Better to be honest with your supervisor than be disgruntled and inefficient. If you don't want to change jobs, ask if you could work part-time, do some of your work at home, or have flexible hours where you could work harder or longer on more comfortable days.
Interview yourself. If you truly know what you want, you are more likely to get it. Determine what you ideally want, what you can afford and what's best for your pregnancy and your family. Can you grow a baby and do your job? Do you want to? Bear in mind that complications or situations during your pregnancy (or after delivery) may make some of these decisions for you. Unless your doctor or your baby determines otherwise, could you work through most of your pregnancy? Would you rather start maternity leave early? Continue your job on a part-time basis from home? After the baby is born, do you want to come back to your present job, or one that is more compatible with family life? Do you want full-time work or part-time?
Working while pregnant should not mean being torn between protecting your job and mothering your baby, you can do both. Whether you want to take off and return as soon as possible or work as long as possible and return as late as possible, you should be able to work out the best plan for you, your baby, and your family. That plan may be very specific or quite general. One mother we know was certain that she was more committed to her baby than her job, so she had nothing to lose. Not knowing how she'd feel about working, she asked her employer if they could negotiate after the baby came. In the meantime, she offered to keep up with projects from home on an hourly pay basis. After the baby was born, she worked a few hours a week from home, came in for meetings at four and six weeks (with the baby) and at eight weeks knew enough to negotiate a continuation of work from home for an hourly wage -- that way she felt neither party would be short-changed. She worked 10 to 20 hours a week from home for the company for four years.
Know what your company's maternity leave policies are (you should have been given a copy of them when you were hired) and what the laws allow. If you know and trust a coworker who previously negotiated a leave package with this company, ask what she did, what she got, and what she'd advise you to do. If you do not have a copy of the maternity leave policy, you can get one from the personnel director. (However, he or she may also inform your boss.) If the company does not already have a maternity leave policy and is small enough not to be legally required to have one, you may have to be a pioneer, negotiating the policy for the benefit of your future pregnant coworkers. If you can, check out the maternity leave policies of other companies before you talk to your supervisor.
When reviewing your company's policy, be sure you understand:
After selecting the time and person to tell (and preferably when that person is having a good day), present your case. How to tell depends upon your pregnancy, your job, your wishes, and the reception you imagine you will get from your supervisor and coworkers. As in any negotiations, consider where the other person is coming from. Your supervisor wants to know when you are leaving, when you are coming back, and how best to fill in the gap while you're gone. Be ready with those answers. Realistically, your supervisor is more concerned about the company's operations than your personal needs. Your employer must consider the possibility that you may later decide not to return to work (although studies show that attractive maternity leave policies and a family-friendly workplace make it more likely that women will return).
Only you can guess how much maternity leave time you need; only your company can guess how much time they can afford to be without you. Remember, your bargaining power depends not only on how you present your case, but also on your value to the company. If you have a unique skill required for a special job, you have more clout than if there are many others within the company who can do your job just as well. Be realistic about your needs, your negotiating power, and the needs of the company, but remember, too, that companies want to be seen as family-friendly in their maternity leave policies.
Posted at 01:00 AM in Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: 10 TIPS TO WORKING WHILE PREGNANT, Dr Sears
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Friday came out with a draft Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2008, that said the surrogate baby of a separated or divorced couple will remain their “legitimate child” if both parties had consented to assisted reproductive technology (ART) to have the baby. The baby’s birth certificate will have the name(s) of the genetic parents/parent.
The draft Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament’s winter session.
A foreigner or foreign couple not resident in India, or a non-resident Indian individual or couple seeking surrogacy in India, will have to appoint a local guardian who will be legally responsible for the care of the surrogate mother during and after pregnancy until the baby is delivered to the parent/parents or the local guardian.
“No woman under 21 years of age and over 45 years of age shall be eligible to act as a surrogate mother under this Act,” says the draft, adding, “Provided that no woman shall act as a surrogate for more than three successful live births in her life.” No woman shall donate oocytes more than six times in her life, with not less than a three-month interval between oocyte pick-ups.
Gynaeologists say the absence of a legal framework so far has resulted in college students ‘selling’ semen and eggs for pocket money.
Posted at 01:00 AM in Assisted Reproductive Technology, Current Affairs, Egg Donation, Pregnancy, Surrogacy | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: draft law on surrogacy ready, No more Baby Manjis in India
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
Vanishing twin syndrome was first recognized in 1945. Vanishing twin syndrome is when one of a set of twin/multiple fetuses disappears in the uterus during pregnancy. This is the result of a miscarriage of one twin/multiple. The fetal tissue is absorbed by the other twin/multiple, placenta or the mother. This gives the appearance of a “vanishing twin”. Before the use of ultrasound, the diagnosis of the death of a member of a multiple pregnancy was made through an examination of the placenta after delivery. Today, with the availability of early ultrasounds, the presence of twins or multiple fetuses can be detected during the first trimester. A follow-up ultrasound may reveal the “disappearance” of a twin. For example, a woman may have an ultrasound at 6 or 7 weeks gestation. The doctor identifies two fetuses and the woman is told she is having twins. When the woman returns for her next visit, only one heartbeat can be heard with Doppler. A second ultrasound is conducted and only one fetus is observed. Sometimes a woman may have symptoms that would indicate a miscarriage, yet, with an ultrasound, a single baby is found in her uterus. Vanishing twin syndrome has been diagnosed more frequently since the use of ultrasonography in early pregnancy. A conservative estimate of frequency is that vanishing twin syndrome occurs in 21-30% of multi fetal pregnancies. Research from a European series of pregnancies associated with assisted reproductive technology (ART) show that 10-15% of singleton births were initially twin gestations.
How is Vanishing Twin Syndrome identified?
Posted at 01:00 AM in Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: What is the cause of Vanishing Twin Syndrome?
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|
This is a procedure to remove hemorrhoids, which are enlarged and bulging blood vessels in the anus and lower rectum. Banding cuts off the blood circulation to hemorrhoids, causing them to shrink and fall off.
Hemorrhoid banding is used to treat painful, swollen hemorrhoids. More than one hemorrhoid can be banded at the same time. The procedure is most often performed for the following reasons:
Grade 2 Hemorrhoid
Copyright © 2005 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. www.nucleusinc.com
Posted at 01:00 AM in Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Hemorrhoid Banding, pregnancy
Reblog
(0)
| | Digg This
| Save to del.icio.us
|
|





Recent Comments