BioTexCom

Center for Human Reproduction, Kiev, Ukraine

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BRINGING A SURROGACY BABY HOME

Parents and children share a deep, emotional bond. This bond is what makes a parent’s instincts kick in, to care for and protect their child. This is extremely important for the child’s sense of worth and self-esteem. Building this bond is vital, and usually begins during the early stages of pregnancy. But what if you are not carrying your own child, how do you and your family begin the bond that will last a lifetime?

Surrogacy and Bonding

For babies who are born from surrogacy, the bonding doesn’t have to wait until the intended parents take baby home! Even from the early stages of pregnancy, the baby has a strong sense of smell and hearing. Through touch, smell and hearing, the baby attaches themselves to the woman carrying them. One thing intended parents can do from the beginning is talk to the baby. The more the baby hears the intended parent’s voices, the more familiar and comfortable baby will become. As intended parents, you can even send tapes of your voice and have your surrogate play them for the baby.

If, as intended parents, you are able to, be part of the pregnancy as much as possible. Attending doctor appointments, having a baby shower and even decorating the nursery are all ways to help intended parents feel involved throughout the whole journey.

Taking the time to organize and prepare your home before the birth of your baby is vital. Nesting your home, preparing the nursery and baby proofing the house, gives intended parents a feeling of connection to the baby, and provides the feeling of parental protection, which is a vital aspect of bonding.

Before the big day arrives, intended parents will want to make sure they have everything in order. Packing hospital bags, preparing meals ahead of time and putting the finishing touches on the nursery will make the transition easier for the parents. Once intended parents take baby home, skin-to-skin contact between baby and parent is highly recommended. The close contact will help both parent and child to build a physical bond. Intended parents must always remember that when their newborn is fussy or upset, it has nothing to do with surrogacy.

Try not to beat yourself up about not being able to carry your own child. Grieve your losses throughout the pregnancy and once baby is born understand that babies are naturally fussy, and it has nothing to do with surrogacy.

Bonds between child and parent are extremely important for both the child and the parent. Bonding with their parents is what allows a child to feel comfortable in almost all aspects of their life, and is what allows a parent’s instincts to kick in.

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Causes of Secondary Infertility

What is Secondary Infertility? Secondary infertility is described as being unable to conceive after one has already given birth to at least one child. Some Causes of Secondary Infertility The causes of secondary infertility are similar to those of primary infertility. In about one-third of cases, the reason for the inability to conceive a second (or subsequent) time can be attributed to a low sperm count. Other reasons for secondary infertility are: Endometriosis Damaged fallopian tubes Ovulation problems (Lack of Ovulation/Irregular Ovulation) Fibroids In just over 15 percent of cases, medical tests indicate that the cause of secondary infertility is a combination of factors shared by both partners. Age May Be a Factor As a woman ages, her chances of becoming pregnant in any given month decrease. This decline in fertility starts after she reaches the age of 30. After the age of 35, the likelihood of conceiving decreases more rapidly. Since some women go through menopause at an early age, this may also be a cause of secondary infertility. Some experts in the field of human reproduction have suggested that male fertility is also affected by age and that a decline in male fertility starts after age 35. Stress and Secondary Infertility Stress may also be a factor affecting male fertility. According to studies conducted in Denmark, if a man already has a low sperm count, stress exacerbates this condition. If a couple is undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatments, which is a stressful experience, the quality of the man's sperm is lower. Medications Some over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines and some antibiotics, have an effect on male fertility by lowering sperm count and changing the quality of the sperm (shape and/or mobility). If you plan to start or add to your family, do mention this fact to your pharmacist. He or she may be able to suggest a brand or type of medication that is less likely to affect your fertility. Chronic Illness Another one of the causes of secondary infertility is chronic illness. Both high blood pressure and diabetes can affect fertility. If a person has undergone chemotherapy or radiation treatments for cancer, the treatments can render the person infertile. Cancer patients are encouraged to have sperm samples or eggs frozen before undergoing treatment in an effort to preserve fertility. Diet and Lifestyle Being either underweight or overweight can affect fertility. Try to achieve a healthy body weight through a healthy diet and regular exercise. Smoking has also been found to affect fertility so you should talk to your doctor about medical help if you are unable to quit on your own. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. When to Seek Treatment for Secondary Infertility Some people assume that because they have had at least one child, they won't have trouble getting pregnant again. Statistically, over 90 percent of couples will conceive within two years of having unprotected sex on a regular basis without any medical treatment. If a couple has been trying to conceive for 12 months or longer without success, a visit to the family doctor should be scheduled. Both the male and female partner should go to the appointment since infertility (whether primary or secondary) is an issue that affects both parties. A referral to a fertility specialist for an infertility workup may be necessary, as well. The causes of secondary infertility are numerous. If you have concerns about your inability to conceive, consult a doctor to get advice and the appropriate treatment.

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Creating a Relationship with your Surrogate

It’s important during this phase of your process to establish the foundation of your relationship with your surrogate.  Here’s what I hear from surrogates about what they are looking for.

Surrogates are not looking for a new best friend. Their goal is to help you create your family and the pay-off for them is seeing you gazing at your newborn for the first time. During the process, however there are things that can help make your relationship smooth and pleasant. I always tell surrogates and intended parents that there are four things that make a surrogacy relationship work. They are trust, communication, appropriate boundaries and flexibility.

The most important ingredient in any surrogacy relationship is trust. Trust is the foundation of surrogacy and should be at the core of your relationship with your surrogate. This is not total, unconditional, blind trust, but trust as a mutual gift that you give one another. Surrogates want to feel that you trust them and that you know that your baby is in good hands. They don’t want or need to be managed by you (although of course it’s understandable that you want lots of details). If you have a solid foundation of trust in your surrogate and she in you, you will be able to relax and enjoy your surrogacy journey.

The next important ingredient in your surrogacy relationship is communication. While you and your surrogate will have a team of professionals that you can talk to throughout your journey being able to communicate with each other about your relationship and about the pregnancy will help you feel that you are really participating and it will help your surrogate feel that you really care. At the core of good communication is having clear and articulated expectations. It is totally appropriate to ask your surrogate how much and what kind of communication she wants. It is also important for you to be clear about how much communication you want. The best way to keep open lines of communication with your surrogate is to be interested in her and her life, but you can keep it light and let the relationship develop naturally.

Boundaries are an essential part of any relationship and the surrogacy relationship is no different. You can always open a boundary as the process progresses, but once you open a boundary up it is very hard to close it again. Be careful not to make promises that you can’t keep–remember your surrogacy relationship exists for one goal: to help you create your family. Intended parents sometimes make the mistake of “falling in love at first sight” with their surrogate when they meet her and realize that she is the woman who will help them fulfill their dream of parenthood. In that honeymoon phase they may reveal things or promise things that they later regret. The rule of thumb is: take it slow, be warm and authentic and have good boundaries.

The final ingredient in the surrogacy relationship is flexibility. Surrogacy is not a linear process and there are many points in the journey where flexibility will be essential. Remember that your surrogate probably has a very full life outside of the surrogacy and although your journey to parenthood may be first and foremost on your mind, she also has to think about her kids, her partner, and her job, and the surrogacy may not always be first in line for her attention. So, be flexible in your expectations of her. She doesn’t need to return your call instantly to be taking good care of her body and your baby!

