herbs for pregnancy

Herbs and pregnancy

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Believe it or not, some herbs have natural healing and immune-boosting properties that can help throughout pregnancy. These can be found in teas, added to meals, or even put in smoothies. Below is a list of the most popular and helpful herbs to consider during pregnancy.

  1. Fennel: Fennel helps relax muscles and ease cramping, gas, and bloating. In addition to these digestive benefits, herbalists have used fennel for alleviating water retention to promote a healthy supply of breast milk. Keep this in mind if you are planning to sell or donate your supply.
  2. Fenugreek: In Greek, this word is defined as “bringer of milk.” It can support breastfeeding and has been used by women for centuries. It has a sweet, maple syrup-like flavor making it a tasty addition to meals, teas, and tonics.
  3. Blessed Thistle: Also another promotor of breast milk production. This herb, as well as fennel and fenugreek, can be found in mothers’ milk tea you can purchase in your local grocery store.
  4. Milky Oats: It’s not oatmeal. This herb supports the nervous system. It’s a great herb for soothing irritable moods, wired and tired nerves, and exhaustion from labor and delivery. You can find Milky Oats in Urban Moonshine’s Simmer Down Tonic.
  5. Raspberry Leaf: Raspberry leaf helps prepare and tone the womb for childbirth. And it is used to support women’s reproductive health throughout the childbearing years.
  6. Nettle: Nettle is a rock star in the herbal world and is full of minerals. Nettle has nourishing qualities for skin health and nutritional support during pregnancy.
  7. Ginger: Ginger has soothing qualities and is one of the most well-known medicinal plants. With a spicy flavor that stimulates the palate, it also supports digestion. Ginger is also known to alleviate nausea and morning sickness.
  8. Chamomile:This herb is typically used to calm, relax, and promote healthy digestion. It is known to soothe the body and mind. Also, it can relieve occasional gas and bloat associated with pregnancy.

While we recommend some of our favorites here, not all herbs are appropriate for everyone. Make sure to consult your healthcare practitioner to determine which ones are right for you.

 

Surrogacy Laws in Texas

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There are no federal laws with surrogacy so each state determines their own legalities regarding surrogacy. Texas allows forgestational surrogacy, where the genetic material of the intended parents or donor is used and the woman carrying the baby is not biologically related to the child.

Texas law requires that the couple be married. There must also be a surrogacy agreement which is validated by a court order. Also Texas law requires that either one of the intended parents or the surrogate be a resident of Texas for the past 90 days in order for a Texas court to preside over the surrogacy agreement.

Texas is considered one of the few surrogate-friendly states. One of the primary reasons why intended parents prefer to do surrogacy arrangements in Texas is the validation process. Once the agreement is validated by the Texas courts, the child thegestational surrogateis carrying is considered the biological child of the Intended Parents and the gestational surrogate has no rights and no responsibilities to that child. Furthermore, the intended parents’ names will be the ones on the birth certificate and there is no need for adoption.

Surrogates in Texas also have their own set of legal requirements. For example, the surrogate must have had at least one child that she is currently raising. Also, the surrogate must show that carrying another baby will not jeopardize her health.

At Shared Conception, we work with excellent attorneys who can help guide you through the legal process. Let us help you get started!

How to explain surrogacy to your children

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To become a surrogate, women must meet certain criteria. One of those is they must have already had a pregnancy and live birth. This means the surrogate already has children.

So when the woman becomes pregnant as a surrogate, her children might have questions. Her friends and neighbors might have questions. People might ask questions to her children. It’s best to come up with a plan before a comment is made that might confuse your children.

Here are some suggestions. For most kids, honesty is the best policy. Telling your children the truth, in terms they can understand, might be the best for them now and down the road. Consider taking your older children aside and explaining to them that you are helping a couple become a family. Tell them, in simple words, that your body is helping grow a baby for a soon-to-be mother and father. Keep to the truth and the facts, but keep it simple, too.

It’s important to explain to them, however you feel comfortable, that they will not be “getting” a brother or sister. The baby growing in your belly is for another couple, not your own family.

Another suggestion is to head to the library. There are lots of books about surrogacy aimed toward children in all different reading levels. Be sure and scan through the books before sharing them with your children so they are on par with your beliefs and ideals, too.

 

What are the legal requirements for surrogacy?

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Having a surrogate deliver your baby is a fragile situation. We at Shared Conceptions want to make sure the journey is legally correct, both for the surrogate and intended parents.

Texas is considered “surrogate friendly.” What’s this mean for you? Texas has specific laws on the books regarding surrogacy versus many other states that use case law instead of written law or ban surrogacy all together.

There are two legal agreements that are entered into between both parties. One agreement is signed by all parties at least 14 days before the embryo transfer. Another agreement is entered into when the pregnancy is confirmed. Both documents ensure the legal safety of both the surrogate and intended parents, including specifically outlining which party is financially responsible for the pregnancy and delivery.

Also, the legal paperwork ensures the intended parents name will be presented on the baby’s birth certificate, not the surrogate’s name.

Do you have more legal questions about surrogacy? Find out more about Shared Conceptions here. https://sharedconception.com/surrogacy-texas

How does a surrogate pick the intended parents?

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There are lots of qualifications a surrogate might go by when she is matched with intended parents. We realize it is a large decision placed on her shoulders: Which couple does she get to make into a family? This question is never taken lightly.

Here are a few criteria a surrogate might consider when she picks intended parents to help.

Expectations. Does the couple want to stay in contact after the baby is born? Does the couple want to go their separate ways after the baby is delivered? What will the ‘hand off’ of the baby be like? What are the expectations for both the intended parents and the surrogate? Surrogates choose couples where her thoughts of the future match up with theirs.

Infertility Issues. Sometimes surrogates choose couples based on their reasoning why they cannot have a baby of their own. Was there cancer in the family? Has the couple been trying for years to have a baby with no success? Has the couple dealt with multiple miscarriages? Whatever the reason for infertility, many times surrogates factor that into their final decision.

Proximity. If the surrogate is in Texas, for example, she might want to choose intended parents in close proximity. Though not always the case, many intended parents want to be present at doctor visits and at delivery. Have the two parties close in distance is sometimes easiest on both the surrogate and intended parent.

Have questions about becoming a surrogate or intended parent? Contact us at Shared Conception. We want to help!