Surrogacy Survival Kit

     Any of my friends know I over plan just about everything. This Surrogacy has been no different. I have joined a LOT of Surrogacy support groups on facebook, and through those I have met some amazing girls who have given me so much information that I never would have been able to find with a google search. So when I started getting all of this amazing information I knew I was going to have to make myself my very own little Surrogacy Survival Kit to make all of the shots and Medication as easy as possible.

     I posted a little bit about my surrogacy survival kit on a earlier post but I have and will be adding so much to it that I figured it deserved its own post! Because of that here is a pretty long list of my Surrogacy Survival Kit!
     My most over planner item I bought was my day planner. This is so I can keep track of all the appointments and know what medicines I need to take when and how much of each medicine to take!

     One of the first things I bought were hot and cold packs. I bought two of the TheraPearl Sports packs. I have one to keep in the freezer to ice before shots. The second pack to warm up in the microwave to heat the injection site so the medicine can distribute and not form a lump. These seem to be without any objections one of the most import things to get you through cycling. Even more so if you are like me and will have to be giving yourself the shots. (Yes Juan is a wimp and wont give me my shots)

     To go along with not wanting lumps from medication I have been told that massaging your injection site is VERY important and unless you and the husband want very sore hands to pick up some Tennis Balls. How do you massage with tennis balls you are probably wondering? Easy you put the ball between the injection site and the wall and move around like Baloo from Jungle book with a tree! I know that doing this is going to give my girls a few laughs, but hopefully will also keep me from some of the painful medicine bumps that can come along with the injections. 

     Bandaids I have two kinds of band aids. I have the sensable small round ones that are perfect for little injection site punctures. They are even for sensitive skin so they will probably wont leave as much of that gross sticky leftover band aid goo. Then I also have fun polka dotted and plaid band aids for those days when I need a little bit of color to brighten up having to do "yet another shot". I am hoping I don't have too many of the yet another shot days but with months of medication and injections you know there are bound to be a few.  

     To help get any left over band aid goo or goo left from any medication patches I may or may not have to take I have learned the baby oil trick a little bit of baby oil on a cotton ball (another thing in my kit) gets the band aid goo off with so much less work. I think anything that involves less scrubbing is more than worth it to me! I am looking into other oils though I do know that baby oil is not the best choice with being from a non renewable source so I will update this when I find the better oil. But I think I may have read something about sesame oil so I will be doing more research on that and on other oils.

     Next on my list is Prenatal pills. I have had such a hard time finding a prenatal  pill that works for me. I am trying yet another new brand after my current ones run out on Thursday so I will have yet another pill to add to The Prenatal Problem Post, So keep an eye out for that update! There are some very important things that I have picked when choosing a Prenatal pill. Folic Acid is a must, so are DHA and DEA, and even more so for me is Iron. I would also like to keep all of that to one pill if possible because as you can see above (and below) I am taking a good amount of pills already so the more I can cut it down the better. The picture to the right is the next brand I am trying. I also have a 30 day supply of  Premama Prenatal Vitamin Drink Mix on its way that I am excited to get to try out!

     I have it in the paperwork from the clinic that even know the only pain reliever I should be taking is Tylenol. So I have added Tylenol into my Surrogacy Survival kit and into my purse so that way if I get a headache or any other sort of ache I have a pain reliever that I can take! Plus it will be nice to already have on hand when I am pregnant and start getting those pregnancy aches and pains!

     As you can see above I clearly needed a pill box. All of my pills have to be taken after a meal so I have to be able to take them with me for those mornings I don't have a "big enough" breakfast. Trying to carry around all of those bottles would be insane. I know that I have a big purse but my purse is not that big... So I went to the store and grabbed one they are actually really cheap if you are doing a surrogacy, go to the store now and get a pill box you will thank me later.
     My lucky green Transfer socks! Of course superstition is not actually going to scientifically help but I like the idea of having lucky socks! Plus if they put me in a better more positive state of mind that is a win win right?

    One thing that the RE does is two full days of bed rest after the embryo transfer. I am literally only allowed to get up to pee and shower. so I knew that entertainment would be a very important thing to get me through those two days. My amazing husband bought me a Kindle paperwhite as a early mother's day present so I will have access to lots of books to read (I may already have 85 books loaded onto the kindle...). I also must say I was not 100% sure one getting a Ereader because I just love paper books but I could not be more happy with my Kindle, and yes I actually did get the hot pink polka dot case. I love it!

     One thing I love is a good chick flick so I figured in honor of the the surrogacy and as well wishing that those little Embies will stick I have gotten just about every pregnancy movie I could find Baby Mama (of course), Juno, What to expect when you're Expecting, Knocked up, For keeps, Shes having a baby, Nine months, Waitress, Where the heart is, The back up plan, Father of the bride part two, labor pains, and actually many many more. I may have gone a little overboard but having a good movie collection is never a bad thing right?
     For after the transfer I have a lot of pregnancy tests. How many is a lot? Well I have 50... Yes 50 that is not a typo. I bought a pack of Wondfo Pregnancy Tests. Yes pregnancy tests come in a pack of 50... I figured I am going to want to test like every time I pee so I might as well get the huge pack of tests even if I also have to buy little plastic cups too, and at Under $20 how could I resist? I have also heard good things about this brand from other surrogates so I knew that I was buying a quality product!
     Now for the genius idea on how I organize all of this crazy stuff (minus the kindle and movies of course), that will still give me room for the rest of my medication and shots. An over the door shoe organizer. I can not take credit for this amazing idea. A fellow surrogate told me that it is what she uses and how amazing it is. So I bought one and have been sticking all of my lovely items in there as I get them. It is very nice to have everything organized and in one place!