Overall, your surrogate’s primary goal is to succeed at having your baby–the relationship that you have along the way is the backdrop for that unfolding story and the beginning chapter in your child’s life. When you trust each other, have good, open communication, live inside of appropriate and fluid boundaries and bring flexibility to all of your expectations you set the stage for a wonderful journey together!

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IVF babies do not have lower cognitive skills than naturally conceived children

Researchers analysed data of hundreds of UK children who had been born through IVF or ICSI (when the man has a low sperm count), testing the same groups of children every few years up to the age of 11. They found a positive association between artificial conception and cognitive development when a child was between the ages of three and five.

The study published in the journal, Human Reproduction, also shows that parents who undergo such treatments are generally older, more educated and have a higher socio-economic status than parents who had naturally conceived children. Artificially conceived babies are more likely to be part of a multiple birth or have low birth weight, however, this study finds their family backgrounds 'override' the possible negative effects to health that could lessen cognitive ability. The findings are significant given previous studies show a mixed picture, with some research suggesting assisted reproductive treatments can harm a child's cognitive abilities.

Researchers Professor Melinda Mills and doctoral student Anna Barbuscia, from the University of Oxford's Department of Sociology and Nuffield College, used data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative group of 18,552 families. They analysed a sample of babies born in 2000-1 who were resident in the UK at nine months, using data from the Department of Social Security Child Benefit Registers.

Out of 15,281 artificially conceived children born in 2000-1, 8,298 were followed up for cognitive ability tests in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2012. Out of 15,218 children born in 2000-2001, who were followed up for cognitive ability tests in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2012, 214 were conceived artificially through IVF or ICSI. Standardised tests (British Ability Scales) were used at each stage to assess the children's vocabulary skills (at three and five); reading at seven, and use of verbs at 11. The scores were compared with those of children who had been naturally conceived.

Analyses show that mothers and fathers are on average four to five years older, respectively, than parents of naturally conceived children. This group of parents is also likely to have a higher income and belong to a higher social class, with the mothers more likely to be highly educated and employed than mothers of naturally conceived babies. The study notes that these factors are 'consistent and statistically significant' and highlights that they are widely accepted as being linked with children with higher cognitive abilities in the early years.

Researcher Professor Melinda Mills, from the Department of Sociology, said: 'The findings suggest that the positive effect of the family background of children conceived through artificial reproduction techniques "overrides" the risks of related poor health impairing their cognitive ability. Although artificially conceived babies have a higher risk of being born prematurely or as a multiple birth, we have found they also have parents who are older, better educated and from a higher income bracket.

'These are all factors linked with better outcomes for children. What is significant is that this positive effect is over the long term up to the age of 11. The findings support other studies showing that on balance such fertility treatments do not impair a child's higher thinking skills.'

Lead author Anna Barbuscia said: 'The strong desire and considerable psychological and financial effort involved in having a child through artificial conception treatments undoubtedly contributes to more attentive parenting.

'Parents may perceive their children as more fragile but once past the period of greatest risk, their parenting style may change to become more like other parents. This might account for the fact that the gap in higher cognitive ability has closed by the time both groups of children had reached the age of 11 with only slightly better scores for artificially conceived children at this later stage .'

The paper explains that since the first IVF baby was born in 1978, there has been a rapid increase in the use of artificial reproductive technology, with more than 5 million children conceived this way (up to 2012). To date, results on the long-term effects on children have been mixed. Some studies reported an increased risk of damage to their behavioural, social, emotional and cognitive development, as well as mental disorders or physical problems such as low birthweight and premature delivery.

By contrast, a series of systematic reviews concluded, however, that there were no developmental differences once the baby was a few weeks old. Other studies draw similar conclusions to the Oxford study, showing not only comparable but higher mental health and social development in IVF children.

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Diagnosing miscarriage

If you see your GP or midwife because of vaginal bleeding or other symptoms of miscarriage, you may be referred to an early pregnancy unit at a hospital for tests.

If you're more than 18 weeks pregnant, you'll usually be referred to the maternity unit at the hospital.

Tests

The hospital can carry out tests to confirm whether you're having a miscarriage. The tests can also confirm whether there's still some pregnancy tissue left in your womb (an incomplete or delayed miscarriage) or if all the pregnancy tissue has been passed out of your womb (a complete miscarriage).

The first test used is usually an ultrasond scan to check the development of your baby and look for a heartbeat. In most cases, this is usually carried out using a small probe inserted into the vagina (transvaginal ultrasound). This can feel a little uncomfortable but isn't painful.

You may be able to have an external scan through your tummy if you prefer, although this method reduces the accuracy of the scan. Neither type of scan is dangerous to the baby and they don't increase your risk of miscarriage.

You may also be offered blood tests to measure hormones associated with pregnancy, such as beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone. These may be repeated after 48 hours if:

the levels are borderline

the scan isn't conclusive

it's very early in your pregnancy

Sometimes a miscarriage can't be confirmed immediately using ultrasound or blood testing. For example, a heartbeat may not be noticeable if your baby is at a very early stage of development (less than six weeks). If this is the case, you may be advised to have a further ultrasound or pregnancy test, or both, again in a week or two.

Recurrent miscarriages

If you've had three or more miscarriages in a row (recurrent miscarriages), further tests are often used to check for any underlying cause. However, no cause is found in about half of cases. These further tests are outlined below.

If you become pregnant, most units offer an early ultrasound scan and follow-up in the early stages to reassure and support parents.

Karyotyping

If you've had a third miscarriage, it's recommended that the foetus is tested for abnormalities in the chromosomes (blocks of DNA).

If a genetic abnormality is found, you and your partner can also be tested for abnormalities with your chromosomes that could be causing the problem, which is the rarest of known causes. This type of testing is known as karyotyping.

If karyotyping detects problems with your or your partner's chromosomes, you can be referred to a clinical geneticist (gene expert).

They'll be able to explain your chances of a successful pregnancy in the future and whether there are any fertility treatments, such as IVF that you could try. This type of advice is known as genetic counselling.

Ultrasound scans

A transvaginal ultrasound can be used to check the structure of your womb for any abnormalities. A second procedure may be used with a 3D ultrasound scanner to study your lower abdomen and pelvis to provide a more accurate diagnosis.

The scan can also check if you have a weakened cervix. This test can usually only be carried out when you become pregnant again, in which case you'll usually be asked to come for a scan when you are between 10 and 12 weeks pregnant.

Blood testing

Your blood can be checked for high levels of the antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody and lupus anticoagulant. This test should be done twice, six weeks apart, when you're not pregnant.

Antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies are known to increase the chance of blood clots and alter the way the placenta attaches. These blood clots and changes can reduce the blood supply to the foetus, which can cause a miscarriage.

Missed or delayed miscarriage

Sometimes a miscarriage is diagnosed during a routine scan carried out as part of your antenatal care. A scan may reveal your baby has no heartbeat, or that your baby is too small for the date of your pregnancy. This is called a missed or delaye

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Can You Be Infertile and Still Have a Period?

