Should I Use Egg Donation for In Vitro? Your Questions, Answered!

Anyone who has experienced infertility is familiar with how overwhelming it can be. Besides the emotional rollercoaster, there’s a plethora of information and options to consider. For instance, you may have heard egg donors help couples, particularly older women, realize their dream of carrying and having a baby, but you’re not sure what’s involved. To help you better understand this option, we have answered the most commonly asked questions when it comes to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) using donated eggs. Happy Healthy Baby

Why choose donor eggs?

It may come as a surprise that IVF with donor eggs has such a high success rate – up to 55% – and is one of the preferred options for women 35 or older. Using donor eggs is a viable alternative for couples struggling with egg quantity or quality, genetic diseases, or previous IVF failure. The success of donor egg IVF relies on a quality database of donors and highly skilled physicians and technicians. Respected donor egg programs or networks will ensure their donors are in optimal health and age, and screen eggs to ensure only the best are made available for transfer.

Where do I start?

Once you have made the decision to proceed with using donated eggs, you’ll need to find a donor. Some people turn to family or friends, but you can also find reputable programs with an extensive egg donor database and sufficient background information about the donors.

Then, you’ll need to decide whether to use frozen or fresh donor eggs. Using fresh eggs is more complicated, and often costs more than using frozen. Fresh cycles also involve the donor and recipient having to sync their cycles, and in turn, offers little control over exactly when a transfer can occur.

Conversely, when the recipient uses frozen eggs they know exactly how many viable eggs they have beforehand and can plan for the day of transfer.

First, you’ll need to choose your donor. High quality donor egg programs provide information on all of their donors’ biological attributes, life accomplishments, and health. Some couples decide to focus on donors who have similar physical features to them, while other recipients choose to consider other factors.

After your decision, arrangements will be made to deliver your frozen egg lot – a group of five to eight of your donor’s most viable eggs – to your fertility clinic.

What happens after the eggs are delivered?

Your eggs can remain frozen at your fertility clinic until you are ready for transfer. Your fertility specialist can help you better understand the process, and will work with you to ensure you have the best chance of conceiving.

You’ll need to take medication to thicken your uterine lining to give your fertilized eggs (embryos) the best environment possible. Usually, the medication comes in the form of injections, but may also include oral medication. Most couples find that the process doesn’t interfere much in their daily lives and support one another through it. Naturally, you may be concerned about side effects, but most women experience very little or no issues with the medication.

Around 3-5 days before your transfer is scheduled, your eggs will be thawed and fertilized with your partner’s sperm. Fertilized eggs become embryos, which are then monitored for development and to identify the best one(s) for transfer.

What happens during transfer?

Depending on your situation and personal preference, one or two embryos will be selected for transfer. The transfer process is relatively non-invasive. Ultrasound is used with a small catheter-like tube to insert the embryos into the uterus. Most women report experiencing no or little discomfort, rather than pain, during the embryo transfer process. Some describe it as similar to having a pap smear.

What happens after transfer?

The following weeks are often the most frustrating as you wait for nature to take its course. It’s important to stay as calm as possible during this time. Your fertility clinic will ask you to come back around two weeks after your transfer for a blood test to measure your human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels. HcG is known as the pregnancy hormone and isn’t typically detectable until a couple of weeks after conception. Hopefully, you’ll receive positive news and your pregnancy proceeds like any other. In any case, your fertility clinic will be there to support you and determine your next steps.

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Things to Figure Out Before Having a Baby
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Tips for a Happy Pregnancy

As women, we get to experience something that our men don’t. We get to have a human life grow inside of us. Now, of course, men don’t have to deal with the extra hormones, mood swings, cravings, backaches, and, you know, giving birth, but the mother-child bond is a profound and magical experience that is well worth those discomforts. Tips for a Happy Pregnancy

While pregnancy is truly magical, it’s only magical about 10% of the time. While the end result makes it worthwhile, most of it is, admittedly, a pain. It’s hard. It makes you cranky. Once you hold your newborn, however, you wouldn’t give up the pain for anything in the universe. Pregnancy is a difficult journey leading to a priceless gift, and there are some ways to make your pregnancy journey easier.

