Apologies

My apologies for such a late post this week. It has been a very challenging 2.5 weeks.

I have been incredibly sick. Usually I get a cold, some sniffles, no big deal. This time, however, has not been the same. I’ve been into the hospital twice, been prescribed codeine twice, had a whooping cough swab, influenza swab and I’ve had a cervical swab twice (to make sure my hard coughing didn’t break my water…don’t worry, it didn’t. I just keep peeing myself.) I’ve been off more days in November than I’ve worked. It has been absolutely brutal.

And its going around.

My oldest has been sick off and on with a fever & a cough. My middle child had croup for a few days and my youngest, has had a runny nose and nothing else *knock on wood!* I’ve talked to a few other moms who have also said their kids are unwell. Puking, fevers, coughs, etc. Its a crap year for illness! My suggestion: Get your flu shot! We already got ours – so the chances of the flu are minimal. But I’ll tell ya, even this cold is kicking my butt. I’m so exhausted all the time and I can’t stop coughing. I coughed so hard I puked up my lunch one day in a shopping mall parking lot – sorry if you were in Starbucks watching me toss my cookies.

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source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/apologies/

DIY Cough & Cold Remedies during Pregnancy

This past week has been incredibly hard for me – I’ve been hit by a cold. Not only a cold – but it feels like the plague. Because I’m expecting, it makes remedies much more difficult to find and use.

However, I did find this information that may prove to be useful.

”

What are natural cold and cough remedies for when you’re pregnant?

There are many effective, safe, and natural remedies for cough and cold during pregnancy, many of which can be used during a flu as well. Here is a list of things you can keep on hand in case you become sick:

Garlic – Part of the onion family, garlic is a powerhouse against the cold during pregnancy! In fact, in one study, daily consumption of a garlic supplement reduced people’s chance of a cold by over 60%! For those who did get sick, garlic helped them get better faster. During pregnancy, it’s best to consume 1 crushed, raw garlic clove with each meal. If your cold is acute, you could increase your garlic consumption to 1 crushed, raw clove per every 2-3 hours. I like to smear in raw honey for taste and added benefits.

Apple Cider Vinegar – Raw preferably. ACV alkalinizes the body and most illnesses can’t thrive in alkaline environments. It also contains good bacteria which helps to fight of infection.

• Mix 1-2 tablespoons of ACV into water or tea and drink 3 times a day.
• Gargle ACV to soothe a sore throat.

Honey – raw, local honey is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic. Take 1 tsp., three times a day

Onion – raw onion has phytochemicals that help keep the respiratory tract open.. You can make a black bean or beef burger and top with lots of onions and mustard. You can add sauerkraut for an extra dose of probiotics!

Lemon – antibacterial. Also helps alkalinize the body. Rich in vitamin C. Take two lemons, juice and add to a quart Mason jar. Add filtered water and 1 TB of raw honey and a dash of sea salt for added minerals. Drink throughout day.

Asian Mushrooms (maitake, shitake, reishi) – Antibacterial and antiviral. I love this mushroom blend supplement! Check with your midwife or doctor to see if it’s safe for you.

Coconut oil – Antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal. You can add 1/8. tsp. of Peppermint extract to 2 TB of raw coconut oil. Mix well and add either 10 drops of stevia or 1 TB of raw honey. Mix well. Then spread thin on a piece of parchment paper. Put in freezer for 15 minutes. Eat as a yummy, Peppermint bark dessert!

Vitamins and minerals – especially vitamin D, vitamin A from cod liver oil or liver only, vitamin C, zinc and selenium. I love mixing 1 teaspoon of camu camu powder mixed in a 1/4 cup of yogurt with 1 teaspoon of raw honey. Mix well and eat. The yogurt provides probiotics to boot!

Clear, unsweetened liquids – Dehydration is more of a concern in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women so being diligent about staying hydrated is important. Homemade lemonade, bone broth, herbal teas, coconut water and this special electrolyte drink are all fantastic. Stay away from caffeine as this can further dehydrate you.

Homemade chicken soup – take your bone broth and cook in a pot with onion, carrots, celery, mushrooms, parsley and cut up chicken. Add sea salt for taste and mineral boost.

Warm salt water – use as a gargle for a sore throat or with a neti pot for congestion.

High quality probiotic – supports general health and good immune response. I like this one best.

Elderberry syrup – Many pregnant mamas have great success with elderberry syrup to relieve cough and cold symptoms. It’s an immune booster which can help speed up recovery. You can often find it in the natural section of your local grocery store or you can make your own fairly easily.

The following herbs can be helpful for cold symptoms but should only be used in food/beverages and not in concentrated supplement form.

• Cayenne powder – antimicrobial, analgesic, and expectorant.
• Garlic – antiviral, antibiotic, and antiseptic.
• Ginger – antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Good for upset tummy.
• Thyme – antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, expectorant, and astringent. Great for respiratory infections, coughs, and upset tummy.
• Cinnamon – antiviral, and antibiotic.”

  taken from: https://www.mamanatural.com/cold-during-pregnancy/

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source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/diy-cough-cold-remedies-pregnancy/

Let it Snow!

I’ve lived in Edmonton for way too long. Every year, without fail, it snows on Halloween.

This year, was no exception. It snowed on Halloween. It also snowed the day after aannndddd the day after that. We went from zero snow on Halloween day to well over 3″ of snow by Nov 2. Now I’m not one who enjoys Winter. In fact, I’d even go so far as to say I hate Winter. I hate the cold more specifically. I’m cold to start with, and Winter just makes it 10x worse.

But.

The snow has turned our northern city into a beautiful work of art. The way it sits on the trees, the pristine, crisp, clean look of it on rooves & fences. It can be a very stunning landscape. Its breathtaking to look it from my kitchen window with a cup of apple cinnamon tea in my hand.

Now my children have already asked to participate in Winter activities. Things like sledding, skating and building a snowman. These are not my idea of a fun evening. Yet, the joy that they get from rolling up snow into a head or body makes the freezing cold worth it. We just make sure to layer up and have some hot chocolate when we come inside with frozen fingers & frozen toes.

These are memories that we create for our kids. For our families. The things they will grow up and reflect back on with excitement & fondness. The memories that they will want to recreate with their own children one day. Sometimes, the things we don’t like ourselves, are the things that our children take incredible delight in! And sometimes, its worth it for them. To learn to be adaptable and to give our children the gift of love, sacrifice & memories that are irreplaceable! Even if it is -20C outside.

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source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/let-it-snow/

Enjoy a Spa Day – All DIY!

We all need to be pampered every now and then. Pregnant or not, its nice being spoiled.

Taken from: https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a562991/create-your-own-mini-pregnancy-spa

If you fancy a pregnancy pick-me-up, what could be better than your own home spa? All you need is a few pampering products, a bit of imagination, and an evening to yourself.

1. Create a spa atmosphere

Make your bathroom and bedroom as tranquil as possible by tidying away clutter. Dim the lights, light some scented candles and put on some relaxing music.

Have some fluffy bath towels to hand as you start your various treatments. Keep them on a warm radiator or heated rail for added comfort.

2. Clean your face

Gently sweep away any make-up or daily grime with a mild cleansing lotion and cotton wool. Look for products that are free from alcohol, as it can tend to dry out your skin.

3. Give your skin a rosy glow

Use an exfoliating facial wash to get your blood rushing to your cheeks. Wet your face with warm water, massage in the scrub in a circular motion, and then rinse thoroughly. Pat dry with a soft towel.

4. Apply a face pack

There’s nothing like seeing yourself in a green and gloopy face pack to make you appreciate your own skin underneath! Deep-cleansing, peel-off, self-heating – the choice is yours. Face packs come in a range of smells and textures, and there’s something to suit all budgets and skin types.

Follow the instructions on the packet, and rinse off thoroughly when you’re done to leave your face feeling fresh and vibrant.