You may be wondering what the answer is to the question "can you be infertile and still have a period." Please continue reading to find out more about this topic. Menstruation as a Sign of Fertility Having a regular menstrual cycle is considered a sign of normal reproductive health. For this reason, a woman getting a checkup or seeking help if she is having trouble conceiving can expect to be asked some questions about her menstrual cycle and what is normal for her. In some cases, changes to a woman's menstrual cycle may indicate a problem that can interfere with her ability to conceive. Can You Be Infertile and Still Have a Period: The Answer You can have a period and be infertile. The fact that a woman is menstruating doesn't necessarily mean that she can conceive and carry a baby to term. For example, if a woman isn't ovulating regularly, she will have a harder time getting pregnant. Some women continue to have periods but don't ovulate at all. This medical condition is known as anovulation. Oligomenorrhea Some women have irregular menstrual cycles where they may have periods that are quite close together at certain times and then skip some months entirely. Teenage girls who have just started to menstruate may not have regular periods for the first couple of years. Once their hormone levels start to regulate themselves better, their periods should start to develop a regular pattern. When oligomenorrhea occurs in adult women, it may be caused by problems with hormone production, which throws off the normal menstrual cycle. This condition may also be caused by problems with ovulation. The lack of a regular menstrual cycle can indicate a fertility problem that means it will be more difficult for the woman to conceive. In a situation where a woman only ovulates a few times per year, her chances of being able to get pregnant are greatly reduced. Amenorrhea When a woman stops menstruating completely, this condition is known as amenorrhea. There are a number of reasons why a woman may stop menstruating and the doctor will need to rule out pregnancy as a cause first. If the pregnancy test is negative, then other possibilities for the lack of menstruation can be considered. Excessive stress and extreme athletic activity can cause a woman to miss periods. Losing a lot of weight rapidly may also interfere with the monthly cycle. Finally, taking some types of medications (narcotics and some drugs used to treat psychiatric conditions) may cause amenorrhea. Trying to Get Pregnant Some women don't think much about their menstrual cycle until they are considering starting or adding to their family. Having an irregular cycle is something that they have simply lived with. Skipping periods sometimes or stopping menstruating entirely may well have been something they considered to be a positive outcome. Even women who have always had cycles that ran like clockwork and who found it hard to become pregnant may have wondered "can you be infertile and still have a period?" Since the two are not related, menstruating regularly doesn't necessarily mean that conception will occur quickly or at all. The fact that a woman does have regular periods can help to rule out some types of fertility issues if she and her partner decide to see an infertility specialist. Keeping track of the menstrual cycle for several months can give the doctor much-needed information to work with. The specialist will want to know about any changes in the length of the cycle that have occurred and if the woman's periods themselves have changed.

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How Do I Know if I Am Infertile? If you are wondering about your fertility and thinking to yourself, "How do I know if I am infertile," you are not alone. Knowing when to seek out additional help can make the conception journey a lot smoother than being left alone with your fears of infertility. Suspecting Infertility Women who do not get pregnant quickly often wonder if they are infertile. Although friends and family members may have tale upon tale of unplanned pregnancies or know lots of people who got pregnant on their first try, the reality is that it often takes time to reach the goal of conceiving a baby. Questions to Ask Yourself The average time to conceive varies for every couple. Generally, specialists do not consider a couple to be infertile until they have been trying for at least six months if they are over 35 and at least a year if they are under 35. Yet, length of time is not the only indicator you might be infertile.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Do I ovulate on a regular basis? Have I taken any drugs in the past, legal or illegal, that may be affecting my fertility today? Was I ever tested for sexually transmitted diseases? If so, was the test positive and did I receive proper treatment? Have I been diagnosed with a reproductive health problem like PCOS or endometriosis?

What is my general health? For example, are you severely underweight or are you being treated for cancer?If the answer was 'no' to the first question or 'yes' to any of the other questions, you may be infertile. It would be in your best interest to have fertility tests run sooner than later. Answers on Your Own Undergoing fertility testing can be expensive, time consuming, and stressful. Before putting yourself and your partner through the pressure of clinical tests, try doing a little research on your own. One way for women to do this is by using a fertility monitor. It helps keep track of hormonal changes in your body, letting you know when a woman is most fertile. If you never get a peak reading, it may indicate you have fertility problems. Both partners can test themselves at home using the Fertell Fertility Test, which boasts a 95 percent accuracy. This test measures: Males: Motile sperm concentration Females: Ovarian reserve via follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) Even if the test comes back negative, you could still be infertile due to other reasons that are not tested for in this kit. Women: How Do I Know If I Am Infertile Finding the answer to the hard question of infertility can sometimes prove to be a difficult journey. In fact, some couples do not end up with a definite answer and are diagnosed with unexplained infertility. But, before they get to that point, a barrage of testing is done to answer the question 'how do I know if I am infertile'. Reasons for infertility involve a myriad of factors, so be prepared to take a lot of tests. Often, you will get a recommendation for a fertility clinic and doctor from your general practitioner. Infertility can be caused by things like previous chlamydia and steroid use, so be up front with your reproductive specialists when they ask you screening questions. Women can be expected to go through a number of tests that might include: Ovulation and hormone testing: Testing is done through various methods to determine whether hormonal imbalances or ovulation issues are leading to infertility. Ultrasounds: An ultrasound may be performed to check the uterine lining or for cysts and fibroids that could be leading to fertility problems. Hysterosalpingography: This is an X-ray with fluids that are used to look at your reproductive organs, especially your fallopian tubes. Laparoscopic surgery: An outpatient surgical procedure where doctors manually look for blockages, ruptures, cysts, or other medical problems that could be causing infertility. Hysteroscopy: The uterus is expanded using gas or water and the doctor looks for irregularities using the hysteroscope. Endometrial biopsy: A small sample of tissue from the endometrium is taken and tested for abnormal hormone levels.Infertility Testing and MenTesting that men may encounter is usually in the form of semen analysis. Men will be asked to give one or two samples of semen, which is then tested for several factors. Not only does the count matter, but so does the amount of motile sperm and their shape.

Infertility Testing and Men Men's hormonal levels can also be tested via blood work. Further testing, like genetic, may be indicated after the semen analysis to check for male fertility problems. Your physician will let you know if additional testing is necessary. Questioning your fertility is not uncommon if it has been several months and you do not have that positive pregnancy test in hand. If you have reasons to believe infertility might be a problem, schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss testing. The sooner a potential problem is diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated.

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Diseases that Make You Infertile

Diseases that make you infertile demonstrate the interconnected relationships of different systems within your body. Pregnancy is an enormously stressful event for a woman's body. Anything that compromises a woman's health can potentially harm her baby. In some cases, infertility shows there is a condition occurring within a woman's body that will prevent a successful pregnancy. Causes of Infertility Both men and women can be infertile. It is not strictly a "woman's problem." Underlying causes have several sources. Both men and woman share the cause of infertility, with other cases involving unknown or a combination of factors.

Female Reproductive Disorders Hormone Disorders Hormone levels exist in a delicate balance within the body. Disorders that interfere with your body's state of equilibrium can cause infertility. Both male and female hormones occur within a woman's body. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) describes a disease where there is an overproduction of male hormones and underproduction of ollicle stimulating hormone. Rather than maturing, eggs become cysts due to damaged follicles within the ovary. The decrease in ovulating eggs results in female infertility. Other conditions affecting the pituitary gland are among the diseases that can make you infertile. You may not readily associate the pituitary gland as a factor in pregnancy; however, it plays an important role in your ovulation cycle. Hormones released stimulate ovulation. Any condition that affects their production can cause irregular or absent periods. Without ovulation, you cannot become pregnant. Tumors are a common cause of pituitary gland hormonal imbalances.