    If you are a Surrogate (or not) is there anything you would add to my Surrogacy Survival Kit?
    For you Non Surrogates what item do you use for a completely different reason then it was intended for? (Like my Tennis Balls or over the door shoe organizer for surrogacy)

Finally RE cleared!

     Exciting news was given to me last night! While I have been cleared by my doctor I needed a clearance by the Surrogacy doctor, Tonight I was given that clearance!
     I have to go in for a few more tests and we have a few more legal and insurance things to do before the transfer BUT with all of this going on we could have the Embryo transfer as soon as June!
     I know that sounds so far away but there is so much that goes into surrogacy and I promise to keep update every step of the way!
     When my next appointment is and some more details should be coming soon! I can only give as much information as I have.
     The IPs (intended parents) haven't even had a chance to get back to the clinic yet. I wonder if she has even gotten the email yet!

Superstitions

     There are a LOT of Surrogacy "Superstitions" or "old wives tales" I figured it they would be kinda fun to do. I also figured that if doing them puts me in a better more positive state of mind that can only be a plus right? So I have been researching a few of them and here are a few I have found.
     The first of them I have gotten is Green transfer socks. Why green socks? I dont know, I just was told green socks are lucky for transfer so I got green socks to wear to my Embryo transfer whenever that might be! If you are a surro looking for green socks get them now! With St. Patricks Day tomorrow you can find a ton of cute green socks!
     They also say to wear Yellow, I have not figured out what I am going to be doing for my Yellow yet but I actually have a pretty good amount of yellow in my closet already so that should not be a problem.
     The other superstitions are mostly easing different foods before or after transfer. On of the ones I hear most is eating pineapple (fresh, the and flesh the core of the pineapple) for 3 days before transfer and after transfer McDonalds french fries... I have also heard about eating Yams too... Looks like before and after transfer I am going to have a pretty odd diet.
     Not as much of a Wives Tale or a Superstition but I will also be getting acupuncture before the transfer (to help increase Blood flow to the uterus).
     Have you heard of any Surrogacy superstitions? If yes please share!

Preparing for surrogacy

     I have been doing as much as possible to make sure I am ready for the surrogacy. I want to make sure the baby/babies have the best possible chance of sticking, and I have the easiest time trying to get through all the shots.

     I have cut back to almost no caffeine. The only time I have any caffeine is the occasional Dutch Freeze. Some times Dutch bros is just too darn tempting... I have however cut down to no soda at all. I figured it is best for the baby if it is not in my system and it is best for me if I stop drinking caffeine slowly instead of going cold turkey, so now I am caffeine free!
 So what do i drink then? I mostly drink water with lemon, or berries. I also LOVE lemon cucumber water but every time I drink it I end up with a crazy craving for subway.  In the research I have found if you end up pregnant with twins(Yes this is a very real possibility) you have to really up your water intake, I am upping it so that way I am prepared and one less of an adjustment to make in the future.
     I also do not drink any Alcohol! This was not hard for me to do what so ever. I don't drink other than socially. I can count on one hand how many times I have drank in the last 6 months, each of those times only being one drink, two at most. I know this is not necessary yet but it makes me feel better knowing that I am just that little bit healthier.
     I am taking my prenatal vitamins I keep them in my purse so no matter where I am I take them with my lunch. Right now I am taking Bayer's one a day prenatal and DHA. I am excited to say that I won a 30 day supply of the Premama prenatal vitamin I have been wanting to try. It is a pretty awesome idea it is a powder you mix in with your drink instead of having to swallow a pill! I am pretty excited to try them! I will update the This post after I get the vitamins in the mail and try them out!
     I am also eating more protein and I have been upping my Iron. I usually eat a LOT of chicken I prefer chicken over  red meat any day. Red meat however has more Iron so I have been sucking it up and choosing beef, ham and pork over chicken. I am also adding spinach to just about EVERYTHING.
     I am also putting together a "Surrogate survival kit" I have two of the Thera Pearl Sports packs I will keep one in the freezer to ice before shots then one by the microwave to heat after the shots. I have heard in my surrogacy groups that icing before and heating after can be the difference between being just slightly uncomfortable and feeling like you can't bend over. So I knew these would come in VERY handy! I also will use them later in pregnancy when I have the back pain that always comes along with pregnancy.
     I found and bought some fun band aids too! I figured if I am going to be giving myself hundreds of shots in my stomach and lower back I should at least have some fun band aids to help me forget I am sticking needles in my self over and over again. We will see how much help the band aids are when we actually start the medication.
     I found an old over the door shoe organizer to use to organize my medications. I want to make sure that everything is 100% organized so I do not miss a shot. pill or patch.
     Lots of pregnancy movies I got them all! What to expect when you're expecting, The back up plan, Waitress, Knocked up, Baby mama, Juno and many more! I also stocked up on some good chick flicks! I am getting ready for the 24-48 hours of bed rest after the transfer of embryos. I am also planning on getting a few good books but I know to wait until right before the transfer to get those or I will read them and have nothing to read later. I will be also adding lost of yummy snacks and drinks to keep me laying down when I am on bed rest.

More waiting...

     I have been being asked for a update for basicly from the time I posted the last update but nothing has happened.
     My doctors appointment that was scheduled for the 4th got pushed back because my doctor had a patient in labor and he is on vacation this week so I can't even get in until the 18th..... Another week away. So I have not been put on the birth control the clinic wants me on yet.
     The clinic does officially have all of my medical records now. The doctor should be going through them and letting me know if I am cleared, after that I will be going in for some more testing and then after that we get meds and a transfer date.
     I am sorry there is not more to update but this is as much as I have... We just wait and wait and wait.
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