5. Run a bath

Prepare yourself a deep, luxurious warm bath to ease those pregnancy aches and pains. Pour gentle, skin-friendly bubble bath under running water, or add a couple of drops of a pregnancy-safe essential oil.

Test the temperature with your elbow or forearm to make sure it’s not too hot. You don’t want you or your baby to overheat.

6. Exfoliate the rest of your body

Before you relax into your bath, buff your body with an exfoliating brush or use a salt scrub to banish dead skin cells and reveal glowing skin. Pay special attention to your elbows and knees, which are usually rougher than the rest of your body.

7. Relax

Now it’s time to really enjoy your soak. Roll up a towel to place behind your head or use an inflatable bath pillow that sticks to your bath, if you prefer.

8. Enjoy a soothing eye mask

While you’re in the bath, you may want to treat your eyes. Good old-fashioned cucumber slices are cooling and refreshing. Or you could try cotton wool pads soaked in camomile tea and left to cool. You may even like to buy a gel-filled eye mask, which you can pop in the fridge to cool before you have your bath.

9. Have a shower

It’s a good idea to have a shower after your soak. A shower will wash away any debris from your salt scrub, and it’s an ideal time to shave your legs, too.

Wash your hair with nourishing, sweet-smelling shampoo. To give your hair a beauty boost, use an intensive moisturising conditioner.

10. Step into a warm towel

Grab that warm towel you placed on the radiator earlier. Wrap another one around your hair and retreat to your bedroom for further pampering!

11. Moisturise

Sit on a towel on the bed or carpet and spend a few minutes moisturising your body with a rich cream. Cocoa butter feels indulgent and gorgeous, or you could try an unscented lotion if your skin is feeling sensitive. If you can still reach your feet comfortably, use this opportunity to give yourself a quick foot massage too. Or better still, get a willing partner to lend a hand.

12. Do a manicure and pedicure

Your nails will be soft after your bath and shower. Now is a good time to shape or file them, and to paint them with your choice of nail varnish. Lie back and unwind while you leave them to dry.

13. Drift into a deep sleep

By now, you should be feeling so relaxed and soothed that you’re ready to blow out those candles and go to sleep.

Sweet dreams!

If your mini spa experience leaves you longing for a professional pampering, learn all about visiting a spa in pregnancy.

https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a562991/create-your-own-mini-pregnancy-spa#ixzz4we0MS39C

 

 

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source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/enjoy-spa-day-diy/

Mental Health – Prenatal & Postpartum

I have recently discovered that while there is a big push for mental health resources from both the public and politicians – there are still very few. Its incredibly disappointing and adds to the feeling of “no options” to those who are struggling with their mental health, especially pregnant women & postpartum moms.

Mental health is such a huge part of any person. If your mental health isn’t where it should be, it affects every single other area of your life. From sleep, to how you react, to simply being able to get out of bed in the morning and start your day. Your mental health is you.

Now, as someone who has experienced mental health struggles in the past, I can’t even tell you the endless feeling of hopelessness when you reach out for help and you find none. Or, you do find some…but it will cost you close to $200/hr. Now, I don’t know about you…but my salary in no way equals $200. Not even close! Benefits? Yes, we have benefits. A whopping $300/year. Thats right. 1.5 sessions with a psychologist a year! Typically it takes months of work with a psychologist/psychiatrist to make progress…not a single session. If your benefits cover more, great! Use them! Somehow though, I highly doubt that your benefits cover $4700 worth of therapy sessions. Thats based on going once every 2 weeks for a year at a rate of $180/hr for your psychologits/psychiatrist.

The costs are outrageous (but I understand why those psychs charge those amounts), but the average person being able to afford that doesn’t typically happen. It puts a wonderful resource far out of reach of those who need it.

I recently learned that a local hospital that had an absolutely amazing prenatal/postpartum mental health clinic available has now closed down their services to anyone not birthing at their hospital. There are a bunch of problems with that! It removes choice from a lot of women – where they can birth and not only that, but now it forces women to choose between having a birth they need (think homebirth after a traumatic birth to help heal their mental health trama surrounding that) to getting help with their current mental health status. It makes no sense and yet again, closes more doors to those trying desperately to reach out for help.

I want to encourage anyone needing support to reach out. To anyone & everyone! Friends, family, your doctor, a nurse, heck – a facebook group that can provide you a boost to get through a night if thats what you need! But reach out. Don’t do the trek alone.

There are resources online now as well – online counselling and depression support groups. Do what you need to do! But please, please please…don’t be ashamed. Don’t continue the stigma of mental health.

The post Mental Health – Prenatal & Postpartum appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/mental-health-prenatal-postpartum/

What a Genius Way to Repurpose Old Shirts!

If I had known this when my girls were tiny, they would have lived in dresses!

 

http://www.goodshomedesign.com/turn-one-of-daddys-shirts-into-a-dress-for-a-little-girl/

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source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/genius-way-repurpose-old-shirts/

Pregnancy Changes Everything

I am currently pregnant. This pregnancy, is not a surrogacy, it is a keeper for us. This is baby #4 for us and being pregnant, again, has added humor to our lives.

Pregnancy really truly changes the dynamics of a spousal relationship. For example, my husband who has an awfully funny sense of humor, will ask me if I’m craving “cock”. He’ll have the devilish grin, quirky sparkle in his eye. Of course, being pregnant, my obvious response is “OMG…Yes. You going to order the chicken wings or am I?”

Or the bag of Oreos in the pantry. I have three children & a husband. We don’t do a lot of sweets in the house. If there’s a bag of Oreos, you know they’re going to last about 30 seconds. God help the poor soul who eats the last Oreo. This pregnant mama wants at least one damn oreo out of the pack. I had to haul my big belly into a grocery store just to get those oreos. If mama bear doesn’t get to eat at least one, there will be some serious consequences. Like eating a king size chocolate bar in front of all of them and NOT SHARING.

How do you like them apples kiddo?! That’ll teach you for eating the last Oreo!

Children, while they eat all the good stuff left in the house, they also are much much shorter than I am. Do you know why this is beneficial? They are closer to the floor than I am! Pregnancy seems to remove all grip from my hands and I am forever dropping things. Of courses, the bigger I get, the harder it is to pick stuff up off the floor…and the more things I seemingly drop. Having children has proven to be incredibly useful…they are so sweet & pick things up that I drop – saving us from having to purchase a set of those reacher/grabber things.
Truthfully, I’m grateful though that they are so sweet to help me. Heavens knows, If I sit down to pick up something, this lady isn’t getting back up.

Last but not least, I think my favorite part of pregnancy is hearing my children talk about the baby and their perception of how it all works. We are located in Edmonton, Alberta and in early Sept it began snowing. Very lightly, but there was snow. My youngest, 3, looked outside, gasped, turned to me and very excitedly exclaimed that the baby could come out now because there was snow on the ground! As I had previously explained the baby would come when there was snow on the ground – not expecting her to take it so literally. It gave me quite the chuckle.

When we found out the gender very recently, boy, my son was thrilled he is getting a brother. He seemingly knew from the get go. He never doubted that it was a boy, but his sisters were certain it was a girl. When we broke the news to them, my oldest (daughter) almost cried. Her big heart won over those emotions and she said she would love the baby anyway because she loves babies! My son was smiling ear to ear. “I KNEW IT!” he yelled! He is so happy to not be outnumbered anymore.   And the youngest. She kind of sat there and tried to process it. Right after supper I showered her and she spent her time in the showering asking me to change it to a girl.

A (My 3yo): Mommy, can you change it to a girl please? I don’t want a boy.
Me: I’m sorry kiddo, its a boy and I can’t change that.
A: But mommy, I asked nicely. I even said please.
Me: *laughing* I know kiddo, I’m really sorry, but it doesn’t work that way. The baby is a boy and I really, really can’t change that.