Cancer of Reproductive Organs Male infertility can have complex causes, ranging from congenital disorders to childhood diseases to hormonal causes. Many of these conditions cause infertility by lowering a man's sperm count and thus the chances that fertilization will occur. In the same way, diseases that interfere with a woman's ability to ovulate also cause infertility. Testicular Cancer Testicular cancer is a treatable disease that attacks young men most often between the ages of 15 to 34. Infertility results when immature sperm cells mutate and become cancerous. Treatment options include surgery and chemotherapy, both of which can cause infertility. Ovarian Cancer As with testicular cancer, your chances of recovery from ovarian cancer are best if the disease is detected and treated early, before it has spread to other organs. This cancer attacks the ovaries, the site of egg production in women. Most often, doctors opt for surgery and removal of the female productive organs as the best treatment option. Chemotherapy and radiation may also cause infertility. Ironically, infertile woman may be at increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Other Unrelated Conditions Conditions that may seem to have nothing to do with pregnancy can also cause infertility. Diabetes is one example. One complication resulting from diabetes is retrograde ejaculation. In this case, sperm is not ejaculated from the penis but rather goes into the bladder. Celiac disease, an allergic condition to wheat, is another example of a seemingly unrelated condition that can hamper sperm production and fertility. Recent studies have shown links between spontaneous abortion in women and testicular dysfunction in men. Diseases That Make You Infertile Childhood Diseases Childhood diseases are another cause of infertility. It can be difficult to accept sometimes that having the mumps can affect your ability to have children later in life. It's because these diseases occur during the developing years where potential exists for them to affect your adult life. In men, complications from the mumps can cause orchitis, an inflammation of the testicles. In some cases, orchitis infects the testicles so severely that one or both may cease to function, resulting in male infertility. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sexually transmitted diseases or STDs, represent another cause of infertility in both men and women. Chlamydia is a bacterial disease that affects either sex. Like other conditions, it may or may not have obvious symptoms, increasing its potential for further complications. Untreated chlamydia can spread to a woman's uterus and fallopian tubes. Left untreated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to permanent damage of the uterus, ovaries, and other reproductive structure, resulting in infertility. For men, the fertility risks are equally as great. The potential exists for chlamydia to spread to the epididymis or the tube that delivers sperm from the testes. It is also the site of sperm maturation. Damage to the epididymis can impair sperm growth and interfere with sperm leaving the man's body during ejaculation. Severe cases can cause infertility in men.

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Can a Healthy 40 Year Old Woman Conceive?

"Can a healthy 40 year old woman conceive?" is a question that a number of women and their partners wonder about.

Can a Healthy 40 Year Old Woman Conceive

It is possible for a woman of this age to conceive a child using her own eggs and carry the baby to term. As she gets closer to menopause, the number of eggs she has declines. The eggs that she produces are more likely to have chromosomal abnormalities, which increases the likelihood that the woman will have a miscarriage or have a child with a birth defect.

If a woman in her 40s wants to get pregnant using her own eggs, she has a better chance of doing so in the early part of that decade than if she waited until she was in her mid-forties. The likelihood of conception for a 40-year-old woman undergoing infertility treatments with her own eggs is approximately 25 percent. By the time she reaches the age of 43, the odds of conceiving dropped to 10 percent. A 45-year-old woman's chances of becoming pregnant using her own eggs plummets to 1.6 percent.

Miscarriage rates increase with age, too. A 40-year-old woman has a 24 percent chance of losing the baby and the likelihood of this sad event occurring climbs to 38 percent within three years. Once the woman reaches the age of 44, her chance of pregnancy loss through miscarriage increases to 54 percent.

Paternal Age Matters

The age of the woman's partner has a bearing on whether she will be able to conceive in her 40s, too. Men are capable of fathering a child into their 70s, but as they get older, the quality of the sperm they produce deteriorates and the likelihood of genetic defects increases. The risk of having a child with Down Syndrome increases with paternal age, too.

Chances of Success

When a woman in her mid-thirties is trying to get pregnant, her chances of being able to conceive within 12 months of having regular intercourse are 75 percent. By the time she reaches the age of 40, her chances of becoming pregnant drop to between 40 and 50 percent.

Getting Pregnant Using Donor Eggs

Modern infertility treatments using donor eggs can help to increase a woman's odds of becoming pregnant. This is an option for a woman who wants the experience of carrying a child herself, as opposed to considering working with a surrogate When this option is used, the risks of having a child with a birth defect drop since they are consistent with the egg donor's age. Most women who donate their eggs are in their 20s and they undergo physical and psychological testing before being accepted as candidates for this procedure.

After the eggs have been harvested from the donor, the rest of the process continues in the same way as a standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. The eggs are fertilized with sperm from either the woman's partner or a donor. After between two and five days, the embryos are transferred to the woman's uterus. She can take a pregnancy test after about 14 days to find out whether one or more embryos have successfully attached to the wall of her uterus, resulting in a successful pregnancy.

The answer to the question, "Can a healthy 40 year old woman conceive?" is that it is possible for a woman to do so at that age. As her age increases, the likelihood of conceiving decreases and the chances that she will need some type of infertility treatment to become pregnant goes up. With medical help, a woman in her 40s can start or add to her family.

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How to Emotionally Transfer a Baby Born via Surrogacy

Parents and their children share a deep, affectionate bond — a psychological connection that endures over time. It’s what makes parents instinctively want to care for and nurture their children, and it is important to children’s psychological well-being, sense of security and self-esteem.

In psychology, this bond is called “attachment,” and research suggests that the bonds of attachment begin to form even before the baby is born. The baby gets to know its mother for nine months before birth through the sound of her voice, and in turn, she gets to know her baby through kicks and flutters. The theory of prenatal attachment states that these bonding experiences motivate good health practices during pregnancy, prepare the mother for parenthood, and help promote continued bonding after birth.

But what happens in surrogacy, when parents and their baby don’t get to bond during the pregnancy?

When a baby is born via surrogacy, an emotional transfer needs to take place from the surrogate family to the intended parents. This emotional transfer allows the baby to begin bonding with his or her parents and vice versa. In this article, learn more about the emotional transfer at the baby’s birth, and find tips to help you bond with your surrogate-born baby before and after he or she is born.

1. Preparing for the Emotional Transfer

While intended parents may not have the same prenatal bonding experience with their new babies, there are many things you can do to prepare for the emotional transfer of the baby and ensure you are ready to develop a healthy attachment.

Kris Probasco a licensed clinical social worker specializing in surrogacy and infertility, says the emotional transfer at the hospital is the culmination of the surrogacy journey, which is an emotional time for everyone involved. Probasco, who has more than 40 years of experience in adoption, donor conception and surrogacy, says the key to a successful emotional transfer is to focus on the needs of the child.

“Throughout the process, the focus should be on the child’s needs rather than the intended parents’ need to be parents,” she says. “That will result in a much better attachment and bonding process.”

Here are some of Probasco’s other tips for intended parents to develop healthy bonds with their new baby before his or her birth:

Grieve your losses

Many intended parents choose surrogacy after years of struggling with infertility, and Probasco says it is healthy for intended parents to move through the grieving process before their baby is born.

“We hope that they’ve already done a significant amount of grieving the losses involved in not being able to carry a child,” she says. “They’ve had a lot of failures, so they will really want this surrogacy to work, and that can make them easy to disappoint. Hopefully by the time the baby comes, that will be alleviated.”

