We commonly hear about postpartum depression, but there is also a condition called postpartum blues. We wanted to discuss both conditions, the symptoms, and the differences between the two.

Postpartum blues and postpartum depression are two different conditions that can occur after giving birth. While they share some similarities, there are several key differences between the two.

Postpartum blues, also known as baby blues, is a common condition that affects up to 80% of new mothers. It typically begins a few days after delivery and lasts for up to two weeks. Symptoms of postpartum blues include mood swings, tearfulness, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty sleeping. It is thought to be caused by the hormonal changes that occur after childbirth, as well as the physical and emotional stresses of giving birth and adjusting to life with a new baby. Postpartum blues is generally considered a mild and self-limited condition, and most women recover within a few days or weeks without any formal treatment.

Postpartum depression, on the other hand, is a more serious condition that can occur weeks and months after giving birth. It is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness, and it can interfere with a woman’s ability to care for herself and her baby. Other symptoms of postpartum depression may include loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, fatigue, and difficulty bonding with the baby. Postpartum depression is thought to be caused by a combination of hormonal, genetic, and environmental factors, and it often requires treatment, such as therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.

In summary, postpartum blues is a mild and self-limited condition that is common in new mothers and typically resolves on its own within a few days or weeks. Postpartum depression, on the other hand, is a more serious and persistent condition that requires treatment and can interfere with a woman’s ability to care for herself and/or her baby. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.

Interested in surrogacy?

If you have any questions about surrogacy, please contact Shared Conception by calling us today or filling out our form on: contact us.

We all know that children can often have many questions, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, their questions can sometimes be challenging to answer. If your child was was born via surrogacy or you are a surrogate parent, they will most likely have questions about what that means. Below are some of the most popular children’s books on surrogacy.

1. The Kangaroo Pouch: A Story About Surrogacy for Young Children by Sarah Phillips. Various doctors and childhood professionals vetted this book to ensure the content is appropriate for young children. The story’s main character is Oliver, a young kangaroo whose mother becomes a surrogate for another kangaroo family. It narrates the surrogacy process from start to finish.
2. Daddy Dog and Papi Panda’s Rainbow Family: It Takes Love to Make a Family by Anthony Hale. This book features same-sex parents that had their children through adoption and surrogacy. It presents the topic of a modern family in a simple, yet fun way that is easy for children to understand.
3. Grown in Another Garden by Crystal Falk. In this story, the main character learns how he was born via surrogacy. This book is great for explaining why some families choose surrogates and why surrogates choose to help other families.
4. Penny’s Pocket: A tale of a sibling brought home through a gestational carrier by Elizabeth K Hebl. This book has a tale of a family of opossums who use a surrogate to bring home a second child and is excellent for helping children understand infertility and surrogacy.
5. You Began as a Wish by Kim Berman, PhD. This book answers many questions children may have about where they came from in a simple, easy-to-understand manner.
6. The Very Kind Koala: A Surrogacy Story for Children by Kimberly Kluger-Bell. This is a picture book for children as young as three years old. It introduces surrogacy through the simple story of a koala bear and her husband who needed the help of a very kind koala to carry their baby in her own pouch.

There are many wonderful books available to help you explain the process of surrogacy to your children. All of the books we mentioned in this blog can be found on Amazon.com with full descriptions and further reading recommendations.

Below you will find 7 helpful tips for surrogates to have a healthy pregnancy. By following these tips and taking care of your health, you will ensure that the baby will grow and develop healthily, and you will also feel better throughout your surrogate journey.

1. Eat Well-Balanced Meals: This is especially important while pregnant. Eat plenty of protein, fresh fruits, and vegetables. The types of foods you should avoid are undercooked eggs, raw meat, unpasteurized dairy products, and certain types of fish with high levels of mercury.
2. Keep Hydrated: The leading cause of premature labor is dehydration (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists). It is so important during pregnancy to drink plenty of water. In addition to keeping you hydrated, water helps transfer vital vitamins and minerals to the baby.
3. Take Prenatal Vitamins: Taking prenatal vitamins before and throughout your pregnancy will ensure that you and the baby receive essential nutrients that promote healthy growth and development.
4. Get Enough Rest: You should get at least eight hours of sleep a night. Also, be careful which position you choose to sleep in. Sleeping on your back can cut off the blood supply to the baby and make you feel lightheaded.
5. Reduce Stress: This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s a tough one. Like any pregnancy, you will probably experience mood swings and emotional challenges. It’s important to find ways to help you relax and reduce your stress levels. If you need someone to talk to, reach out to your surrogacy support system, including us here at Shared Conception.
6. Remain Active: Try to incorporate 30 minutes of low-impact physical activity into your daily routine. This can include walking, a prenatal exercise class, or even swimming. Always consult with your doctor first about which exercises are safe for you and your pregnancy.
7. Eliminate Harmful Substances: During your pregnancy, you should avoid alcohol, drugs, and smoking. In addition, you should be aware of other harmful substances, such as exposure to chemicals like household cleaning supplies, changing cat litter boxes, caffeine, and certain over-the-counter medications.

Interested in Surrogacy?

If you are interested in becoming a surrogate mother, please visit www.deliveradream.com or give Shared Conception a call today.