She was so disappointed. Once baby boy does arrive, I’m sure everyone will be thrilled! Its just how their little brains work and it always has me in wonder. <3

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source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/pregnancy-changes-everything/

Busy Week? Prep Slow Cooker Freezer Meals!

If your home is anything like ours during the week, its chaos. Between my husband and I both working, two kids in school and one child at home (not to mention being pregnant), its really insane most days. I don’t have time to pee, let alone make a nice dinner.

Enter my slow cooker! I have been doing up some slow cooker freezer meals on the weekends to make our weeknights run a bit smoother. I found a months worth of recipes, we chose 7 of our favorites and did them up.

I highly suggest trying a few out!

31 Crockpot Freezer Meals for Busy Weeknights

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source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/busy-week-prep-slow-cooker-freezer-meals/

Guest Post – A Unique Surrogates Perspective

“Ok. It’s confession time. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m going to share a little secret with you- I’m a little different. Quirky, if you will.

My first experience with surrogacy was the classic Phoebe from “Friends” episode.

Heck, I even tried to be just like her and offered to carry a baby for my brother and his wife. That was a little too odd for him as we aren’t one of those super open understanding families. 

“Adoption’ is a term my mother used frequently while my husband and I struggled to become pregnant with our first child. I wasn’t interested. It needed to be ours. 

We bore our frustration in silence, privately. The unsolicited advice was truly overwhelming, and completely unwanted. Seriously- why does everyone feel they have the answer? Or that you want to hear what worked for their cousins nephews aunt… or get referred to as the one without their own child. Pity is just as intolerable as the aforementioned advice.

Fast forward a few years and several children later. We knew our family was complete, but I didn’t feel like I was done having babies. My husband loves me and spoils me horribly. He agreed to my surrogacy journey with only one question that was easily answered by another Surrodad.

Connections were made, and rather quickly I had 2 unsuccessful back to back transfers.

Six months after, success! I was pregnant with a modern miracle courtesy of science…I was pregnant with another mans child! Life goal met!

The parents were estatic, yet cautiously optimistic. Modern medicine isn’t perfect, and they knew things could change in an instant.

 Pregnancy was relatively easy. I wasn’t ill, and having a little extra fluff on my bones made keeping the precious cargo comfy (and concealed) until my husband and I were ready to share our news with others.

Co workers were told (for safety purposes) and a few close friends… Dude, I really wanted that beer, please stop offering, lol.

Basically we thought we would tell people when questions were asked, probably around the 20 week mark. We had too many people close to us with fertility issues of their own. I wasn’t looking to be a jerk, or do the “look at how amazing and selfless I am” thing. I wanted to give someone the opportunity of parenthood so many take for granted.

A few weeks before delivery we told a few key people, knowing not everyone understands. My parents were in this lot. Not my siblings, not my in laws. Need to know basis. More friends, because, a week before delivery tobogganing is not really a great way to spend an afternoon.

A few people at work noticed, but not many. 

We talked about the general stuff, like how many were already at home, blah blah blah, and then-no, they aren’t excited. It isn’t my husbands. Or mine. 

And then the gushing (awkward for me) how amazing! How selfless! Or super awkward “How can you give your baby away?” followed by a simple biology lesson. Education is important. Patience as well.

Some people get it. Some don’t. That’s quite alright.

The parents are beyond happy, and that is what really matters to me.”

– An ANU Surrogate.  <3

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source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/guest-post-unique-surrogates-perspective/

Halloween Cookies!

Halloween is quickly approaching and if your anything like me, you lack in the creativity department.

Have no fear, I’m here to help!

Try these cookies with eyeballs in them, they are sure to be a hit and your kids will think your awesome.

Gooey Monster Eye Cookies

 

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source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/halloween-cookies/

What is Labor Like?

I have been obsessed with birth, birthing, pregnancy & babies since as far back as I can remember. One of the first questions I had as a kid was, what does Labor feel like? Why do all these women complain so much? It can’t be *that* bad…they’ve lived through it, so the pain isn’t enough to kill them…so whats the big deal?

I’ll tell you what the big deal is. Those thoughts came from an inexperienced, very naive teenager. My labor experience is two births within a hospital with epidurals for pain management, one midwife-attended home birth with zero drugs and zero interventions and one midwife-attended hospital birth with no drugs for pain management and no interventions.

To summarize, two labors with no pain, two labors with more pain than I would wish on my worst enemy.

So what is Labor like?

I don’t know how to describe it. But I’ll do my best!

If your a first timer, I’m sorry, you might not want to read on. Labor starts off like a walk in a beautiful sunshiny park. You are comfortable, chatty…just kind of annoyed every 10 minutes. Think of it as needing to stop and take a breath every 1o minutes.

**COMMERCIAL BREAK – You know what labor brings you? A little person who likes to shove their fingers into their own poo in a pull up, while touching everything with their grubby, poopy finers. Thats what you get after all that damn hard work! END OF COMMERCIAL** Now back to your regularly scheduled blog post.

Ok. So your on your walk in the park. Soon, your picking up the pace and your stopping for a breather every 5 min, instead of 10 min. That breather now turns into something you have to focus on. Suddenly, a friend from years ago spots you and walks to chat it up. Its the last thing you want to do, so you start sprinting and they start chasing you…now, not only are you sprinting, but you need to stop every 1-2 min to catch your breath and try with all your might, not to kill your friend thats chasing you. Your legs hurts, your stomach hurts, your pretty sure that parts of you considered highly valuable are on fire…and your not catching a decent break. You sprint for a minute, then you breathe for a minute. The cycle continues until you can no longer think, your ability to function completely halts and the *only* thing going through your mind is either: GIVE ME ALL THE DAMN DRUGS YOU CAN FIND IN THIS ENTIRE HOSPITAL or….I AM NEVER DOING THIS SH*T AGAIN. 

The amount of pain the body can withstand without succumbing to death is far beyond what I imagined any human could tolerate. Now, your walk in the park is close to ending. Soon, you see the end of your journey…you can almost touch it….and VOILA! BABY! Your beautiful (or surrogate) baby has arrived and everything you just went through – homicidal thoughts, pain beyond what any human should experience, potentially breaking your partners hand bones…everything – is forgotten. Not joking. It becomes an instant distant memory and the gorgeous eyes staring back, change you. Your life gladly given for theirs, your heart expands with love every time it beats, that little innocent soul in your arms is yours. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, on Earth that compares to the reward waiting for you at the end of your labor journey.

What is labor like? Its like walking (or running) through hell, on a lake of burning charcoals for an undetermined amount of time. Hours or minutes. Sometimes, even days. It sucks.

I’ll be doing it again this March. And hopefully in 2019 for a set of intended parents. I’ll keep doing it as long as I can. Why? Because its worth it. 

The post What is Labor Like? appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/what-is-labor-like/

Decorating Your Nursery – A DIY Craft Idea

What a great way to preserve those precious memories!

DIY: Transform Your Baby Shower Cards into Nursery Art!

The post Decorating Your Nursery – A DIY Craft Idea appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/decorating-nursery-diy-craft-idea/

Kids Add a Whole New Perspective

Having kids has given me pause on so many days. Sometimes that pause ends in laughter and sometimes, that pause ends in tears. Usually for me!

One afternoon I needed groceries. I packed up all three and off to the store we went. On our way into the store, my son (4yo) and oldest daughter (5yo) were having a conversation about cows and milk.

Daughter: Mom, how does milk get to the grocery store?
Son: Well, milk doesn’t come from cows.
Daughter: Yes it does!
Son: How do you know milk comes from cows??
Daughter: Cause their white.

I laughed and laughed. They see life as it is. Its only logical that if cows produce milk, white milk will come from white cows. Thus, chocolate milk from brown cows!

