Reproductive Assistance Inc. News, Articles and Events

Contest Winner Announced

Free Egg Donor Contest Ending March 31

Stress and Infertility

Helpful Hints to a Healthy Pregnancy

Reproductive Assistance Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reproductive Assistance Inc. gives back to those suffering from Infertility

Cincinnati, OH – April 15, 2008 – Reproductive Assistance Inc., the Midwest's premier full service egg donor, surrogate, and gestational carrier agency, awards needy family a free egg donor cycle.

The Get a Free Egg Donor contest that begun on January 1 ended March 31, 2008. Hundreds of families from all over the world entered and submitted online applications. The winning family was selected and won a free egg donor cycle, a $4,500 value.

Frances and Wesley, last name is not shared to remain anonymous, are from the Midwest. They are the first recipients of RAI's Get a Free Egg Donor cycle. Like most couples, they have had their share of heartache.

For the past seven years, Frances and Wesley have been trying to have a baby. They have seen four different fertility doctors in two different states. They have completed three artificial insemination cycles, four IVF cycles, three egg donors cycles, and suffered one miscarriage. Frances is quoted as saying, “It has been emotionally and financially draining. I was pregnant once and had a miscarriage after six weeks. It was the best six weeks of my life. But, I wonder if it was a curse. Our dream of having a child has been put to the test and receiving a free egg donor at this point of our journey would be a God send!”

Lisa Henkel, President and Owner of RAI, said, “Our company has helped thousands of families across the world create their families thru egg donors, surrogates, and gestational carriers. From the very beginning, the company took off and has grown every year. It is now time to give back to those families that are experiencing the challenges of infertility.”

All of our donors, surrogates, and gestational carriers go through a rigorous application and screening process. Our agency is registered and follows ASRM guidelines.

Free Egg Donor Contest Ending March 31

Cincinnati, OH – March 14, 2008 – Reproductive Assistance Inc., the Midwest's premier full service egg donor, surrogate, and gestational carrier agency, is still accepting applications for their contest, Get A Free Egg Donor. Interested families may submit an online application at the site, www.GetAFreeEggDonor.com , thru March 31. The winning family will get a free egg donor cycle, a $4,500 value.

Lisa Henkel, President and Owner of RAI, said, “Our company has helped thousands of families across the world create their families thru egg donors, surrogates, and gestational carriers. From the very beginning, the company took off and has grown every year. It is now time to give back to those families that are experiencing the challenges of infertility.” Infertility touches an estimated 7.3 million people or one in every eight couples in the US according to the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth.

The winner of the free egg donor cycle will be selected on April 1 and announced April 15. Our agency fee will be free to the winning family.

Lisa Henkel is a wife, mother of three, and President and Owner of Reproductive Assistance Inc. RAI was created in 2002 to help find fertility options for families and hopes to make the process of finding and choosing an egg donor, surrogate, or gestational carrier, as quick, easy, and painless as possible for each and every family. We will do everything we can to meet your needs.

Our goals are reflected in our Mission Statement:
“Reproductive Assistance Inc. exists to make the process of finding and choosing an egg donor, surrogate, or gestational carrier as quick, easy, and painless as possible. We strive to match the requests of each family to the best of our abilities.”

All of our donors, surrogates, and gestational carriers go through a rigorous application and screening process. Our agency is registered and follows ASRM guidelines.

RAI places egg donors and gestational carriers across the world. RAI accepts healthy women ages 21-30 to be egg donors and healthy women ages 21-38 to be gestational carriers. The criterion for egg donors and carriers can be reviewed on their website. You can apply online at www.ReproductiveAssistanceInc.com or by calling (513) 831-9207.

Reproductive Assistance Inc. helps families across the world and looks forward to helping you create your family. For more information about Reproductive Assistance Inc. call (513) 831-9207 or contact us online by clicking here.

Stress and Infertility

By Lisa Henkel

If you have tried or are trying to get pregnant, you have probably heard some of the following words of wisdom:

"Relax and you will get pregnant…"

"Take a trip or vacation and you will get pregnant…"

"Stop trying so hard and you will get pregnant…"

"If you would stop thinking about it so much, you would get pregnant…"

"If you adopt a child, you will get pregnant…"

All of this information sounds great, but it does not get to the root of your problem – not getting pregnant.

