Trusted Information for Healthy Pregnancies
IVF
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Fertility (Part 1): A Clinical Perspective
Jun 30th
We previously reported that paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), may affect sperm motility and may thus have a negative impact on male fertility. Many women who are planning a pregnancy question whether SSRIs and other antidepressants may affect fertility; this is obviously a particularly important issue for those who are having difficulty conceiving. [...]
Embryo mix-up baby ‘loved by two families’
May 5th
Someday, the little boy known as baby Logan will come to know about the extraordinary circumstances of his birth.
For the moment, the perfect little infant, dressed in plaid pants, a white polo shirt and sweater vest, remains blissfully ignorant of the international news he created, not to mention the emotional turmoil that accompanied his arrival in the world.
“He’s doing great. He’s doing wonderful. He’s healthy. He’s a happy baby,” his proud mom, Shannon Morell, told TODAY’s Meredith Vieira Tuesday in New York as her husband, Paul, cradled the nattily attired little boy, who slept serenely through his moment on network TV.
Logan was born just seven months ago, the result of a colossal mix-up at a fertility clinic that had implanted embryos belonging to Shannon and Paul Morell into another woman, Carolyn Savage. After first communicating anonymously through their lawyers, the Morells and Savages became friends and went through most of the pregnancy together.
After Logan’s birth, the Savages were given time to say hello and goodbye to the baby Carolyn had carried in her womb. Then they handed him over to the Morells. The couples, separated by about 150 miles, remain close and share e-mails, pictures and news about Logan. They also visited over the Christmas holidays.
Both families would learn that their bond is unusual among the rare cases when women have been implanted with the wrong embryos. Most often, experts say, the cases end in bitter lawsuits, custody battles and even abortions.
The cases are so rare and so jarring that the story was news around the world, and both the Savages and the Morells made appearances on TODAY in the days before Logan was born slightly prematurely last September.
Now, the Morells have written a book about their miracle baby, “Misconception: One Couple’s Journey From Embryo Mix-Up to Miracle Baby,” and hope that their experiences will help others entering the world of in vitro fertilization (IVF).
“We want to turn a negative to a positive, to help other couples who are out there,” Paul Morell told Vieira. “We wish we had this book when we experienced what we did. We thought it would be a tremendous help to a lot of people.”
The Morells said their message is not to avoid IVF. They have 3-year-old twin daughters who were born through the procedure as well as Logan.
“I say go ahead and do it. We have three great kids because of it,” Shannon Morell said. But, she added, couples contemplating IVF should be aware of the possible pitfalls and know what questions to ask of a prospective clinic.
In a statement to TODAY, Carolyn and Sean Savage said they’re not yet prepared to talk about their experience with Logan, but are writing a book to be published in 2011.
“We would like to thank everyone for their continued thoughts, prayers, and support. Unfortunately, these past seven months have been much more difficult for us than anticipated. As a result, we are still trying to gain perspective on this life-changing event. We will share our story in early 2011. Until then, we pray Logan Morell grows to understand his birth was a blessing and his life a gift,” the statement said.
The Morells are grateful for the Savages’ graciousness.
“They’re like extended family. We keep in contact. Whatever their schedule is, whatever they want to do, we’ll be happy to accommodate,” Paul Morell said.
“We’re just happy that they’re willing to continue to have a relationship so one day he’ll know who they are,” Shannon said, adding that one reason for writing the book is to let people know what extraordinary people the Savages are.
“Carrying a pregnancy isn’t easy. To say goodbye and be in the hospital and we’re taking the baby home — it had to be hard,” Shannon said. “A lot of people should know how great Carolyn is and what she did.”
The Morells aren’t sure how they’ll tell Logan about how he came to exist. “I think a little bit at a time,” Shannon said. She added that the infant will know that it was all very positive.
“It’s part of God’s plan and he’s been blessed. He’s loved by two families.” she said. “We’re going to make it sound as if it’s perfectly natural.”
Source
Embryo screening test is ‘safe’
Dec 29th
An embryo screening test called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is safe for the children of singleton pregnancies, Belgian researchers say.
They looked at 581 children born at one Belgian centre over 13 years who had been screened using the PGD technique.
They found that rates of birth defects and deaths were similar to those of children born using other IVF methods.
However, significantly more deaths just after or before the birth were seen in multiple pregnancies following PGD.
The findings come after concerns that the PGD screening technique, which involves removing some of the embryo's cells at an early stage, could lead to problems.
But the researchers, writing in the journal Human Reproduction, found no significant difference in birth defect rates when compared to 2,889 children born using IVF but who did not undergo the screening.
In total, 2.13% of PGD children had birth defects compared with 3.38% of the other children.
The perinatal death rate - the period immediately before and after birth - was also similar at just over 1% for singleton children in both groups.
However, for multiple pregnancies there was a difference. In the PGD group it was 11.73%, whereas among the others it was 2.54%.
Source