Or how about the time my husband and oldest daughter were cooking together. A good chef typically tastes the spices they use and tastes the food they use them in. It gives your palette a good idea of what your dish will taste like. We use two spices that look identical: Paprika & Cayenne pepper. (See where this is going yet?). My daughter asks to taste the Paprika and my husband ever-so-kindly obliges her innocent request.

In the back of my mind, I had the thought “Make sure she gets the right spice! A mouthful of cayenne would suck.” Sure enough, oldest daughter begins complaining “My tongue is burning! It burns!!” Hubby is disagreeing, “no it doesn’t…paprika doesn’t burn.” He looks at the containers of spices and says “ohhhh cr*p”. Queue the glass of milk, or rather, glasses of milk! The poor girl had a sore tongue for a while and the dad guilt lasted even longer.

Beyond all the crazy moments, funny conversations, we’ve had moments that make my heart swell. My youngest is a mommy’s girl. Through and through. The occasions that she holds my face in her tiny, soft hands. Stares me in the eyes and says “I love you mommy” have my heart in my throat. The preciousness of a little one offering the most sincere message, recognizing her own feelings and giving them a voice…has my heart aflutter. She’s 3. Only three and can put me on cloud 9 in a few words. Its incredibly precious.

Unfortunately, we’ve also had moments that my pause is very much “what were you thinking?!” Today, was one of those days. Between my three and our neighbours oldest, they managed to remove 7 fence posts completely. The neighbours boy thought it would be fun. So he asked my three for help and good friends help, right? Yea…that was a definite WTF moment.

To add to WTF moments, my youngest getting into a vaseline jar makes the list. Big handfuls of vaseline…all over her face & tummy. The standing fans, even her change table got a dose of vaseline! Have you ever tried to clean grease out of a frying pan? Or spilled cooking oil on your stove? Notice how its tough to clean up and becomes difficult to get all of it off? Picture that…but on your toddler, the bathtub, the change table, you get the idea. BTW, dawn & vinegar removes vaseline from the bottom of your bathtub quite nicely.

Even with having learned how to clean up vaseline, a skill I would not survive parenthood without, and being educated by the 5yo on the origins of milk…I wouldn’t trade being a mom for anything. Its beyond challenging some days – lets be real, I live some days in PJ’s and use Pepsi as my energy – but its worth every moment of blood, sweat & tears.

The post Kids Add a Whole New Perspective appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/kids-add-whole-new-perspective/

Sleep? I’m Sorry, I Don’t Know What That Is.

As the parent of two toddlers and a 5yo, “sleep” isn’t a word I’m familiar with. Unless its in the sentences of “I got no sleep last night” or “I need 12 hours of sleep!”. I certainly never use it to describe that amazing amount of sleep I got last night. And I used to think I was tired with no kids, working a full time job and then gaming during my free time. HAHAHA. I often have daydreams of going back in time and warning myself of what was to come!

Being a newborn is the first culprit. Newborns have a reputation for sleeping horribly, but there is a good reason for it. Their tiny tummies are the size of a cherry when they’re born. I’d be hungry all the time too if my tummy could only fit a teaspoon of food. Once their tummies finally grow and can hold a fair amount of sustenance…they begin teething. Teething was a nightmare for our family. Lots of crying, very little sleeping. Again, understandable since teething is unbelievably painful!

Even if you make it through the first year of challenges, there is always that odd thing that just happens. Night terrors are a good example of one such thing. Bad dreams don’t help. Lets not forget the nighttime potty training phase and them having accidents at 2am that wakes everyone up. Those are extra fun b/c it requires a bedding change, a wash down of said child & getting everyone back to sleep again. Easier said than done!

Once you get through the first year and the odd things…then you get life changes. Any major change messes with their sleeping. A growth spurt, a cognitive leap, moving homes, starting school, a life event such as adding a sibling, so on and so forth. Their sleep once again, goes out the window! My husband and I went through a couple weeks of hell with our oldest (5yo). She was up so much it was like having a newborn again! We never did figure out why, she was just going through something and we were along for the ride.

IF you get through ALL of the early years, the random things and the life changes…you get the stage of independence. AKA: The tween/teen years. Now your just awake because your worried, not because they don’t sleep through the night.

What can you take away from this? That sleep is not for parents. I have yet to hear a mom or dad describe parenthood “its the best time of your life! You get so much rest & relaxation, you never do anything, you get lots of free time to hang out with friends. Its the best thing ever!”  While I do agree that it is the best thing ever, it is best to enter into parenthood with the expectation that your mattress is going to miss you dearly, and you, it. You may get to redevelop your sleepy relationship in 10 years if your lucky. Maybe 15. Until then, get used to sleeping standing up.

The post Sleep? I’m Sorry, I Don’t Know What That Is. appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/sleep-im-sorry-dont-know/

Life Hacks

I’m a mom. You might be a mom or a dad or an alien. Heck, you might be a tiger trying to raise cubs that don’t listen…I have no idea what that feels like!

Being a mom of three has lent me many days that ended in wine. Sometimes, anything to make life easier is worth it. KD 7 days in a row b/c the kids asked? SURE! That totally qualifies as a life hack, right?

To save you some time in your busy home, I scoured the internet and found a few life hacks that will hopefully make your life a bit easier. Whether your taming 1 cub or 6 cubs!

#1. Hang your pouf on your shower hooks. 

#2. To avoid the kids opening, shutting & slamming those darn doors!

OR

#3. Use an old egg carton to hold paint for the kids.
**image source Chaunie Brusie

#4. Child got into the Sharpies…again?

#5. Use color coded stickers on food items in the fridge to identify allergens.
**Image source: Megan Bishop

What are some life hacks you use as a parent?

The post Life Hacks appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/life-hacks/

Birth and All its Wonders!

There are very few topics that I am passionate about, one of the few however, is birth. Birth is one of those many wonders of the human body. Its a miraculous event to witness and an even bigger miracle to experience.

BUT…

Birth is also a physiological event that a lot of women enter into without a vast knowledge base of what to expect. Birth has a reputation for being long, painful and in a hospital. While those expectations of birth are real for many women, they are not the case for everyone.

Birth itself is 80% mental. No, I’m not joking. Having the right support can make all the difference between having a birth you want and having a birth that leaves you struggling mentally.

There are exceptions to every rule and this is no different. Birth comes in many forms – vaginal, cesarean section, breech, all natural, fully medicated…you name it. Each birthing woman has her own definition of the perfect birth. That being said, there are some factors that can dictate the flow of birth, that are over and above labor itself.

First, do your research. Go into your birth with some knowledge behind you. Do you know if you want medication for pain or not? If you don’t, why not? Is it because of risk factors or you simply want to do labor on your own? Do you want oxytocin to be administered at the end of your labor? Do you know what that oxytocin is for? How about the Vitamin K for baby, is that an option you want to allow or deny? Do you know what it is for? If your care provider comes to you with a potential scenario – lets use “failure to progress” – do you know what that actually means? What are your options? What the risks & benefits for you and baby?

While it is impossible to cover every scenario or “what if”, you can follow this acronym to help you through the situation. BRAIN.

Benefits – What are the benefits to you and baby?
Risks – What are the risks to you and baby?
Alternative – Is there an alternative to accomplishing the same goal? vacuum vs. forceps?
Instint – Trust your instinct! You would be surprised that your body knows what its                         doing.
Nothing – You have the full right to do nothing. Maybe revisit the choice later.

Using BRAIN can get you through a lot of scenarios! Discuss this with your support system if you have one with you. Spouse, Doula, friend, parent. Its good to have someone to discuss things with and bounce your questions or worries off of.

Second, your care provider and you should be on the same page. Find one who will support your decisions and be open to your questions. One who will help you achieve your goals and most importantly…one that you can trust. Whether it be an obstetrician, midwife or even a GP that specializes in obstetrics.

