Can a Surrogate Mother Get HIV Or STDs?

A lot of women keep asking what chances they have getting infected while playing the surrogate for a mom who is HIV positive. We know that AIDS is transported from one body to the other in many different ways. But will carrying an HIV positive mom's egg lead to the same thing? Read more...

To go to the core of this query, the first thing a woman should do is educating herself about home surrogacy. Take the instance of a government funded clinic in America. It recently came to the headlines by refusing to assist in any type of surrogacy for homosexual men couple.

Both of these two persons were carrying HIV-positive. Their whole scheme here was to fertilize an ovum off a female donor with sperms from one of those gay men and then implanting that within a 2nd female who had previously agreed to bear the pregnancy.

However, the gay couple challenged the decision of the surrogacy clinic on logical grounds. They emphasized on the point that there were hardly any research findings that documented any cases of HIV-positive sero-conversion within the recipients of the gametes off HIV-positive donors.

They also challenged the decision as they had evidence that a woman was clearly agreed for carrying the pregnancy. Still, though that clinic was offering assisted conception to both the HIV-discordant gay couples (and as same-sex couples, they denied to undergo this procedure.

Their argument was that those superseding ethical concern in such a case was to protect of the prospective surrogate mom from getting HIV infection. If it was assumed that the risk of this woman's getting an HIV infection was zero without the surrogacy contract, or implantation of that fertilized egg. However, due care was undertaken for reducing the risk of this unusual HIV transmission - this, they felt would fully eliminate the risk for that surrogate woman.

But all these arguments were turned down by the ethics committee, as it expressed clear supports to the decision of the clinic regarding not performing the process or their reasoning behind it.

As you understand how vague the situation is. And it should be also clear by now that it's tough to give a verdict on whether a surrogate mom should carry an egg from an infected woman. The decision can be only directed by your ethics. Hence different people may have different view points regarding this. Consider the case of the following women when she commented on the above mentioned case.

When she was 13, this woman found that she was born with NO UTERUS! At the age of 19, her initial sexual encounter was a horror when she came to know that the sex made her HIV positive. Just 2 years later she met her husband who happens to be a great person. This guy as well was HIV-positive. The woman found hope that she's found someone at least who she could consider her life partner.

Despite being HIV positive she found her love. Now wonders whether she can get a surrogate mom who'd want to carry her baby knowing she is HIV-positive!

Overcome Infertility - Fertility and Fruit and Vegetables

As we mentioned in previous articles, infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse. It effects over 5 millions couple alone in the U. S. and many times more in the world. Because of an unawareness of treatments, only 10% seeks help from professional specialist.We have spent most of the time in this series discussing the conventional and Chinese medicine in treating fertility. I believe, it is the best time to change the subject by discussing how fruit and vegetables effects fertility

I. Definition
While fruit is defined as any fleshy material covering a seed or seeds and vegetable is defined as a herbaceous (green and leaf like in appearance or texture) plant cultivated for an edible part, as roots, stems, leaves or flowers, but in in daily language, the words "fruit" and "vegetable" are interchangeable.

II. How fruit and vegetables effects fertility
1. Load of vitamins and minerals
As we mentioned in some other articles, fruit and vegetable contain high amount of vitamins and minerals that is vital for over all health, including the reproductive organs. People eat less of above may cause nutrients deficiency, distorting the normal process of conception.

2. Low GI index
Most fruit and vegetable are low GI foods that helps to release glucose slowly into the blood stream, thereby decreasing the risks of blood sugars fluctuation, causing low sperm quality in men and distorting the menstrual cycle process in women.

3. Anti inflammation
Some food such as garlic, ginger and pepper contains high amount of antioxidants, that not only help to improve immune function in fighting against forming of irregular cells growth, but also prevent the inflammation of the pelvic region.

4. Blood flow
Garlic, ginger, onion, etc also help to improve the blood flow to the reproductive organs. By making the blood thinner, they increase the blood in transportation of nutrients and oxygen for our body cell need, including the reproductive organ, leading to decreasng the risk of low quality sperm in men and poor quality eggs in women.

5. Nervous symptoms
Some fruit and vegetable help to increase the body in fat and protein metabolism, thereby increasing the nervous cells in transmitting information between themselves and glands, thus decreasing the risk of nervous symptoms such as fatigue, stress, depression, anxiety, etc.