Addressing unresolved grief ahead of time will allow you to focus on your child’s needs, as well as your excitement to become parents and bond with your new baby.

Be involved in the pregnancy

Intended parents are encouraged to remain as involved as possible throughout their surrogate’s pregnancy. Probasco suggests that you attend doctor’s appointments, decorate the nursery and have a baby shower.

“The more they are involved in the baby’s prenatal care, the better prepared they will be for the baby’s arrival,” Probasco says.

When you take an active role in preparing for your new baby, it can help you develop a sense of connection, attachment and anticipation for your child.

Talk to your baby

“We know that from an environmental perspective, the child has a keen sense of smell and hearing, and they have already attached to the carrying parent through hearing, smell and touch,” Probasco says.

The more you can talk to your baby — either in person or through recorded tapes — the more familiar your baby will become with you and your family. Probasco suggests recording yourself talking or reading books to the baby and sending the tapes to your surrogate.

Provide a transitional item

The surrogate can also take additional steps to help prepare the baby for his or her new environment. She can play some of your favorite music, which will be familiar to the baby when you bring him or her home. Probasco suggests that surrogates sleep with a teddy bear that will go home with the baby, so he or she can keep that familiar scent close by while transitioning to life in your home.

The Emotional Transfer at the Hospital

The emotional transfer is the culmination of everyone’s hard work throughout the surrogacy process. This is one of the most exciting, rewarding and emotional parts of the entire surrogacy — and it is also when intended parents need to be most focused on their new baby’s needs, Probasco says.

Here are her tips for meeting your baby’s needs at birth and creating a seamless emotional transfer from the surrogate to the intended family:

Confirm the baby’s senses

When your baby is born, he or she “needs to confirm his or her sense of smell, touch and hearing — and they can only get that by being in contact with the surrogate mom,” Probasco says. “The best scenario is that when the baby is born, he or she can be placed on the surrogate’s chest to touch and feel and confirm the smells that they recognize.”

Probasco says if the surrogate is not emotionally ready to hold the baby, she can touch his or her hands and feet.

Physically transfer the baby to the intended parents

Ideally, Probasco says the surrogate will then hand the baby to the intended parents — the moment everyone has been working toward. Probasco says this is important not only to the baby, but to everyone involved.

“It’s good for the surrogate to see the family complete, because that is the whole goal of the surrogacy process,” she says.

Bond through touch

Following the physical transfer of the baby, you should strive for as much skin-on-skin contact as possible. Probasco says this is one of the best ways to promote attachment. Intended mothers may even consider breastfeeding their surrogate-born baby as one way to be physically close and connected.

Following the Emotional Transfer

The emotional transfer at the hospital is just the beginning of the attachment-building process. Many intended parents have a long road ahead as they get used to the day-to-day challenges of parenting and begin bonding with their baby.

To continue to promote healthy attachment with your baby, here are some of Probasco’s suggestions for bonding after bringing baby home:

Stay in contact with the surrogate

Probasco suggests that the intended parents make an effort to see the surrogate family again within a couple of weeks of the baby’s birth.

“It’s just so reaffirming to the child that they haven’t lost anyone, and it provides reassurance to everyone that the surrogacy process was successful,” Probasco says.

Be patient

Bonding doesn’t happen right away for everyone, even mothers who physically gave birth to their children. It can take some time to attach to your new baby, and for him or her to attach to you. Probasco says it’s important to give it time and not to worry.

“There will be crying episodes, like there are for all babies,” Probasco says. “Intended parents need to know that it’s not related to the surrogacy or the transfer if the baby’s fussy or upset.”

Final Thoughts

While intended parents may not have nine months to bond with their child before birth, given time, preparation, and a successful emotional transfer, attachment and bonding will happen naturally — and it will be every bit as strong and permanent as it is for families formed by other means.

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Telling your Children about their Birth via Surrogacy

Many parents find the conversation about birth and where babies come from to be an uncomfortable discussion to have with their children. This topic may be difficult to talk about at first, but telling the truth and being honest with your children is always the best solution.

If your child’s birth story involves surrogacy, the conversation can be more overwhelming. However, surrogacy is an important part of your child’s story. Many people agree that it is important to be honest with how your child was born, as surrogacy is a significant part of them.

There are many reasons to talk to your child openly and honestly about surrogacy. Here are some tips for introducing and discussing this topic with your loved one.

A heavy burden is placed on intended parents, as well as friends and family members to conceal the surrogacy story

Lying or failing to tell the truth about your child’s story can create issues of shame, guilt and distrust, as well as a negative view of surrogacy

Lastly, donor-conceived children risk receiving inaccurate medical information if they don’t have access to their donor’s family medical history

When and How to tell your Child’s Surrogacy Story

Many intended parents recognize the importance of explaining surrogacy to their child. The hard part however is how to approach the topic.

Some put off this conversation until their child is old enough to understand. However, waiting to tell them can have negative consequences. It is recommended that you talk about your surrogacy experience with your child immediately. Very young children are often the most open-minded and are able to process this information.

Preparing to Talk about Surrogacy

Intended parents sometimes need help to tell the story in an age-appropriate way. Start preparing to tell their story even before they are born. Gather information about the surrogacy process and your personal journey with it. Take pictures and document the process of the pregnancy. This way your child will have visuals and understand everyone that was involved in creating their life.

When your baby is born, begin telling them their story as an infant, even though they may not understand. The more practice you have telling it, the more comfortable you will be when your child is ready to really hear their story.

Treat this storytelling process as an ongoing conversation rather than a one- time discussion. Your child’s surrogacy story is a story that you as parents should be proud and honored to share. The more information you can give to your child the more they will understand and value their story as much as you do! If you have any questions about the surrogacy process, don’t hesitate to contact Biotex today!

[alexandrabiotexcom-blog]

10 Things Intended Parents Should Know About Egg Donation

If you're reading this, chances are your specialist has just delivered the news that if you want to have a child, you'll need an egg donor. You might be feeling overwhelmed, scared, angry, and sad, and most likely have many questions. Here are some tips for all intended parents who are embarking upon building their family through egg donation.

1. Pause and breathe.

Take a deep breath—it’s perfectly normal to feel angry, sad, scared, unsure, and overwhelmed. This is one of the biggest decisions you'll make. Because this news can be mind-boggling, give yourself time to wrap your head around the concept of egg donation, what it means, and the steps it will take for you to complete an egg donor cycle from start to finish.

It’s important to know that it's normal to be sad about losing your genetic link to your future child. For some women, it can be a lengthy grieving process. Give yourself time to grieve this loss, and see a therapist to help sort through the complicated feelings that you may feel.

2. Choose a clinic.

One of the most important decisions you'll face when expanding your family through egg donation is where to go for treatment. Select a clinic where you feel honored, respected, and cared for—and with that comes a physician or team of physicians who have your best interests in mind. The rapport and relationship you develop with your physician is critical. Look for a doctor who is going to be kind, caring, compassionate, and above all, willing to partner with you during your treatment.

3. Find an egg donor agency.

Some clinics unfortunately don’t have a large egg donor pool (or an egg donor pool at all) from which the intended parent can select the right egg donor for to help create their family so many intended parents rely upon egg donor agencies to help them find and select an egg donor. Bear in mind not all agencies are created alike.