Last, but not least, support! Having support in the delivery room is essential. Having a woman on the brink of insanity making in-the-moment decisions is somewhat precarious. Having someone level-headed and grounded who can balance out the laboring mom while she both labors and tries to weighs the pros-cons of a decision – can help the mom achieve the labor she wants. A spouse is a wonderful emotional support, a Doula can be that physical/educational support you might want, the Grandma or a close Friend can also be wonderful support. In any case, try to have the support you feel 100% comfortable with in your delivery room. I swear it helps!

Keep in mind, sometimes you can go into birth with all the support in the world, all the knowledge you can possibly have and things will still go sideways. Expectations & birth don’t always go hand in hand, sometimes, its better to go with the mentality “If this happens, awesome! If it doesn’t, I will be ok with it”.

I wish you the absolute best with your birth. If you have had a traumatic birth, please reach out for help to get healing from it! Birth can be magical and every woman deserves to know that.

The post Birth and All its Wonders! appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/birth-and-all-its-wonders/

Heritage Day (Alberta)

Today is August 7. The first Monday of August and as such, it has been designated a holiday. It is a Stat holiday in some provinces, but in Alberta, it is considered a general holiday. Businesses have the choice of remaining open or closing for the day and giving staff the day off.

In Edmonton, our famous Heritage Festival is always co-ordinated with August long weekend. Edmonton is filled with a vast array of cultures and the Heritage Festival takes 3 days to celebrate our diversity! The food is always incredible and the presentations each country puts on, are a sneak peek into what each culture is all about. If you can go, its worth it to take in the Heritage Festival.

Calgary has many options for celebrating Heritage Day in Alberta. You can take in Inglewood Sunfest, Heritage Day Festival or Heritage Park Heritage Day! There are many options to celebrating the diversity of Alberta.

Even if you choose to sit back, enjoy the rain (or sunshine if your having any!) and relax…its still a great way to take in a long weekend.

The post Heritage Day (Alberta) appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/heritage-day-alberta/

Ask, Don’t Assume!

Yesterday evening I was pondering what todays post might be. I have a guest post I could potentially put up and a few draft posts in waiting…but I had a conversation with a friend and it was a lengthy one. I asked her permission to post about the topic we discussed, its an important one.

ASSUMING.

How many times has someone cancelled an event with you? A playdate? Babysitting services? Was your first thought “Did I say something wrong?” or maybe your first thought was “But why? Am I that hard to be around?”

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: It’s not you!

I’m a mom of three. At any given moment, one of my children is screaming “MOM!”
– He took a toy from me
– She hit me
– He won’t play with me
– She ran over my toes
and so on and so forth. If I’m in the middle of a conversation, in person or through an electronic device, the conversation stops. I’m sure some of my friends have wondered if I have turrets on occasion. There are constant interruptions in a day, and not always from children. Gracious, I’m drowning in laundry, I have to make 3 meals a day for my family, my floors need cleaning and goodness knows I have a family of dust bunnies under all my furniture. Just because our conversation stops, doesn’t mean that I am angry with you. It means I am busy.

The conversation I had last night with my friend revealed that she had made some assumptions that left her thinking I don’t like her. Based purely on body language she interpreted incorrectly and her own assumptions after that. My main question to her was “why didn’t you ask me what I thought?” and it came to light that the reality of my honesty, scared her.

While that fear is so real, honesty is important. It allows a person to grow, make choices, adjust their perspective even. It allows for vulnerability and openness. Most of all, it provides transparency for both sides!

All of these traits are incredibly important for life, they are also of the utmost importance in Surrogacy. Your role might be an egg donor or a surrogate, either way, truthfulness is top priority. The creation of life is at your fingertips!

When intended parents begin their journey’s they already know what they are looking for. If they’re using an egg donor, they already know they want a brunette with green eyes (as an example). Or possibly someone who is shorter, to mimic the height of one parent. They may have entertained the idea of someone with blonde hair instead. Whatever the case, your honesty alters their life.

When it comes to the contract between a surrogate & her intended parents, so much can get lost in translation. 95% of the communication is done via electronic device – computer, cell phone, tablet, etc – and then to add to that, a large portion of the contract information is passed between two lawyers before it ever reaches the surrogate or intended parents. That is a lot of room for assumptions! The more assumptions you make, the bigger a rift that can form. All because someone assumed something. Its best to be honest and simply ask the question that is on your mind. There will always be fear of insulting someone, hurting someones feelings or possibly sounding rude. I’d rather that though, and getting clarification then letting them assume the worst of me! Who knows, they might surprise you and say “Hey! We were wondering the same thing!” and they might have had the same fears of being rude or insulting to you.

At the end of the day, honesty and truthfulness are a better choice than making an assumption. Be confident…ask, don’t assume!

The post Ask, Don’t Assume! appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/ask-dont-assume/

Doulas & Why they are Important! – Guest Post

Catherine Catherall is a Doula who is also a surrogate. She is very experienced as a birth doula and I requested her to write up a guest about Doulas, what they do and why they play such an important role in birth. Please enjoy her insight.

“At the beginning of July my son was in a motorcycle accident. We were taken to see him in the trauma room. Now I have been in our local emergency room a few times with my children over the years. Our last visit there was for a bead up our littlest ones nose. It was no big deal. They explained to use what they were going to do and it was all smooth sailing. For my sons motorcycle accident I felt so incredibly lost and scared. I have not been in a trauma room with anything major before this. There was lots going on and people coming and going using words I didn’t know. I was scared. Then a nurse I know walked in. I burst into tears! Why? Because she was a familiar face to me. As soon as I saw her I felt incredible relief! I knew things were going to be ok. Was she actually going to make things okay? Heck no. But seeing a face in the crowds that I knew and trusted meant so much to me and calmed me right down. I got thinking about that later after all the dust settled. Just by SEEING someone I know, I felt better. She didn’t explain anything to me, she didn’t even stay the whole time. But she did give me a hug, which no one else had done. And I wouldn’t expect nurses to go around randomly hugging people. (though it might be nice!). I would have paid for someone I knew to be right there beside me explaining what is going on. Truly. A trauma doula if you will.

It made me realize that doulas are actually MORE important then I even realized! Usually birth is somewhat predictable. But sometimes things go sideways and the staff do not explain what is going on because they’re busy doing things. As a doula I always ask if the partner understands what is going on. Often if things happen quickly they get scared and maybe don’t even know what questions to ask! That is where I can help. I can usually explain who the people are, who is coming in the room (NICU staff, obstetricians, etc) so at least they know who is in the room. And because I have attended just about 100 births, I can also explain quite often what is going on and help them to ask questions if they need clarification on anything. Having that familiar face in the room can be so reassuring!

So who hires a doula? I have doula-ed for first time moms, fourth time moms, home births, planned cesareans, those who have chosen adoption for their baby, surrogates and many other scenarios. Often the partner is not totally on board for having a doula. I mean why can’t they be the doula? Well I will tell you why. Dads/partners are amazing people! There is no doubt about it but how many of them have been to a birth before? Not many. A doula can explain that when the birthing person says “I am done! I am going home!”, she doesn’t actually want to go home… she is probably in transition and that is a good thing! I often send the partner to rest or get some food if the labour is longer. If there is no partner I can be that sole support to the mom and help her with comfort measures, changing positions and whatever else she may need. I have gone in the operating room in place of the dad a couple of times now where the dad just knew they would not do well in that situation. I have supported surrogates and made sure they were not left all alone once the baby was born and the IPs were with the baby bonding. Basically anyone who is pregnant can benefit from the support of a doula.

What does a doula do? That varies for sure! During pregnancy it’s providing information, getting to know my clients and how they see the birth going, supporting them during labour and delivery with comfort measures, information, things like getting water and extra pillows. Postpartum it’s helping with breastfeeding, helping with local resources, answering questions, etc. There is evidence based information on doulas being a part of someone’s birth team for sure! One dad told me “You don’t know how much you need a doula, until after”. Once you actually experience what we can do to help, then you get it. So if you are expecting or planning a pregnancy, look into doulas!”

