Testing your Fertility

If you have baby on your mind then you should also be thinking about fertility testing too.  

Recently I have been talking with several couples whom their doctor told them traditional conception was practically out of the question.  This news can be devastating for anyone…especially a woman because your ability to make a baby is so wrapped up with your identity as a woman.  

My advice…Don't wait until your 35, when you've conquered your career and travel bug to find out you've run out of options.  You get a pap smear every year, right?  Why not schedule testing for your fertility.  Not saying that you want to start your family right away, but to prepare for the future.  To know what you are up against.  Having your fertility and hormone levels checked yearly is a great way to prepare for baby.  

If you have irregular or absent menstrual cycles, very painful periods, or a history of a pelvic infection, a ruptured appendix, or known endometriosis you should definitely have your fertility and hormone levels checked.  Having trouble conceiving for several months or worrying excessively about it are also signs you might want to get your fertility checked out, regardless of your age.

If you or someone you know are considering the gestational surrogacy path you  must have your fertility and hormones level tested.  

Here are a list of questions for you to ask at your check-up…

• How do smoking, alcohol and illegal drug use in either partner affect fertility?

• What would be an ideal weight for me to be at?

• Which vitamins should I be taking?

• Is there anything my partner and I can do to improve our chances?

• Are there any health issues I’m at risk for or need to take care of before fertility?

• Is my age an issue?

• Are there any unsafe chemicals I should stay away from?

Topics to Talk About:

• You and your partner’s medical, surgical, reproductive and family histories

• Genetic conditions at risk

• Immunizations and vaccinations

• Ways to improve overall health

• Potential health problems or hazards you could run into

• Family concerns that could affect your health, such as lack of support

• Sexually transmitted diseases

Even if, you’ve been seeing your doctor for years, don’t assume he or she remembers everything about you. Talk about your health history, lifestyle factors, and home and workplace environment...especially if you have any concerns about any of them. Whatever your questions, it’s likely you’ll return home with a wealth of knowledge.  Your doctor will likely have pamphlets to help you keep track of all the information he or she shares but, if not, consider taking notes, so you don’t forget!

Source: http://www.theafa.org

Why choose Surrogacy? Part 2

I am going to talk about the elephant in the room…male infertility.  Yes, fellas you can be the cause too.  Male infertility is due to low sperm production, abnormal sperm function or blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm.  Illnesses, injuries, chronic health problems, lifestyle choices and other factors can play a role in causing male infertility.  Before embarking into surrogacy you will need to be sure that your swimmers are up to the challenge.  Like I mentioned before in previous articles…there are specific tests you will need to determine the quality of your sperm.  

There are several things you can do to guard your baby making tad poles…


Wear boxers if you are trying to conceive.  Tight underwear or pants can do some damage by squishing a man's parts or increasing scrotal temperature.  Skip the hot tub and sauna.  
Exposure to the high temperatures in saunas and hot tubs can heat things up down there, 
and if the temperature of the testicles gets too high, it can kill the sperm and interfere with
sperm production, potentially resulting in low sperm count and motility.



Laptops can be harmful Considering laptops can get hot enough to burn your legs, men may want to keep them away from the private parts too.  There’s evidence that just like in hot tubs and saunas, the heat from a laptop can raise scrotal temperature, which, again, may interfere with sperm production.  If you’re trying to conceive, you may want to keep the laptop on a table or desk just to be safe.

Be aware of cell phones Some experts have linked cell phones to a range of problems, including brain tumors, cancer and infertility.  Studies have shown that it can lead to higher levels of free radicals in sperm samples, possibly decreasing the quality of those swimmers.  Experts suggest men keep cell phones out of their pockets and off their belts.

Age does matter While women are constantly being warned about the difficulty of conceiving as they get older, it turns out that even though men can (and regularly do) father children well after crossing the senior citizen mark, male fertility does decline with age.  According to research, sperm production decreases in men after age 40 and certainly, after 50.  Still, unlike women, who undergo menopause, men can conceivably conceive well after that.