Keep in mind that above all, egg donor agencies are service providers, meaning you're in the driver’s seat. They may have the egg donor you need to grow your family, but in the end, you're the one writing the check, and they need you to stay in business. Read the service contract carefully. Pay attention to the agency's refund policy; many agencies don’t offer one. Get everything in writing and that means everything.

5. Hire an attorney and draw up a legal contract.

Even if you decide to use the clinic's egg donor pool and all they require is the informed consent agreement, get a legal contract between yourself and your egg donor. Why? To protect you and your egg donor. One of the industry’s leading reproductive lawyers Amy Demma says: “The most compelling reason for you to hire an attorney is to protect, from a legal standpoint, the family you are trying so very hard to build ... why risk it?"

Most egg donor agreements are approximately 25 pages long and will clearly state that the donor is agreeing (among other things) that despite her genetic connection to your child, she has no legal status in your family. Lots of other issues are addressed in a donor contract (which are not addresses in clinic consents) including:

How much you will pay the donor?

When you will pay her?

If you will pay her (what happens if she flakes or otherwise is not cooperative or compliant?)

When/if and how you will contact the donor should you need or want to, in the future.

None of these matters are addressed adequately enough in clinic consents. Remember: a clinic consent is not a contract. As always, seek the advice of a reproductive lawyer and be sure your donor has access to her own counsel.

6. Remember: YOU HAVE OPTIONS!

Simply put, you're in the driver’s seat and are encouraged to ask questions and make reasonable requests. You are entitled to select a known donor. Or you can select an anonymous egg donor. You have the option of seeing photos or not seeing photos. You have the option of having your service contract reviewed by a lawyer (one you pay for but nonetheless a lawyer). It’s really OK to ask questions – this is one of the most important decisions you are ever going to make. And make sure to GET IT ALL IN WRITING.

7. Think ahead about what you'll do with leftover embryos.

You may think this is jumping the gun or putting the cart before the horse but you aren’t. Thinking about what to do with leftover embryos is something you should be thinking about now. Once your family is complete, you may have left over embryos on ice. Again it’s all about options: would you donate your embryos to another couple who are faced with infertility like yourself? Would you donate them to science? Would you donate them to a clinic or an agency that has an embryo donation program? Would you have them destroyed?

8. Decide what you'll tell your kids.

A lot of fear surrounds egg donation and disclosure when it comes to kids. The worry is that your children will reject you, not think of you as their real mom, which causes a lot of anxiety and worry from an intended parent perspective. The reality is that being open with your children from an early age is the healthiest way to go.

9. Seek education and support.

Education and support are the two most important things you'll need as you embark upon this amazing journey through egg donation. You might feel overwhelmed, scared, isolated, and even alone—like you're the only one doing this. Think again! You and about 14,000 intended parents a year.

10. Take time for you!

Last but not least, take time for you and your partner (if you have one). Infertility alone is incredibly stressful: it can make sex impersonal, it can cause us to feel detached, and anxious. This is one of those times in your life that it's important to lean on each other or those in your support group. Another thing to remember (regardless of how many children you decide to have via egg donation), once you're pregnant you then become just like the millions of other parents around the globe: tired, stressed, and often overwhelmed.

Regardless of how much we love our children, and regardless of how much joy they bring sometimes we as parents can become lost in the shuffle and forget who we are. So take time for you: date each other, have sex just to have sex because it feels good. Do something nice for yourself—whether that’s a massage, a walk, or carve out some alone time. Eat well, make time for exercise, and strive to get adequate rest. Last but not least: we are all in this together. It takes a village!

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5 Common Fitness Moves You Should Never Do While Pregnant

Exercise during pregnancy can benefit both mom and baby, but you'll need to take a few moves out of your workout to stay safe while you're expecting.

You know which foods, drinks, meds and products are off-limits during pregnancy, but figuring out which exercise moves and routines to avoid can be tricky. Thanks to that surge of hormones coursing through your pregnant, expanding body that cause physical and hormonal changes, it's important to be cautious when it comes to hitting the gym or taking fitness classes. "The hormone relaxin loosens ligaments, making it easier for you to overstretch," says Kristin McGee, a celebrity yoga and Pilates trainer in New York City. "In addition, changes can occur in a pregnant woman's posture and balance as her belly grows, making her more prone to injury."

Before you kick your legs up at the barre (sadly, not the one that has margaritas!) or sit down in the saddle at spin class, remember to avoid these five fitness moves.

1. Crunches

While this is often the one exercise move women want to do when they find out they're pregnant, crunches should be avoided once the belly starts to expand, typically by the end of the first trimester. This flexion movement can aggravate diastasis resti, a non-painful, but unsightly separation of the abs. "When you're pregnant and your belly grows, your rectus muscles are pulled apart," explains Jennifer McCamish, fitness instructor and owner of Dancers Shape in Austin, Texas. "So performing flexion ab exercises can cause more strain on the muscle and exasperate the separation of the belly muscles." Instead of doing exercises like crunches, a better alternative would be to practice TVA and pelvic floor muscles to keep your muscles strong around the spine. "You always want to think about engaging your abdomen into your spine when you're lifting or moving, which will help keep the muscles strong and stable along the spine for balance purposes," says Brooke Taylor, fitness instructor and creator of TFIGNITE PROGRAM and Taylored Fitness NY LTD.

2. Planks

Planks are a great abdominal exercise, but during pregnancy the movement can place too much pressure on your abdominal wall, especially once you hit your second trimester. "The weight and pressure of the baby is putting enough strain on the abdominal wall to cause diastasis recti, so additional stress only exacerbates the issue and sets you back in your recovery," explains Taylor. She suggests modifying planks by doing the "Quadruped Swimming Exercise." Start kneeling, with your hands directly underneath your shoulders and your knees directly underneath your hips. As you exhale, draw your abdomen in and extend the right arm and left leg away from each other. Simultaneously, lift in the abdomen and focus on keeping the hips nice and even throughout. Inhale, lower the arm and leg down to the mat and repeat the same sequence on the opposite side. "This works the stability of your spine, while keeping your core engaged," Taylor says. "By lengthening the opposite arm and leg away from each other, you're also engaging the posterior chain of your body."

3. Push-ups

For the same reason as planks, it can be very difficult to keep the abs completely contracted and prevent diastasis recti when doing push-ups. As your baby (and belly) grows, a lot of unnecessary pressure is placed on your abdominal wall. In order to activate the same muscle group,  try dropping your knees to the floor or doing incline chest presses instead. Or, Taylor suggests trying a "Standing Cable Chest Fly." Start with your legs in a nice staggered position with one in front of the other. Align the Cable straps with your chest and hold each strap with one hand. Lunge forward in a nice long lunge stance with your arms in your peripheral vision. "You should always start with your arms slightly in front of your body," says Taylor. As you exhale, draw your navel into your spine and bring both hands to meet in front of your chest and center of your body. Envision wrapping your belly into your spine and your arms around a big beach ball. As you inhale open your arms back to your starting position and repeat the sequence for 20 repetitions.

4. Bridge

Just like your doc told you not to snooze on your back during pregnancy, the same goes for your exercise moves. "Lying on your back for extended periods of time can cut off blood flow and result in dizziness for the mom, because the baby is pressing on the vena cava vein, which returns blood flow from her lower body to her heart," explains McGee. If you're looking to fire your back side and get those glutes, hamstrings and abductors working, Taylor recommends trying a side-lying move. "This will help work the deep stabilizers of the hips supporting the weight on the pelvis." Lying on one side, stack your ribs, hips and knees. Make sure there's a small space between your hips and ribs and, as you inhale, lift your leg up as high as you can without compromising your hips—typically 2-3 inches—then lower down. Repeat 20 reps and then perform 10 circles forward and 10 circles back.