“Christine Catherall is a birth doula, postpartum doula, childbirth educator, infant sleep educator, Evidence Based Birth instructor and owner of Central Alberta Doulas. She has been supporting families in Red Deer and Central Alberta since 2012. You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CentralAlbertaDoulas/ and her website is www.Centralalbertadoulas.com”

The post Doulas & Why they are Important! – Guest Post appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/doulas-important-guest-post/

Retreats for our Surrogates & Egg Donors

Being a part of ANU has been so incredibly fun for me! One big perk (well, its a big perk imo) is the retreats offered for the surro’s & egg donors. Every year, there is one for the BC ladies, AB ladies & ON ladies. Typically, they’re done in the Summer. Can you imagine asking pregnant women high on hormones to go on a retreat in -30C weather? while comical maybe, not practical.

This year, the BC retreat is the weekend of Aug 11-13 being hosted in Harrison Hot Springs. It includes an essential oils class AND a meal prepared by a Masterchef Canada finalist! It sounds like so much fun to me.

The AB retreat is the weekend of Aug 25-27 and being hosted in Sylvan Lake. I know the activities being planned will include lots of laughter!

I can’t wait!

The ON retreat is still TBD.

The post Retreats for our Surrogates & Egg Donors appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/retreats-surrogates-egg-donors/

Surro Saturday! – Rylan

Its Surro Saturday again! Please enjoy this guest post that Rylan took the time to write up for us.

 

“It’s hard to pinpoint a beginning of my surrogacy journey. It may have been a book. The fictional book was written from the perspective of a woman who vowed to do something “good” each day for a year.
I loved the idea behind the story, but not the writing execution. It did inspire me. I set out a plan for my own year long social experiment. My plan was to complete 365 random acts of kindness over thr next year. They must, whenever possible, be anonymous and never include the demand or expectation for the recipient to “pay it forward”. It was to be kindness for kindness sake alone.
This social experiment is NOT why I became a surrogate. Yet, this social experiment changed and grew me in all kinds of ways I had not for seen.
When thinking of doing something for someone I no longer considered personal gain. The idea that I was in a place to judge who was “deserving” of kindness and love fled.
So when I rediscovered surrogacy in 2015 my only thought was “I can’t imagine why not”.

Surrogacy is not a call for everyone. I am deeply grateful that I am called to it.

I met my first set of Intended Parents in the early autumn of 2015. At first their mature age was a surprise for me. I was quickly able to see that the number of trips around the sun one takes is in no way related to our hearts desires and ability to love and care for precious life.

A uterine polyp was discovered during my screening process. Routine surgery took care of it perfectly, yet did result in a more stretched out time line than we had hoped for.

Family Day of 2016 I was to board a flight to BC for our embryo transfer procedure. Considering the extremely mild winter we had been experiencing, the snow storm that hit that morning took everyone by surprise. Traffic jams at 4am, delayed flights, over booked flights, cancelled flights, missed flights. My husband and I spent 30 hours in airports trying desperately to make our appointment at the fertility clinic the following morning.
Through the sheer grace of God and the beautiful heart of an unknown, off duty flight attendant we indeed did *just* make our appointment time. It was high stress travel that still did not manage to go as planned for our return trip home.
Two weeks later, breaking the news to C and K that the cycle had failed was incredibly difficult. In all honestly though, none of us were surprised considering the stress.

In April we were able to once again fly to BC for a second embryo transfer. We hit no traffic. The flights were on time. We knew where we were going. The hotel staff were very accommodating. I felt hopeful and positive about this transfer.
And I had reason to! On Mothers day I was able to send C a photo of my blood work confirming the pregnancy!

This was my easiest pregnancy. My morning sickness was ever present, but not crippling like it was with my biological children. I gained no weight but baby kept growing perfectly (when one is married to a pastry chef she often has a few pounds she would be happy to see vanish- as is my case).

Without incessant morning sickness I had more energy this pregnancy than any before. I was able to stay on top of running a home daycare, home schooling both my children and starting up a new business venture from the ground up.

I craved green grapes. Once my husband brought me home red grapes from the grocery store, figuring grapes were grapes. Pregnancy cravings disagreed!! That mistake was not made twice

Having never been a surrogate before I did question how I would *actually* feel about handing over this tiny person to her parents after delivery. I knew how I was called to feel. I knew how I wanted to feel, but I wasn’t sure if it would work out that way.

I loved to keep C and K on top of all new developments. They delighted in new ultrasound photos, or hearing about scent aversions or my food cravings.
The depth of our relationship grew over those months. It was so fascinating to develop this completely unique relationship with people who would be complete strangers to us if I were not growing their daughter.

Due to geographical distance we did not get to meet C and K in person until a few days before my due date. They were warm and happy people who were so excited and nervous about the stage to come.

Labour finally started four days past due in the evening.
Come the morning my husband and I took our children to a family members home for care. Then off we went to the hospital.
Upon arrival I was asked to don a gown and wait to be checked. But, four days past due, baby was done with waiting. She kicked twice. The second time breaking my water. The vomiting was immediate from that point. I was moved into a delivery room and received the blessing of an epidural.
There we sat, for the next six hours, my husband and I with C and K. I was fully dialiated and ready to deliver within moments of receiving my epidural. But since the only OBGYN on staff in the hospital that day was caught up in back to back to back emergency c sections, we waited.
C and K wanted to be in the delivery room, but requested to not watch the delivery. A curtain room divider was the ideal solution.
Baby M was delivered smoothly and without complication. She was immediately brought to her parents for skin on skin contact.

I never felt more powerful in my whole life. I felt strong. And useful. I felt uplifted.
And I felt joy and relief to realize that watching that child be delivered into the arms of already in love parents was not difficult at all. It felt exactly right. It felt like the strongest example of loving ones neighbour as oneself as I could imagine.

And I can hardly wait to do it again.”

The post Surro Saturday! – Rylan appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/surro-saturday-rylan/

Summer Recipes

I live in Edmonton, AB, Canada and it is our summertime. My background, is mennonite. I have such fond memories of growing up in a small (lets be real, tiny is more accurate) mennonite town! If there is one thing mennonites know about, its cooking. Cooking & baking. The food is so darn good. Its probably why my hips are rather voluptuous.

One of my favorite mennonite summer recipes is something called Rollkuchen. If you pronounce it in plain english, your saying it wrong. You have to roll the “R” and the “ch” makes a throaty cue sound. It is something that is typically eaten with Watermelon and since its Summer, Watermelon is a very popular meal in our home. Its cool, refreshing and packed with Vitamin C and Iron – both important for kids!  Its essentially a deep fried dough, nothing fancy. You eat the rollkuchen & watermelon together and it tastes absolutely divine.

If you feel inventive, some women stuff the rollkuchen with jams, fruits, chocolate sauce…kind of like making your own elephant ears at home. With leftover Rollkuchen, you can place them in a bag for overnight storing and toast them in the toaster the next morning. Slather them in PB&J and you’ve got yourself an awesome tasting slice of “toast”!

Another summer favorite of my family is a Balsamic Vinaigrette. My husband & kids love salad in the summer. Its both cool and refreshing and chock full of veggies. However, I’m quite picky about my dressings and frankly, finding a good balsamic vinaigrette is not easy. So I make my own! Its thick, tasty, not too sweet or tart and adds that pop of flavor into a greek salad or a simple house salad.

Today, I am sharing both of those recipes with you. I sincerely hope that if you try them, that they are as enjoyable for you and your family as they are to mine. <3

Rollkuchen
3 cups Flour
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Powder
*You will also need milk, egs, margarine & 1 liter oil (veggie, corn, canola..you pick).