Infertility touches many lives each year. There is a 1 in 8 chance that you either know someone or you are experiencing the challenges of infertility yourself. There have been many medical advances that have allowed physicians to give the infertile couples a 60 to 70% of having a baby. But what about those 30 or 40% of people who are left that never determine why they can not conceive.

For this large group of people who are left without a baby, the effects of stress can be a root cause. Today, women seem to be waiting to have a child or children. Women want careers and houses before they start to think about spouses and babies. I was talking to a client today, who wanted to be an established attorney before she even thought about marriage. She got married at 44, had a tubal pregnancy shortly after they were married, and could not conceive again after the miscarriage. Now she has everything she said she needs to give a child, and no child to love. At 51 years old, she wishes she had a baby at 16 and did not go to law school. The issue of infertility is adding to her daily stress in her life, and she is miserable. She is considering her options at this point, but just wants a baby to love. She is and has tried many of the words of wisdom from above, but she is stressed over the entire situation.

Helpful Hints to a Healthy Pregnancy

By Lisa Henkel

As a Mom of three beautiful children, I have had my share of pregnant time.

The best advice to those of you who are pregnant or preparing for pregnancy is to take great care of yourself. Motherhood is the most exhausting, time consuming, underpaid, and most wonderful job that you will ever have.

Here are some hints that will help you have and maintain a healthy pregnancy. Diet – Most people have heard that you are what you eat. Well, when eating for two or more, you really want to watch what you eat. A healthy well-balanced diet includes: lean meats, fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and low fat dairy items. But a balanced diet should stay within limits. Most pregnant women only need to consume an extra 300 calories per day.

By eating a balanced diet, you will probably get the nutrients you need. But, during pregnancy, you will need more of those essential nutrients. Your physician will prescribe a prenatal vitamin to make sure you and the baby or babies get the necessary supplements you both need.

Besides the vitamins that your physician prescribes, there are extra nutritional demands that you and the baby will need during pregnancy. Calcium, iron, and folic acid are three very important nutrients also necessary during pregnancy. Foods that contain high amounts of calcium include: milk, cheese, yogurt, orange juice, soy milk, cereal, dark green vegetables like kale, broccoli, and spinach, almonds, dried beans, and tofu.

Iron is necessary to make hemoglobin which carries oxygen via the red blood cells through the body. Since pregnant women should get between 27 to 30 mg of iron each day, they should seek foods that are higher in iron. Salmon, eggs, tofu, dark poultry, red meat, enriched grains, dried beans and fruits, iron fortified cereal, leafy green vegetables, and blackstrap molasses all are great sources of iron.

Another important nutrient that is in most prenatal vitamins is folic acid. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all women of childbearing age get about 400 micrograms of folic acid supplements per day. Folic acid is critical for the development of the neural tube which is formed during the first 28 days of pregnancy. The neural tube goes on to become the baby's developing brain and spinal cord. If the neural tube does not form properly, the result is a defect called spina bifida.

Besides diet and supplements, water is a critical component during pregnancy. Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, during pregnancy helps with the increased blood volume that pregnant women create. Also water can help eliminate dehydration and constipation.

Proper diet can tremendously help a pregnant woman. But if you exercise along with eating properly, you and your baby will benefit even more. Most pregnant women should try to get 30 minutes or more of a low impact exercise like walking or swimming. If you exercise regularly during pregnancy, you can maintain a proper weight gain, increase your energy and mood, help eliminate stress, improve your sleep, and prepare for labor. During pregnancy, any exercise regiment should be reviewed by your physician. If you have not exercised before pregnancy, your physician should approve your exercise program before you begin.

Proper diet and exercise are critical during pregnancy. But there are always a few things that you should avoid during pregnancy. One of those things is alcohol. Alcohol consumption can produce severe abnormalities in the developing fetus. So, your physician will tell you also to refrain from alcohol during pregnancy.

Another item to stay away from during pregnancy is recreational drugs. Nicotine is also a no-no during pregnancy. Both of these items can severally damage a developing fetus and should be avoided. You should also limit or avoid caffeine.

Another thing that pregnant women should avoid is cleaning the kitty liter box. An infection called toxoplasmosis can spread thru the liter to the mother and cause serious problems for the fetus.

Your physician will review these items and probably more during your prenatal appointments. Any questions during pregnancy should always be directed to your physician so you can get the right advice.