5. Deep twists

While it's good to continue working out in all planes of motion, once you hit your second and third trimester, you should avoid twisting, spinal rotation or jarring movements, suggests Taylor. The main reason is because doing so could cause diastasis recti and the midline of your abs to split, creating an avoidable tear. Instead, focus on doing stabilization exercises that continue to work your core without flexing and extending. "This will also help you maintain balance as your baby continues to grow and expand and your ligaments continue to loosen," she says. One example, is lying on your side and doing a side leg lift. "Bend your bottom leg and straighten your top, inhale to prepare and exhale as you lift, lowering your top leg with your knee facing the floor and your heel spiraling to the sky," says McCamish. "This exercise will strengthen your adductor muscles, which are important stabilizers on the outside of the hip."

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Morning Sickness and Gender of Baby

The truth of being able to predict the gender of your baby by the severity of your morning sickness is veiled in the mystical origins of most old wives' tales. However, this pregnancy myth has some scientific evidence to support the women who continue to believe in it.

The Old Wives' Tale

According to this old wives' tale, if you have severe morning sickness, you are more likely to deliver a girl. Like other pregnancy myths, this prediction has uncertain origins. However, women who swear by it or are looking for scientific proof of this passed-down belief keep it alive through ongoing Internet discussions.

The Scientific Evidence

A few studies found that women who had severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) had a 27 to 80 percent greater chance of having a girl than a boy. The following is a sample of these studies since 1999:

A Swedish study reported in the British journal, Lancet in 1999, found that women with hyperemesis gravidarum were more likely to deliver female offspring than women who did not have severe morning sickness.

A Danish study, summarized in a letter to Lancet in 2000, showed that there were more girls born to women admitted to hospital for hyperemesis than in the general population. The birth gender ratio was 1.0:0.87 girls to boys, compared to the usual average of 1.0:1.05 girls to boys in the general population.

A Boston University study published in the journalEpidemiology in 2001 showed that women with hyperemesis delivered more girls than women without hyperemesis, regardless of whether they had to be hospitalized or not.

A study from Washington State of pregnant women, hospitalized between 1987-1996 for hyperemesis in the first trimester, was reported in 2004 in the journal An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Compared to women not hospitalized for hyperemesis, these women were 50 percent more likely to deliver girls than boys and had a birth gender ratio of 1.5:1.0 girls to boys. Women who were hospitalized three days or more had an 80 percent (1.8:1.0) greater chance of having a girl than a boy.

Dutch researchers published another study in the same BJOG journal in 2011. This was a statistical analysis of several previously published studies by which they found that women with hyperemesis overall had a 27 percent (1.27:1.0) greater likelihood of having a girl than a boy.

There are no studies comparing women with milder symptoms of morning sickness to those without morning sickness.

Possible Explanation Offered

Women who are pregnant with girls are thought to have a higher level of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Some researchers suppose that the higher HCG and/or the higher estrogen levels produced by female fetuses account for the greater severity of hyperemesis in those women.

The Reality

Although these studies show some support for the myth that women with morning sickness are more likely to have a girl, the reality is that the rest of the symptomatic women had boys. Therefore, this old wives' tale is not a dependable way to predict the gender of your baby. Go the conventional route and get an ultrasound if you are yearning to know, or wait for the delight of the surprise at birth.

[alexandrabiotexcom-blog]

Vaginal progesterone reduces the rate of preterm birth

Treatment with vaginal progesterone reduced the risk of preterm birth, neonatal complications and death in pregnant women with twins and who have a short cervix -- a risk factor for preterm birth -- according to a meta-analysis of individual patient data by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, the Wayne State University School of Medicine, the Detroit Medical Center, and other institutions in the United States and abroad.

Births occurring before the 37th week of pregnancy are considered preterm. Preterm birth increases the risk for infant death and long term disability. Twin pregnancies present a five- to six-time increased risk for preterm birth.

In preparation for birth, the cervix (lower part of the uterus) thins and shortens during pregnancy. In some women, the cervix shortens prematurely, as early as the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy. The natural hormone progesterone (also called the "pregnancy hormone"), inserted in the vagina either as a gel or tablet has been shown to decrease the risk for preterm birth associated with a short cervix in women with a single fetus in previous conducted by NIH and WSU investigators.

The new study, "Vaginal progesterone decreases preterm birth and neonatal morbidity and mortality in women with a twin gestation and a short cervix: an updated meta-analysis of individual patient data," was published in Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

"The findings represent persuasive evidence that treatment with vaginal progesterone in women with a short cervix and a twin gestation reduces the frequency of preterm birth, neonatal complications such as respiratory distress syndrome, and importantly, neonatal death," said the study's first author, Roberto Romero, M.D., chief of the Perinatology Research Branch of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Dr. Romero emphasized that individual patient data meta-analyses represent the "gold standard" in the hierarchy of scientific evidence to answer clinical questions.

"Currently there is no treatment for the prevention of preterm birth in twin gestations," said Sonia Hassan, M.D., a co-author of the study. Dr. Hassan is the associate dean for Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health at WSU, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology for the School of Medicine, and director of the Center for Advanced Obstetrical Care and Research for the NIH's Perinatology Research Branch, hosted at Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center.

The meta-analysis included the results of six studies, encompassing 303 women pregnant with twins, all of whom had a cervical length of 25 mm or less in the mid-trimester. Of these, 159 women received vaginal progesterone and 144 received a placebo or no treatment. Women who received vaginal progesterone were 31 percent less likely to deliver before 33 weeks of pregnancy (31 percent for those receiving vaginal progesterone, compared to 43 percent for those who did not). Vaginal progesterone also reduced the rate of preterm delivery before 32 weeks and 34 weeks. All results were statistically significant.

Infants born to patients who received vaginal progesterone had a 30 percent reduction in the rate of respiratory distress syndrome, the most common complication of prematurity (from 47 percent in the placebo/no treatment group, to 33 percent in the vaginal progesterone group), a 46 percent reduction in the rate of mechanical ventilation (from 27 percent in the placebo/no treatment group, to 16 percent in the vaginal progesterone group), and a 47 percent reduction in the risk of dying in the neonatal period (from 22 percent in the placebo/no treatment group, to 11 percent in the vaginal progesterone group). These results were all statistically significant, as well.

The authors conclude that the results of this individual patient data meta-analysis represents strong evidence that vaginal progesterone in twin gestations with a short cervix reduces preterm birth, neonatal complications and neonatal death. This is the first intervention to successfully reduce both preterm birth and neonatal death.

"One of the most serious complications of multiples in pregnancy is premature birth. In 2014, the Michigan rate of preterm birth due to plurality was over 60 percent," said Kara Hamilton-McGraw, Maternal Child Health director for the March of Dimes. "Discovering a successful intervention to address premature birth in multiples could largely impact the rate of babies born too soon and those that, sadly, do not live to see their first birthday."

[alexandrabiotexcom-blog]

8 Real Life Struggles Every Woman Has During Pregnancy

When People Keep Talking About Your Weight

We get it people: women gain weight when they're pregnant. This has happened to every mother-to-be since the beginning of time, and yet people still approach expectant mothers and comment on their weight. They're not trying to be mean (hell, my brother once told my cousin's wife she looked "huge" when she was pregnant) and are making a very real observation, but many pregnant women actually despise it when you tell them how big they're getting.