Stress is a fertility killerWhile you might not be surprised that your lifestyle plays a role in fertility, you might not realize how large a role stress plays in both male and female fertility problems.  For guys, stress can lead to impotence, erectile dysfunction and even shut down the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis...all of which can interfere with fertility.  While it’s next to impossible to avoid stress completely, it is important for you to work on managing your stress, especially if you’re finding the whole getting pregnant thing...well, pretty damn stressful.  Try daily stress-reducing activities such as going for walks, exercising, meditating or just sharing some laughs.


Being overweight will not help your future family  
Adopting a healthy lifestyle will certainly boost your chances of conceiving.  Plus, obesity in men is associated with decreased sperm count and quality, and excessive weight may also be associated with misshapen sperm, which can interfere with the sperm’s ability to reach and penetrate the egg.


Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org    http://www.webmd.com/default.htm

Common Fertility Terms Explained

Whether you are just beginning your baby journey or have years of research these terms/abbreviations can be confusing, along with the required tests.  Infertility issues are more common than we think and having the proper knowledge about fertility terms is key to navigating this system. 

Amenorrhea

This is when a woman misses her period for three or four months in a row.

Aneuploidy

Aneuploidy is when there are an abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell. This could cause miscarriage or health problems in the baby.

Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)

This protein gets your eggs ready to be released. If you get fertility testing, your doc may check your blood’s AMH levels to make sure your ovaries are still popping out eggs.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

Fertility treatments and procedures that involve surgically removing eggs and combining them with sperm (outside the body) to help you get pregnant are referred to as ART.

Azoospermia

This is a male fertility problem. It’s when his semen doesn’t contain any sperm.

Blastocyst

Once an egg is fertilized, it’s known as a blastocyst. It begins a development phase that ends when it implants into the uterine wall.

Cervical Mucus

Sorry, but this may sound gross. Cervical mucus is secreted from the cervix. It’s produced by the hormone estrogen in the first part of your monthly menstrual cycle. That’s why many TTCers check their discharge for signs of cervical mucus -- it clues them in on when they might ovulate.

Clomiphene Citrate

You might know this as Clomid. It’s a fertility drug that’s used to trigger the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which can jump-start the ovulation process.

Egg Donation

In this fertility treatment, a woman who’s infertile uses donated eggs, taken from a fertile woman, to do an ART procedure.

Embryo

Once an egg has been fertilized and starts dividing, it becomes an embryo.

Embryo Donation

Sometimes, embryos (unused from other reproductive procedures) are donated to other women so they can try ART to get pregnant.

Endometriosis

In this health condition, tissue that’s normally inside the uterus grows in other places, such as on the fallopian tubes and ovaries. This can cause bleeding, scarring, pelvic pain and infertility.

Estrogen

This is the hormone in a woman’s body that makes her eggs mature and causes her endometrium to start thickening to prep for pregnancy.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

This hormone is part of reproduction for both men and women. In men, it stimulates sperm production and keeps it going. In women, it matures egg follicles -- that's why having high levels of FSH could mean she has few eggs left and may have trouble conceiving. Fertility experts believe that FSH levels over 10 to 15 mIU/mL can be a sign of weakened fertility.

Gestational Carrier

Commonly called a surrogate. This is a woman who gets pregnant with someone else’s baby. A couple dealing with fertility problems might have their embryo implanted in a gestational carrier’s uterus. She carries the child through to delivery, even though she has no genetic relationship with it (as opposed to traditional surrogacy, in which the carrier is genetically related to the child). (This is what I chose for my surrogacy journey)

Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)

If your doctor suspects your fallopian tubes could be blocked, you might get this X-ray test in which dye is injected into the cervix to show where any blockage might be. The procedure normally takes 15 to 20 minutes, and you may feel cramping that’s similar to what you experience during your period. Generally, you should be able to get results at the time of the procedure.