If you are just beginning your surrogacy journey, an important step is being matched with a surrogate mother. At Shared Conception, matching is a wonderful process in which Shared Conception excels in. We match surrogates with intended parents based on legal requirements, personality compatibility, preferences, and similar expectations.

We want to ensure that the surrogate and the intended parents are certainly equal in their beliefs and, most importantly, inner strength and that the surrogate has a harmonious pregnancy.

The information gathered from our initial meeting, and your application is vital to the matching process. After our professionals review your needs and circumstances, we immediately start the matching process and will find the ideal surrogate for you. The matching process can take a few days or weeks; other times, it can be a few months. Factors we use when looking for matches include personalities, location, fees, insurance coverage, type of contact wanted during the pregnancy and after delivery, as well as many other factors. We are looking for someone whose needs, expectations, and views are similar to yours.

Once there is a possible match, we contact the surrogate and the intended parents. We send your profiles to one another, and if both parties are interested in moving forward, Shared Conception arranges a Zoom video call between the parties and a member of our team. This is an excellent opportunity to start getting to know each other and building important rapport. Shared Conception will ensure the level of interaction between the IPs and surrogate is acceptable and comfortable for everyone before entering into a contract together.

This is such an exciting time in the process. Imagine all the hopes, dreams, expectations, and anticipation all wrapped up in the match between two families.

If you are curious about becoming a surrogate or want to learn more about how surrogacy works in our great state of Texas, contact us today! We are always here to help provide education and resources and are happy to answer any questions you may have about your surrogacy options.

Are you considering using a surrogate for your child? If you are, you have probably also thought about whether or not to use a surrogate agency. There are many pros to using a surrogacy agency during this journey.

There are several legal, medical, and procedural requirements that are involved with surrogacy. In the absence of an agency, all the paperwork, compliance, communication with the surrogate, medical information, and other essential requirements become the Intended Parents’ responsibility.

Having a baby, even through surrogacy, is a very emotionally intensive journey. Surrogacy agencies provide ongoing support for both the Intended Parents and the surrogate. Agencies also make sure that communication always remains open between both parties- this is especially important when IPs are trying to track the progress of the pregnancy.

Surrogate agencies also handle the complicated process of screening potential surrogate mothers. Here at Shared Conception, we know that the screening process is imperative and that a lot of thought and research must go into this process. We are not just a surrogate finder—we carefully choose individuals who are perfectly suited for our IPs. The surrogates associated with Shared Conception are unique, strong, caring, committed individuals who all feel compelled to fulfill their personal desire to help intended parents become moms and dads.

While going without an agency may seem to save you money in the short term, it can quickly become an expensive process if there are any issues. One benefit to having an agency is the expertise that is provided in many areas, including surrogacy law, psychological and emotional needs, conflict resolution, failed transfers, pregnancy complications, and other pregnancy issues.

With Shared Conception, our experienced and professional team helps create the best plan for your journey. We want everyone involved to have a positive experience. That is why we encourage all prospective surrogates and intended parents to contact Shared Conception to learn more about our processes. Give us a call or visit www.deliveradream.com to fill out an application request form! We would love to hear from you!

One common question is, is it ok to have pets while pregnant? The short answer is yes. But as with all things while pregnant, the important factor is safety—not just for yourself but for your pet.

In general, it is safe for pregnant women to be around dogs as long as their dog is healthy and current on their vaccinations. There are always some exceptions. Pregnant women should be careful around large dogs, dogs that are untrained and stray dogs.

Large dogs can jump and may accidentally knock you down or jump on your stomach. Untrained dogs tend to exhibit erratic behavior. If you currently own a dog that hasn’t received proper training and are pregnant or plan to be pregnant, consider signing your pup up for training classes. Stray dogs may have ticks or fleas that can lead to Lyme disease and other health issues.

Cats are another popular pet and are also generally safe to have while pregnant. You will need to watch out for bites, scratches, and ticks with cats. The most important thing to be careful with is dealing with your cat’s poop. Cat feces can contain the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. It can enter your body just by touching infected poop and then touching your mouth. To lower your risk of getting toxoplasmosis or other illness from your cat, be sure to wash your hands often, try to arrange for someone else to clean and change the litter boxes, and if possible, have your vet test your cat in advance for toxoplasmosis.

Fish do not typically cause problems for pregnant women, but you should still take precautions such as always washing your hands after feeding your fish or coming in contact with their water and equipment. If no one else is available to clean their tank, be sure to wear gloves and thoroughly wash your hands afterward.

Other types of pets, such as reptiles and amphibians (lizards, snakes, frogs, turtles), can carry salmonella. While it won’t make your pet sick, it can make you sick. Salmonella is dangerous for pregnant women. The best way to minimize risks is to have someone else care for your pet and clean the cage while you’re pregnant. If you must touch your pet, wash your hands immediately afterward.

If you own horses, experts do not recommend horseback riding while pregnant, especially after the first trimester. Riding horses can lead to serious injury to your body or your belly if you are thrown off. While pregnant, you can still spend time with your horses, but as with other pets, be sure to wash your hands after feeding, petting, grooming, or cleaning the stall. And as always, consult with your doctor if you have any specific questions regarding pregnancy and pets.