Place oil into a large pot & heat up to 375F. Mix flour, salt & baking powder in a bowl. Add 6 tbsp melted margarine. Beat 2 eggs well and put them into a cup (a coffee mug is perfect). Fill the cup up with milk. Add the eggs/milk mixture into the flour. Mix well! Add flour until you reach the desired consistancy (not sticky, but not too firm either). Using a rolling pin, roll out into a thin layer of dough (about 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick). Cut into squares (4″x4″ is a good size). Place cut pieces into the hot oil, brown lightly on both sides. Remove & Enjoy! Some of them may puff up or remain flat.

Balsamic Vinaigrette
1/2 cup Oil (I use extra virgin olive oil)
1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar
1 tsp honey (or corn syrup)
1 tsp Dijon, Honey OR Reg Mustard
1 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
Salt & Pepper to taste (I use minimal salt and loads of pepper)

Mix all ingredients well and place in a jar/container for storage in the fridge. This vinaigrette usually takes quite a while to seperate. It also tends to be a bit on the thicker side. But super yummy!

The post Summer Recipes appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/summer-recipes/

Please Enjoy Some Funny Surro Memes

Today has been an off day in my house, and as such, my brain is drawing a blank on what todays post should be about. So please excuse my laziness today!   I hope you get a good laugh at some of these surrogacy/parenting memes.

The post Please Enjoy Some Funny Surro Memes appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/please-enjoy-funny-surro-memes/

Sand. So Much Sand.

Any parent who has experienced the joys (AKA: HELL) that is sand, will hopefully either benefit from my post or sit back in your chair, laughing at me. Either way, I hope it serves a purpose!

My own childhood is filled with fond memories of sand castles, building tracks for my cars to drive on, mud pies, lots of digging and playing with fun machines that were specific for sandboxes. I loved playing in the sand. I would spend hours upon hours unleashing my imagination, fully utilizing every sand particle within my reach!

Then I became a mom.

Sand went from being a heavenly sensory play material to my absolute worst nightmare!

My kids see sand think “WOOHOO! Sandcastles mom!” and suddenly, they are laying in the sand, full body, digging holes in the sand with their heads or, they do what my 3yo does and strips down to her pullup, lays down, covers herself in sand and throws it in the air. Cause thats a good idea.

Why do I hate this? Let me tell you. My kids are part Jamaican. My youngest daughter has that thick, curly, hair that mats easily. It is a graveyard for sand. Washing her hair after a day in sand takes FOREVER and we both hate the process. It usually ends in tears. Sometimes she cries too.

My oldest two? Oh yea, sand is great. Throwing it, burying themselves or friends, trying to do handstands in the sand, you name it. Sand finds its way into orifices it really shouldn’t make its home. They love every second and I begin to shake thinking of what my evening is going to entail and how I’m going to avoid getting sand all over my van (cause vehicle carpet is so damn easy to clean *NOT*) and sand in their car seats…cause thats comfortable. *eye roll*.

Having had way more sand experiences recently than I’d like to admit, I’ve learned a few things along the way. Here are a couple pro-tips. If you have more tips, I’d LOVE to hear them!!

TIPS
1. Buy a huge pack of water bottles from Costco for cheap. Then, before the kids get in the vehicle, use a bottle for each kid and wash them off gently. Including their feet!
2. Dust their clothes off (is this obvious? Yes…to you maybe. Apparently, It wasn’t to me. LOL). Or better yet, bring clean spare clothes and just change them before anyone gets in the vehicle.
3. Bring lots of safeway bags (with no holes) to shove everything with sand on it, into. This helps avoid sand all over the vehicle.
4. Once you come home from your outing, fill up the kiddie pool (if you have one) or turn on the sprinkler and let your kids run through. Its like a pre-wash before bath time. It does help reduce the amount of sand tracked through your house and left in your tub!
5. When washing your child’s hair in the shower, shampoo it as usual, condition it…then brush it!! Brush it while conditioner is in it!! Why? Because it straightens the hair all out easily and removes all the “traps” for the sand. When you rinse their hair, the sand comes out wayyy easier and much faster!
6. Keep one of those tiny brooms & dustpans in your vehicle during the summer. Brush all your equipment off before putting it all into your vehicle.
7. Just avoid going anywhere with sand. My best tip!

What are some things you do to avoid finding sand all over your house for weeks on end?

The post Sand. So Much Sand. appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/sand-much-sand/

Hormones, Heartburn & Hemorrhoids…OH MY!

Us surrogates & egg donors go through many discomforts that come along with pregnancy and having our ovaries bursting at the seams with eggs for retrieval. 24 eggs, the egg donors dozen!

While we love being surrogates & egg donors, don’t kid yourself, we have had our own (sometimes hilarious) experiences with it. Please enjoy some of the confessions that surrogates and egg donors have been so sweet to share with me. I laughed pretty hard at some of these, I hope you get as much entertainment from them as I did.

 

“I became a surrogate because I was unfulfilled by the lack of excitement from my own partner over our natural children. I wanted to vicariously live through people who would be thrilled about the baby I was carrying for them.”

“every time I need to pee I think ‘ I should have bought more tests!”

“I boiled a crochet hook to sterilize it and used sterile gloves I had acquired from a hosp to try and break my own water. I could reach my cervix with my hand, but I just couldn’t get the hook anywhere near where it needed to be. Needless to say, it didn’t work!”

“I’m excited to not to have to stay up nursing a newborn and listening to my IPs tell me how tiring their first days as new parents are”

“after big meals I look in the mirror and stick my ‘food baby’ out and look at my husband and say ‘I MUST be pregnant! Look at this stomach’. He kindly reminds me that there’s no way a little embryo would be the size of my supper that night… men “

“I enjoy pregnancy, labour and birth but I don’t want anymore of my own children. I found a pretty cool way to satisfy this desire.”

“During my surrogate pregnancy, my farts got so bad that some nights, my husband slept with an actual gas mask on. According to him it was the only solution for survival.”

“The best thing about surrogacy is helping grow/make a family and watching these people become parents. I never understood why I enjoyed being pregnant until I became a surrogate!“

“While going through screening I logically knew nothing should come up, I was worried results would show something I was unaware of.”

“There were days near the end where I skipped my PIO because I just couldn’t take the thought of another.“

“Traveling for transfer was suppose to be a break from my kids. Instead I ended up bringing them with me”

“Those pregnancy hormones do a lot of things to you. MAke you feel up and down. For me, OMG my sex drive was CRAZZZYYY. I felt I could not get enough of sex and foreplay and was always horny.“

“I spent nearly $300 trying to induce labor. I was done.“

“My surrogacy journey was the only time I was excited to have morning sickness and constipation.”

“I wish I could have breastfed in the hospital to kick start my milk production. Exclusively pumping is hard and maintaining a supply without a baby is even more difficult.“

“My siblings and in laws don’t know I was a surrogate“

“Never thought I would gain friends from this experience that would become like family.“

“I feared going for my ultrasound recently. I knew they shouldn’t find a baby already on ultrasound but I had been sexually active. I mean I knew I shouldn’t be pregnant but WHAT IF. NOW, I’m stressing. Like am I the only one who fears ultrasounds and all the things they COULD find. What if…”

“My husbands favorite thing was to tell everyone that his wife was knocked up…and it wasn’t his. Then he would sit & watch their reactions. For fun.”

“I felt the IF wasn’t onboard with the whole journey and that the IM forced him through everything and even the week the baby was born he didn’t fly in until 2 days before the scheduled c section and the IM was here for a week and a half. She was excited but she tried to “cheap” out on everything“

“Having to fly to another province for the transfer was a mini vacation for me. I visited friends, went sight-seeing, and ordered room service at the hotel. It was a nice break from my kids.“

“I never had hemorrhoids with my own kids, however, I had mild ones after the 1st journey and mild to medium with 2nd journey. I had no clue how to handle this.”