Infertility

The inability to conceive offspring.  Also refers to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy full term.  About 40% of the issues involved with infertility are due to the man, another 40% due to the woman, and 20% results from complications with both partners. 

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

In this procedure, a single sperm is injected directly into an egg.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

This is when sperm are placed in a woman’s uterus to help her get pregnant.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

This ART procedure involves removing eggs from a woman's ovaries and fertilizing them outside her body. The resulting embryos are then transferred into the woman's uterus through the cervix.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland, in women it’s responsible for the monthly release of an egg. In men, LH is responsible for starting the production of testosterone.

Ovulation

Ovulation is the term used to define the release of an egg (usually one, though sometimes more) from a woman’s ovary.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is technically a hormonal imbalance, earmarked by any two of the following three characteristics: overproduction of androgens (male hormones), irregular menstrual cycles and an ultrasound demonstrating polycystic-appearing ovaries. Some women with this disorder experience a degree of insulin resistance as well.

Premature Ovarian Failure

This is the loss of normal function of the ovaries, which causes a woman to have irregular periods or no periods at all.

Progesterone

This hormone helps to improve the condition of the endometrium, making it more receptive to implantation.

Retrograde Ejaculation

This refers to the entry of semen into the bladder instead of going through the urethra during ejaculation.

Semen

This is the sperm and the seminal fluid that’s secreted during ejaculation.

Semen Analysis

The microscopic examination of semen, this helps determine the number of sperm (sperm count), their shapes (morphology) and their ability to move (motility). *(IP Dad's will need to have this test prior to surrogacy)

Sperm Donation

This is when a donation of sperm is made to help a woman get pregnant.

Surrogacy

In traditional surrogacy, a woman is inseminated with the sperm of a man who is not her partner in order to conceive and carry a child to be reared by the biologic (genetic) father and his partner. In this procedure, the surrogate is genetically related to the child. The biologic father and his partner must usually adopt the child after its birth. In gestational surrogacy, the baby and the surrogate aren’t related (see Gestational Carrier, above).

Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE)

This minor surgical procedure involves the removal of a small sample of testicular tissue in order to retrieve sperm for use in an IVF cycle.

Testosterone

A male sex hormone, it’s produced in the testicles and aids in the production of sperm.

Tubal Factor Infertility

Tubal factor infertility is defined as either a complete or partial blockage and/or scarring of the fallopian tubes. Tubal factor infertility causes a disruption of egg pickup and transport, fertilization and also embryo transport from the fallopian tube down into the uterus where the embryo implants.

Varicocele

This cause of male infertility occurs when varicose veins are present in the blood vessels above the testes.

Source: http://www.theafa.org/home/  http://www.reproductivefacts.org

Why Choose Surrogacy? Part 1

Why do people choose surrogacy to start a family?  You're first thought is probably infertility.  Where infertility is a common issue among couples it is not the only hurdle in the way of having a baby.  

Many women…one being me, suffer from Anti-phosphlipid Anti-body Syndrome (APS).  I spoke about this in my pervious blogs & vlogs before I had my son.  I was born with this autoimmune disease and did not find out until I was in my 20's.  

What is APS?  

Antiphospholipid (AN-te-fos-fo-LIP-id) antibody syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune disorders occur if the body's immune system makes antibodies that attack and damage tissues or cells. 

Antibodies are a type of protein. They usually help defend the body against infections. In APS, however, the body makes antibodies that mistakenly attack phospholipids—a type of fat. 

Phospholipids are found in all living cells and cell membranes, including blood cells and the lining of blood vessels.

When antibodies attack phospholipids, cells are damaged. This damage causes blood clots to form in the body's arteries and veins. (These are the vessels that carry blood to your heart and body.)

