Monthly Archives: October, 2017

Dear friends, in an in vitro fertilization procedure oocytes are extracted анд fertilized. Those that develop well can either be transferred to the uterus of the woman (the so-called fresh embryo transfer – usually on Day 3 or 5) or frozen and transferred later (frozen embryo transfer).

When are embryos frozen?

In an embryo transfer procedure (fresh or frozen), 1 to 3 embryos are returned to the uterus. The number of embryos to be returned depends on many factors like the age of the woman and the quality of the embryos. The decision is made by the treating physician together with the patient(s). If a patient has more good quality embryos than those returned in the fresh transfer, those embryos can be frozen. They are be warmed and transferred later in case the patient does not become pregnant from the fresh transfer or wants to become pregnant again. The frozen transfer gives the patient the chance to have a baby without going through every step of the IVF process once again. This saves a lot of time and money.

The procedure of embryo vitrification has been technologically perfected. That is why pregnancy rate from frozen embryo transfers is the same as pregnancy rate from fresh transfers.

Do not despair if you do not get pregnant from the fresh embryo transfer! If you have frozen embryos, use them!

Chemical pregnancy is a type of early miscarriage which happens around the menstruation date, which is why many women never find out they were pregnant.

Symptoms

Symptoms are heavy bleeding and cramping. It is devastating to have a chemical pregnancy after a positive test. However, chemical pregnancies are a sign that you can get pregnant.

Embryos with chromosomal abnormalities are the primary cause of chemical pregnancies. Other causes include clotting problems (the so-called thrombophilia), thyroid problems, endometriosis, chlamydia, syphilis.

Many women who are trying to conceive experience a chemical pregnancy. If you have had 3 consecutive chemical pregnancies, you need some further testing. Other than that, this does not mean you’ll never be a mother and the good news is that you can continue with your attempts to get pregnant immediately.

When they hear the word “stress,” most people think of something bad and harmful. In many cases, however, stress is useful – it helps us better adapt to our environment and become better at what we are doing. A good example of this is working out, which subjects our body and muscles to stress but it is the only way to get stronger and more resilient. So, you should not be concerned about stress per se but rather about it becoming too much.

Pregnancy is accompanied by a number of changes, some of which invariably increase the level of stress in your life.

For pregnant women too much stress increases the risk of premature birth, low birthweight and high blood pressure. Stress hormones such as cortisol reduce your body’s ability to deal with pathogenic bacteria and viruses. This results in an increased risk of infections which lead to pregnancy complications.

HOW to DEAL with STRESS during PREGNANCY?

1. TALK TO WOMEN who HAVE GIVEN BIRTH! For many pregnant women, pregnancy itself becomes a source of stress. The baby’s health and delivery pain are among the most common causes of stress. Fortunately, a conversation with someone who has already been through it all can be very calming for most pregnant women.
2. DO NOT WORK TOO MUCH! If you decide to continue working while you are pregnant, it is better not to overload yourself with additional tasks. You are growing a whole new person inside of you and that is worth slowing down for.
3. EAT HEALTHY and WORK OUT REGULARLY (with your doctor’s permission). Proper nutrition and regular physical activity will improve your mood and ease the discomforts of pregnancy.

Beware and remember that the period of pregnancy is one of the most wonderful moments in life before birth. Have fun and enjoy every moment!