There are many other benefits of fruit and vegetable that we can not mention them all, but if you believe in transitional Chinese medicine, then you must choose your foods carefully without distorting the yin and yang qi in your body.

Foods to Help You Get Pregnant Fast

If you are hoping to have a baby in the next year or so, you may be considering what could help you achieve this quickly and whether there are any foods to help you get pregnant fast.

Our diet plays a huge part in determining our overall health and as far as pregnancy is concerned, what we eat can make a big difference. The consumption of a poor diet is a contributory factor in a lower rate of conception, whereas eating a healthy balanced diet can improve your chances significantly.

Fruits and vegetables are great to eat for overall good health and this is particularly relevant when you are hoping to conceive. It is always best to eat organic produce and if not, ensure they are well-washed or peeled to remove traces of pesticides. Our bodies ideally require a high level of vitamins and minerals to help both with conception and with the developing pregnancy.

Iron rich foods are required too and this group includes lean red meats and chicken, green leafy vegetables such as cabbages, broccoli and kale. If you feel you are short of iron, this is a good time to seek your doctors advice, who may advise you to take a supplement. Protein should be eaten in the form of soya, nuts, seeds and cereals along with lean meats, eggs and dairy products which are all good foods to help you get pregnant fast.

Folic acid is considered essential for women trying to become pregnant and very often breakfast cereals and bread are fortified with this nutrient. Orange juice is also a good source as are dark green leafy vegetables.
Other foods to help you get pregnant fast include milk, yogurt and cheese, all of which are good sources of calcium.

Risks to Avoid During Early Pregnancy

Week by week your pregnant body will be changing and working extra hard to cope, so it makes sense to take extra care of yourself and avoid unnecessary risks especially in the first trimester. But don't be alarmed by the multitude of scare stories you mat hear. In reality, there is no reason why, with a bit of extra care and some common sense lifestyle changes, you can't sail through your pregnancy without putting either your baby or yourself in danger.

Here are some of the risks to avoid:-

Smoking

It's preferable for you and your partner to give up smoking before getting pregnant, but it should certainly be done as soon as pregnancy is confirmed. Smoking in pregnancy has been linked to premature birth and low-birth weight babies and to babies developing respiratory illnesses and it increases the risk of cot death.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol can harm your baby. There is no safe limit, so it really is best to stop drinking altogether. If you do drink alcohol during pregnancy the Department of Health advice is to limit yourself to one or two standard units of alcohol once or twice a week (one standard pub measure of wine, half pint of cider, beer or lager) and NEVER binge drink (more than five standard measures).

Caffeine

Drinking over 200mg of caffeine a day can increase the risk of low birth weight babies and miscarriage.

Certain foods

P璽t矇, peanuts, under-cooked eggs and blue-vein or mould-ripened crust cheeses can be hazardous to your baby.

Toxoplasmosis

This is a parasite that lives in unpasteurised milk and cheeses, under-cooked meat, soil grown vegetables and cat faeces. It can also be caught through contact with lambing. It's only a problem if you become infected with it for the first time while you are pregnant and can cause miscarriage, birth defects and stillbirth.

Avoid the foods listed above, wear gloves to change cat litter, do the gardening or if lambing. Always cook meat thoroughly and wash all fruit and vegetables.

Prescription and over-the-counter medicines

It is best to avoid all drugs during the first 3 months, unless they are for a pre-existing medical condition, such as asthma, and have been prescribed by your GP.

Abdominal x-rays

All x-rays use radiation, which can harm your baby so they must only be used in situations where your condition is life-threatening. Dental x-rays are considered safe, but you must always tell your dentist you are pregnant.

Chickenpox and other viral diseases

Most adults have had chickenpox in childhood and are therefore immune to the disease. If chickenpox is caught in pregnancy there is a risk to both mother and baby. Viral diseases such as measles and slap cheek syndrome may affect your pregnancy and your unborn baby so always seek immediate medical advice if you have had contact with these.

Choosing the Domino Scheme

The Domino scheme means, in theory, that one midwife looks after you throughout your pregnancy, goes into hospital with you for the delivery, and accompanies you home again a few hours afterwards. Although the scheme isn't available everywhere and in practice you may not have the same midwife with you in labour who looked after you during pregnancy, research suggests that it's a very popular scheme with women. It gives them the satisfaction of developing an excellent relationship with one midwife whom they can confide in and whom they can trust to help them achieve the kind of birth they want. You may, however, have to be persistent if you want to choose a Domino delivery.