Usually, blood clotting is a normal bodily process. Blood clots help seal small cuts or breaks on blood vessel walls. This prevents you from losing too much blood. In APS, however, too much blood clotting can block blood flow and damage the body's organs. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

APS can cause pregnancy-related problems, such as multiple miscarriages, a miscarriage late in pregnancy, or a premature birth due to eclampsia. (Eclampsia, which follows preeclampsia, is a serious condition that causes seizures in pregnant women.)  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Very rarely, some people who have APS develop many blood clots within weeks or months.  This condition is called catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS).  *This happened to me with all 4 of my pregnancies.  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

In short this is a blood clotting disease that causes re-occurrent miscarriages due to blood clots.  I have been pregnant 4 times and unfortunately suffered 4 miscarriages.  I was even on blood thinners during my pregnancies and still developed a blood clot in my uterus.  I have seen many doctors because of this.  I treated with the  Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Magee Women hospital and a hematologist at the Hillman Cancer Center.  

Getting pregnant wasn't the problem.  It was staying pregnant and of course not hemorrhaging when I delivered the baby.  I threw myself into researching this disease and joined support groups that involved other women like myself.  I spoke with a woman who had 7 miscarriages!  God bless her for not giving up!  She now has 2 healthy children.  

The doctors at Magee were puzzled by my case.  I spent most of my pregnancies in the hospital.  This was incredibly stressful for my family and I.  And by the way…people say some of the worst things when you are going through something like this.  "Maybe kids aren't in the cards for you", "Why don't you just adopt?"  These aren't words that anyone with APS of infertility issues wants to hear.  

I never gave up hope.  I always wanted to be a mother and raise a family of my own.  CARE Surrogacy Mexico gave me just that.  My life had purpose when my son Luca was born.  I am not bitter about my miscarriages or all of the tests I had to go through.  Everything led me to where I am today and I am better equipped to help other couples going through the same issues.  

If you or someone you know is battling APS or infertility issues please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Peace, Love and CARE, 

Carmela 

Miscarriage during Surrogacy for Giuliana & Bill Rancic

This is an extremely important read and something I try my best to educate our Intended Parents about. Even in natural pregnancy miscarriage can occur.  It is mother nature's way of taking care of the baby if something is not 100% in the womb.  Please know that I take miscarriage very serious as I have suffered 4 of them in my life.  

I have followed Giuliana and Bill Rancic since they got married.  I cried with them during their first miscarriage, cancer and when they welcomed their baby boy Duke Edward into the world via surrogate mother.  This saddens me that they have to endure this pain once again, but sometimes these things happen and it's important to keep in mind that they also happen in surrogacy. 

I have found that keeping positive and grateful helps get through this unimaginable loss…and of course family and friends.  

http://blogs.babycenter.com/celebrities/guliana-rancics-surrogate-miscarriage-06012014-pregnancy-loss-duke/?scid=fb_wallPost

My FIRST Mother's Day…Finally!

Someone asked me the other day what I wanted for Mother’s Day and I laughed.  What? LOL!  I bought myself a Mother’s Day present a while ago. And, if there were anything in the world that I wanted right now that I do not already have, it would be one day to sleep in.

This weekend marks my first Mother’s Day.  My first official Mother’s Day with an actual baby in my arms.  My baby Luca!

I have gone through many Mother’s Days as an unofficial mom. Four miscarriages due to a rare blood clotting disease.

But this time, after those four Mother’s Days, I get to be included and my best friends know how much this means to me.

My celebration was not a fancy affair, but it was incredibly special…thanks to my sweet boyfriend.  I didn't get to sleep in.  Or have a day without doing dishes or laundry. I did not get breakfast in bed or the day off.

After all, it’s just Luca and I.

But I get to wake up and pick my baby up out of his crib.

I get to kiss him right where his neck meets his cheeks, which he loves.

I get to cuddle him while he drinks his morning bottle and listens to chakra balancing music.

I get to lay him on the couch, and lean in while he rubs his hands on my face.

I get to pick out his clothes for the day and get him dressed.

I get to put him in his car seat and take him with me to my new favorite restaurant for my first Mother's Day celebration. 

I get to enjoy the compliments all day about how precious he is.

I get to lay on the bed with him while he figures out how to roll over.