Suddenly Realizing Just How Far Your Feet Are From Your Hands

That probably sounded like a weird foot fetish thing, but that's not what I mean. It's easy to take your foot reaching abilities for granted when you're not with child. Those pedicures you used to give yourself? Not gonna' happen. Just being able to tie your shoes? Time to try some slip-on flats. Oh, did you just drop some food on the kitchen floor? Hopefully you have a dog to clean that up for you.

Everything Related to Peeing

Might as well be direct about this one! With all the hormonal changes and the pressure you feel against your bladder from your growing uterus, the urgency to pee is non-stop. On top of your frequent pee breaks, you'll also notice that the most random things will make you have leaking issues. Laughing, coughing, sneezing, and even exercising can cause you to pee a little.

"​It’s all because your growing baby, who’s hanging out inside your equally expanding uterus, is putting extra pressure on your bladder," Dr. C. Joseph Cadle told The Bump. "That adds stress on the muscles of the bladder sphincter (the valve that keeps your urine inside until you’re ready to go)."

Seeing Your Partner Sleep Every Which Way on the Bed

Maybe it's just me, but there's usually only one position I can sleep in: on my stomach (prone position). Sometimes, though rarely, I'm able to sleep on my side, but otherwise I have to lay flat on my tummy with my head turned to one side to ensure a good night's rest. If I try to sleep on my back, face up in the supine position, I end up being extremely restless all night and sometimes even experience sleep paralysis.

​So of course, when I eventually become pregnant, adjusting to sleeping on my side (they say it's best to sleep on your left side) is going to be brutal but necessary. It'll probably take me a lot of effort not to strangle my future husband when I see him deep in slumber beside me, rolling around like it's no big deal.

Your Constant Food Cravings

Aside from just wanting to eat all the food all the time, craving specific meals becomes too real. Food cravings, which could be psychological and lead to overeating as well as excess weight gain, according to a study from the University of Albany, occurs within 50 to 90 percent of pregnant women. Ice cream? Fried chicken? Basically anything spicy? If it doesn't make you nauseous then you'll probably be eating it.

When Someone Eats Your Food

However, if you've been thinking about something in your fridge all day and someone else eats it... game over. You're already having terrible mood swings while your pregnant, and suddenly you get home only to find that your S/O has eaten that leftover takeout you've been wanting since you woke up this morning. So now, not only are you pissed, but you have to find something else to satisfy your hunger.

Being Able to Relate to an Animal Stuck on Its Back for the First Time Ever

Though it's recommended that pregnant women avoid sleeping on their backs, some expectant mothers are just bound to wake up at night in the supine position anyway. When that happens, you basically lie there on your bed rolling around like a turtle, wondering why they didn't create Life Alert for pregnant women as well.

Discovering What Constipation Feels Like... Every Day

When you don't feel like you have to pee (that's laughable), there's a great chance that you probably feel constipated instead. As TMI as that sounds, it happens to many pregnant women, so it shouldn't be a cause for concern despite how frustrating it is. In fact, about three out of four moms-to-be experience constipation, diarrhea or other bowel disorders, according to a Loyola University Medical Center study.

However, the constipation won't usually be so bad that it affects your everyday routine, and the reason behind it is due to physiological and hormonal changes, according to the study's senior author and Associate Professor, Scott Graziano.

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Scientists create artificial mouse 'embryo' from stem cells for first time

This image shows stem cell-modeled mouse embryo at 96 hours (left); Mouse embryo cultured in vitro for 48 hours from the blastocyst stage (right). The red part is embryonic and the blue extra-embryonic.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have managed to create a structure resembling a mouse embryo in culture, using two types of stem cells -- the body's 'master cells' -- and a 3D scaffold on which they can grow.

Understanding the very early stages of embryo development is of interest because this knowledge may help explain why more than two out of three human pregnancies fail at this time.

Once a mammalian egg has been fertilised by a sperm, it divides multiple times to generate a small, free-floating ball of stem cells. The particular stem cells that will eventually make the future body, the embryonic stem cells (ESCs) cluster together inside the embryo towards one end: this stage of development is known as the blastocyst. The other two types of stem cell in the blastocyst are the extra-embryonic trophoblast stem cells (TSCs), which will form the placenta; and primitive endoderm stem cells that will form the so-called yolk sac, ensuring that the fetus's organs develop properly and providing essential nutrients.

Previous attempts to grow embryo-like structures using only ESCs have had limited success. This is because early embryo development requires the different types of cell to coordinate closely with each other.

However, in a study published today in the journal Science, Cambridge researchers describe how, using a combination of genetically-modified mouse ESCs and TSCs, together with a 3D scaffold known as an extracellular matrix, they were able to grow a structure capable of assembling itself and whose development and architecture very closely resembled the natural embryo.

"Both the embryonic and extra-embryonic cells start to talk to each other and become organised into a structure that looks like and behaves like an embryo," explains Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz from the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, who led the research. "It has anatomically correct regions that develop in the right place and at the right time."

Professor Zernicka-Goetz and colleagues found a remarkable degree of communication between the two types of stem cell: in a sense, the cells are telling each other where in the embryo to place themselves.

"We knew that interactions between the different types of stem cell are important for development, but the striking thing that our new work illustrates is that this is a real partnership -- these cells truly guide each other," she says. "Without this partnership, the correct development of shape and form and the timely activity of key biological mechanisms doesn't take place properly."

Comparing their artificial 'embryo' to a normally-developing embryo, the team was able to show that its development followed the same pattern of development. The stem cells organise themselves, with ESCs at one end and TSCs at the other. A cavity opens then up within each cluster before joining together, eventually to become the large, so-called pro-amniotic cavity in which the embryo will develop.

While this artificial embryo closely resembles the real thing, it is unlikely that it would develop further into a healthy fetus, say the researchers. To do so, it would likely need the third form of stem cell, which would allow the development of the yolk sac, which provides nourishment for the embryo and within which a network of blood vessel develops. In addition, the system has not been optimised for the correct development of the placenta.

Professor Zernicka-Goetz recently developed a technique that allows blastocysts to develop in vitro beyond the implantation stage, enabling researchers to analyse for the first time key stages of human embryo development up to 13 days after fertilisation. She believes that this latest development could help them overcome one of the main barriers to human embryo research: a shortage of embryos. Currently, embryos are developed from eggs donated through IVF clinics.

"We think that it will be possible to mimic a lot of the developmental events occurring before 14 days using human embryonic and extra-embryonic stem cells using a similar approach to our technique using mouse stem cells," she says. "We are very optimistic that this will allow us to study key events of this critical stage of human development without actually having to work on embryos. Knowing how development normally occurs will allow us to understand why it so often goes wrong."

The research was largely funded by the Wellcome Trust and the European Research Council.

Dr Andrew Chisholm, Head of Cellular and Developmental Science at Wellcome, said: "This is an elegant study creating a mouse embryo in culture that gives us a glimpse into the very earliest stages of mammalian development. Professor Zernicka-Goetz's work really shows the importance of basic research in helping us to solve difficult problems for which we don't have enough evidence for yet. In theory, similar approaches could one day be used to explore early human development, shedding light on the role of the maternal environment in birth defects and health."