Schemes very similar to Domino are likely to be available to more women in the future. This is because a recent government report, called Changing Childbirth, recommends that women should see just a few midwives for their maternity care. At present, it's quite likely that the midwife whom you see at your GP's surgery will not be the mid¬wife who helps you give birth, or that, if you are going to the hospital for your antenatal checks, you see a different midwife and doctor every time you have an appointment. This makes it very difficult for the health professionals to get to know you and for you to get to know them. All over the country, the way in which midwives work is now being changed and soon, pregnant women should find them¬selves being looked after by a small team of midwives who will take responsibility for them from when they find out they are pregnant until after the birth of their babies. This will make it much easier for women to get information about their choices for birth, to ask questions and to feel relaxed with their carers. Perhaps it's never been such a good time to be pregnant!

4 Tactics to Help You Get Pregnant Fast

In an ongoing effort to get pregnant fast there are a number of tactics you can use to improve your odds of getting pregnant sooner rather than later.

#1 Understanding your cycle:

Your cycle is fairly regular and usually on the 14th day of your cycle your ovaries will release an egg that if fertilized, you will become pregnant. Once the egg is released, this is the opportune time to become pregnant. Getting this time right is of the utmost importance.

#2 Frequency of Sex:

Having sex during this time frame is crucial. There is no such thing as too much sex during the ovulation cycle. Sex once a day for about one week will ensure that you improve your opportunity to get pregnant. Sex three or four times a week will also increase your chances of getting pregnant fast, and this needs very little planning.

In actual fact the more spontaneous and fun it is the better.

#3 Living healthy:

Maintain a healthy weight, eat foods that are free of Trans fats and have a low fat content associated with them. Women's once a day type vitamins are also recommended as a crucial part in staying healthy and getting pregnant fast. Additionally make sure you are taking folic acid.

#4 Planning:

Consider any preconception planning if you or your partner has any health issues. Staying healthy, eating well, an active sex life and knowing your bodies signals, are all factors that will help you to get pregnant.

In conclusion, keep it simple and let nature take its course.

Essentials That a Newborn's Mother Must Have!

Some of the essential items that mothers of newborns should have are:

Breast pumps: Breast pumps are mechanical devices that help lactating women extract milk from their breasts. There are two main type of breast pumps, manual operated and electric or battery operated. Unlike dairy milking machines, breast pumps don't suck the milk out from the breast instead they stimulate the milk ejection response. Most women use breast pumps to continue breast feeding after they have returned to work and to keep up with their toddler's unusual feeding timings.

Skin cream: The newborn baby needs constant care and attention. Diaper rashes and dry skin are some of the common ailments that affect babies. A variety of skin creams are available to tackle this. Post-pregnancy, women also use anti-marks creams to reduce the stretch marks around their abdomen.

It's a good idea to buy these products before the baby is born. All such products should be checked thoroughly to ensure that no hazardous chemicals or allergenic substances are used in them. A good idea is to check with your friends and family for recommendations. Your doctor could also recommend some creams. If you use cloth diapers, then the baby could get a nappy rash which causes them great discomfort. A diaper rash cream which soothes them is the perfect solution. The baby's skin is still very soft and requires constant care and hence using a baby lotion or oil is a good idea.

Maternity wear: During pregnancy, expectant mothers need to wear clothes that are loose and comfortable. Also post pregnancy they need clothes that will suit their body size. Nowadays maternity clothing is available in various styles and sizes which means that pregnant women do not have to wear dreary gowns to be comfortable. Various tops and stretch pants are available in a variety of fabrics that are suitable for pregnant women.

Mothercare Products: These are products that make it easier for the mother to care for her new born. These include items like new mother clothes, baby soother nipples, disposable breast pads that help feed toddlers, feeding bottles, pacifiers, baby bath lotions,shampoos and baby products, pregnancy pillows that are specially shaped to accommodate expectant mothers, maternity belts which help pregnant women avoid back pain and spasms, nursing bras that help mothers feed their babies.

These are just some of the multitude of products that are available for expectant mothers. Nowadays most of these products are available online and can be delivered to your doorstep. However one thing that must be noted is that all these products should be researched and checked before being used. The health of the new born and the mother is paramount.