I get to run his bath and watch him enjoy the warm water while he sucks on the wash cloth.

I get to rub him down with baby lotion.

I get to find him some soft, comfortable pajamas, and snuggle with him on my lap when he has them on.

I get to wash his bottles and fill them back up so they are ready for the next day.

I get to wash his clothes and make sure they are clean and comfortable for him to wear for the week.

I get to go to bed, knowing that my baby is in the next room sleeping peacefully, and I get to experience all of it again the next day. A day that’s not even Mother’s Day.

I get to do all of that. ME…Finally!

This is what I have been waiting for.  I feel complete.  I feel like I finally found my reason for being here  I am happy, and I am so completely in love that there are days I can’t even handle it.

On Mother’s Day, I will always look back to his birth and remember his first cry.  Touching his face as soon as he was born.  Holding him and looking at that sweet, scrunched up face.  Having our first moments together a lone.  Having our first night together alone. (I didn't sleep the entire night!)

I am so so unbelievably grateful.  So blessed.  So happy.  So complete.  So rich.  So loved.  I mean…how does it ever get any better than this?

Happy Mother’s Day to me!

And Happy Mother’s Day to all of the other moms out there.

The new moms.
The veteran moms.
The pregnant moms.
The adoptive moms.
The moms that experienced loss.
The aunts.
The grandmas.
The sisters.
The nieces.
The cousins.
The guardians.
The godmothers.
The fur moms.

Anyone that experiences that kind of love for someone else…And a special thank you to my Care Surrogacy Mexico Family for making my dreams come true!  I have a beautiful healthy baby boy and a job that I absolutely LOVE!! 

Happy Mother’s Day,

Carmela 

Sleep baby sleep. Mama is a zombie!

Having a new baby is an exciting beautiful experience but it can also be exhausting!

Recently my friend Caitlin gave me sleep schedule tips to use on Luca and let me just tell you…THEY WORK, if you stick to the routine!  I am happy to report that I am well rested and working! LOL!

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  First, you must keep the bedroom dark. Use a night light or a hall light with the door pulled shut if you have to feed the baby…and do not change the baby unless he/she is poopy. The baby will probably have a soaked diaper by morning but that's ok. Caitlin suggests using the purple desitin at night to protect their bums. You should also use bedtime diapers to help with that too.
  
  No talking to the baby when you have to go into the bedroom. You must try to establish a bedtime too. Luca is a little over a month old so his bedtime around 8 p.m. I bathe him and go straight to his bedroom, feed and read a short baby book while he is in his crib awake yet sleepy so he can soothe himself to sleep. Caitlin also suggests playing a baby lullaby on repeat very low at night. Babies as well as children need a routine especially for sleep. Once you bathe you baby take them into their dim bedroom and be calm and soothing.  
  
  As for daytime...You must try to keep your baby awake during the day. Luca's day schedule varies but mostly it's a nap from 10-12 a.m. and again from 1-3 p.m. Placing him on this daytime schedule helped him establish a bedtime routine. I let him sleep in the living room in a pack-n-play where the tv is so he can hear noise. I also keep the blinds open so that he knows the difference between nap time and bed time. This was a big issue for Luca because he is a premie and was in the hospital for a few weeks around bright lights and loud noises. You should NOT try to be quiet because you want the baby to understand nap vs bed. If you keep up with it, it should not take your baby long to pick up on the sleep schedule.
  
  Good luck and please let me know if the sleep schedule has helped your baby!
  

  
  

  
  

Happy April!

Welcome to my Carmela Cares blog!  I am very excited to share my Care Surrogacy Mexico experience with you as well as helpful baby advice and everything in between.  Please join me as I embark on motherhood while juggling a new career. 

This is an incredibly exciting time for IVF and Surrogacy.  There are many topics that I will be covering to further educate and grow the community.  If there are any questions or concerns you have regarding Care Surrogacy Mexico please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Happy April!!

with CARE, 

~Carmela