Choose Your Surprise As a new mother, you have the choice to find out your baby’s gender before or after birth. When you head into a radiology center to get your ultrasound, you can ask them to conceal your infant’s gender and keep it a secret. For you and your partner, deciding how to be surprised is a fun part of this process. Do you want the miracle of birth to come with that surprise? Or, do you want the joy of prepping their clothes, things, and nursery? When it comes to your pregnancy, you get to decide how you’re going to celebrate this discovery.

Sleep

The further along you get, the harder it’s going to be to sleep like you used to. You might want to invest in a giant pregnancy pillow. However, you should ask to borrow a friend’s old one first, since some women end up hating them. If you’ve been putting off switching your mattress, now’s the time to head to America’s Mattress of the Lowcountry and get a new one. A new mattress will help ensure that you spend those pregnant nights in comfort.

Diet

For the nine months that you’re carrying this new human, you must give up alcohol and smoking. In addition to these well-known no-nos, there are a few dietary aids you should be taking during pregnancy. Be sure you’re utilizing your doctor’s recommendation on prenatal vitamins, and eat tons of healthy, protein-packed food, like eggs, legumes, and leafy greens. This diet will help your baby grow, but it will also likely make you feel better.

Rely on Your Guy

Chances are, you have a partner who’s in this process, too. He’ll be around for the long haul of your pregnancy, and you’re with him for a reason–because you love him, and you want to share your life with him. So, don’t try to tackle this pregnancy alone. Remember, your guy DOES have to deal with the extra hormones, mood swings, cravings, backaches, and birth because he’s going to be there for you. If he’s sympathetic, it might even be worse for him at times that for you. Remember to rely on his support and encouragement, and get all the help you need. You might be superwoman, but you still need love and care from others.

And after the baby is born it is becoming popular with young families to have pictures taken just a few days after. Photographers find Newborn Photography is one of the easiest forms of portrait photography.
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5 Tips for Your Best Possible Pregnancy


 5-Tips-for-Your-Best-Possible-PregnancyAre you pregnant? Congratulations! You may feel a little overwhelmed right now. Becoming a mom is scary and challenging, but it’s also one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever experience. It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to feel underprepared. However, remember that pregnancy is the first nine months of an amazing future; one in which that you get to be “mom.”

Rewarding though it is, pregnancy can be stressful. That’s why we’ve put together our five favorite tips for the best possible pregnancy. Here are some easy tips for staying sane. 

See Your Doctor

Most of your jitters may revolve around physical discomfort and fear for your baby’s immediate health. It’s important to see your doctor regularly during this time to get your questions answered, and to make sure both you and your baby are doing well. Find a clinic, like Vanguard Medical Group Women’s Health Services, and stay up-to-date on your pregnancy progress.

Take Care of Your Health

There’s a great deal you can do for both you and your baby when it comes to health. Pregnancy-safe exercises can keep you fit and healthy. A special diet of iron rich foods, prenatal vitamins, and no alcohol or tobacco keeps your baby thriving as he or she grows. It can feel like a great deal of pressure to eat for two, but stay strong and keep munching on spinach. You only have a few more months to go!

See if Dad Wants to be Involved

You may not be sure of your baby’s paternity. If you want to get your baby’s DNA tested, you can contact a facility, like the Upstate DNA Testing of Central New York LLC, to find out who the father is. Knowing the paternity helps you decide whether you want to reach out to the father in the first place. If you do, he may or may not want any involvement. Remember, his involvement is up to you and, if you’re comfortable with it, extra help is fantastic. 

Take Parenting Classes

If you’re nervous about being underprepared for your new child, you should take parenting classes. You’ll be amazed at the tips and techniques child psychologists teach. Many have tips that actually work. You’ll look like a rock-star parent, and your child will behave better than the kids belonging to most of your “prepared” friends. Parenting is hard, but it’s absolutely something for which you can prepare. 

Take Care of You

With all this pressure to keep your baby safe and properly fed, you might feel like your needs get shoved to the side. You didn’t ask to throw up this morning! You’re definitely giving up things for your little one, such as alcohol, caffeine, etc. It can be hard to feel like your own person while you navigate life for two. Remember to still do plenty of things for you during this special, delicate time. Get your nails done. Buy yourself a gift at the end of every month. You’re doing a spectacular job, and you need to remind yourself that just being pregnant makes you superwoman! Also, remember to allow a little frustration, and make room for help. Soon, your pregnancy will end, and you get to meet a brand new person.

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