“I stole the hook [for breaking the water] from the maternity ward but couldn’t get to through the cervix!”

“When I signed up to be a surrogate I thought it would be easy with no issues. It turned out be harder on my body than I thought it would be.”

 

The post Hormones, Heartburn & Hemorrhoids…OH MY! appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/hormones-heartburn-hemorrhoids-oh/

Guest Post – Surrogate Jennifer

This is a guest post from of the Surrogates with ANU. Her name is Jennifer and she just had her surro-baby recently. Please enjoy!

 

“When our youngest was a couple of years old, my husband and I had the talk about whether we were done building our family.  With having 3 kids and our youngest having a fatal genetic disease, we decided that our family is complete.  As many women do though, I still had the urge to be pregnant again.

Surrogacy has always been in the back of my mind, especially after watching a friend be a surrogate 3 times.  I hadn’t really researched it other than asking her questions and doing a quick Google search though.  I met Lorraine at a local tradeshow and decided that it was an opportune time to get more information.  We talked for a short while and Lorraine agreed to send me an information package.  I awaited that email eagerly.  It didn’t take long for it to come in and I read the whole information package in one sitting.  I did have a few more questions but once they were answered, I decided that this was something I would like to try.  Why not “scratch the itch” for me wanting to be pregnant while helping someone in need?

Unfortunately, when I approached my husband with the idea, he instantly said no.  He wasn’t interested in learning more about it and he just wasn’t comfortable with the idea of me being a surrogate.  Surrogacy would just not leave my mind though so a few weeks later I asked my husband if he would be willing to at least read the information package so we could discuss this further.  He agreed.  I sat beside him on the couch while he read through the booklet.  He looked at me and said he still wasn’t comfortable with it.  The idea of me being pregnant with someone else’s child was very strange for him and he was obviously concerned about the risks associated with the medications and the pregnancy.  We spent a couple of hours talking through his concerns and he finally looked at me and asked if this is something that I’d really like to do.  I told him it was so he agreed to support me in this journey.  He also said that if it stops me from bugging him to have more babies of our own, then it might be a good idea!  Typical man thought, hey?

So, we started the process.  December 2015, I had my profile completed and sent off to the ladies at ANU.  Within a week or two, Lorraine told me that she had a wonderful couple in mind for me and I met with V & N over the telephone shortly after that.  To say it was an easy conversation was an understatement.  I mean, “so can I have your baby?” is not a good conversation starter.  Luckily Lorraine was on the call with us to help keep the conversation going and to help answer questions for the both of us.  We agreed to work together and I met with V & N over Skype shortly after that as well.

Within the next couple of months my husband and I went through all of the screening process.  There was bloodwork to be done by both of us and all of my medical history had to be sent to the fertility clinic.  My husband and I also attended a counselling session with the fertility clinic over Skype.  This was an easy appointment and the counsellor just wanted to make sure we understood what we were getting into and that I had support to go through this journey.  In February 2016 I began a dummy cycle to see how my body would react to the medication that is needed in a surrogacy.  My body reacted great to the medication but unfortunately, they found an ovarian cyst during the ultrasound that they wanted to have removed before we went forward with the surrogacy.

This was just a bump in the road of our journey though and surgery went well.  I was cleared to proceed with the surrogacy in the fall of 2016.  I started meds and we set the date!  At the end of October 2016, I flew to BC to go for my transfer.  I was so nervous.  As I was sitting in the waiting room before the procedure, my mind was racing.  Am I making the right decision to be a surrogate?  Is this something I really want to do?  Is this procedure going to hurt?  What if it doesn’t work?  What if I can’t handle being a surrogate?  They called me in.  Even with all of my anxiety creeping up, I knew I needed to just go through with it.  The transfer didn’t hurt at all and the staff were all wonderful.  They made me feel much more at ease and we were done within minutes.  After some relaxation and further instructions, I went and had lunch with a friend and went back to my hotel room for the night.  I flew home the next day and had to “patiently” wait 2 weeks until I was sent for bloodwork to confirm the pregnancy.

I had no symptoms.  I didn’t feel pregnant.  I also wasn’t patient and decided to take a home pregnancy test around a week later.  That little red line was barely visible but it was there!  I was so excited but didn’t want to tell my IPs yet, just in case.  I peed on that stick every day and was so happy to see it darken.  I went for my 2 week bloodwork and just as I had expected, it came back showing that I was pregnant.  My IPs were ecstatic but I had to wait until the next set of bloodwork 2 days later for an official pregnancy announcement.  It came back showing that I was indeed pregnant and we could plan for this pregnancy.  My IPs were excited but I could tell they were nervous.  I knew that until they held that baby in their arms, there always would be that “what if”.

The pregnancy went ahead uncomplicated.  The first trimester was a little rough on me because of the medication.  It wasn’t as bad as many women have it though but I just found that I couldn’t eat what I usually did and craved lots of fruits and veggies.  It all calmed down once I was done all of the medications in the second trimester.  Throughout this whole time I always spoke to my IPs at least once a week, sometimes more.  I always wanted to keep them updated on how I was doing and how baby was moving (once I felt him).  Unfortunately, due to the distance of my IPs, they weren’t able to attend any of the prenatal appointments or ultrasounds but I always sent them pictures and updates after every appointment.  However, we were able to Skype the gender reveal ultrasound and they got to find out live that they were having a little boy!  They told me that doing that made it more real for them.  I couldn’t imagine how they must have felt, letting a complete stranger grow their child in a completely different country.  They had many questions throughout the pregnancy and I tried to reassure them as much as I could.

As we entered the third trimester, it was time to start planning my IPs arrival in Canada.  Obviously this was all for them to do but it was exciting.  After so long, we were finally getting to this point in the journey.  Months turned to weeks.  Weeks turned into days.  I got the message that they were about to board the plane to Canada.  I was excited but I was even more nervous.  I was finally going to meet these people that I have been talking to for over a year but what was I going to say to them?  Should I hug them?  How should I act around them?  They arrived quite late so we met the next day.  It all came so natural when I met them.  We hugged and I tried not to cry.  There were a few awkward silences but overall we had plenty to talk about.  We spent all afternoon together and made plans to meet up again once they were fully settled and had gotten some sleep.  Their son had different plans though…

The very next day I started having cramps.  Not abnormal as I had them the whole week before my youngest daughter was born so I figured it meant he was coming soon.  By dinner time, those cramps had turned into contractions and I began to monitor them.  They went on all night.  By 2 am they were 10 minutes apart but I didn’t want to start waking people up until they were below 10 minutes so I waited.  I’m glad I did because they went back up to about 20 minutes apart and stayed that way all morning.  At least everyone else could get some sleep.  At about 4 am, I sent my IPs a message letting them know I was having contractions but it was not time to go to the hospital.  My IF responded, which I later learned he was actually having trouble sleeping that night because he just had a feeling something was going to happen that night, and I kept them in the loop until I decided it was time to go to the hospital at around 9 am.

My midwife checked me shortly after we all arrived at the hospital and I was 7 cm dilated.  She let me labour as I wanted and was there for me when I decided it was time to push.  Both of my IPs stayed in the room while I pushed; my IF sat back to give me some privacy but my IM sat beside me and held my hand.  Shortly after lunch, Baby L was born healthy and crying.  His mom got to watch as he was born and cut his cord.

Watching my IPs hold their brand new baby boy was the most amazing feeling.  The joy in their eyes and the smiles on their faces is exactly why I did this.  I’m blessed that they chose me to be a part of their journey and I’m excited to have made lifelong friends with these amazing people.”

The post Guest Post – Surrogate Jennifer appeared first on ANU Fertility Consultants.

source http://www.surrogacyincanada.com/guest-post-surrogate-jennifer/