The first thing we should do is define a Baby Travel Stroller and a Baby Travel System.

A baby travel system is a set of three pieces that makes it as easy as possible to go places with your infant. The set includes a baby stroller, an infant car seat that doubles as a baby carrier, and a stay-in-car base that holds the car seat in place.

The car seat base is secured in the vehicle using seat-belts. The seat quickly and easily snaps in and out of the stay-in-car base. A sturdy handle allows the car seat to double as an infant carrier, making it convenient and safer to transport fragile newborns.

Once removed from the car seat base, the car seat is designed to fit perfectly into the baby travel stroller. You’ll find this especially convenient if your baby has been lulled to sleep in the car and you don’t want to wake them from their nap! Simply snap the car seat out of the stay-in-car base and into the stroller and you are good to go without disturbing your sleeping baby.

Some Baby Travel Systems allow for the purchase of additional car seat bases for your second family car or for the grandparents’ car as a cost-effective, convenient, and versatile travel option.

The baby travel stroller often has many features combining safety and comfort for your baby as well as convenience for you. Look for features such as harnesses, adjustable sun visors, peek-a-boo windows, and reclining seat positions that can lay completely flat for easy napping. Removable infant head supports provide your baby with an extra-comfy ride. For parents you will find handy storage baskets, cup holders, and even the convenience of one-touch brakes and front swivel wheels with suspension helping make the stroller easy to maneuver and control.

Technorati Tags: baby stroller travel system, Baby Travel Strollers, baby travel system, Baby Travel Systems, stroller travel system

One of the most important facts about picking a sperm donor was not the color of his eyes or his education level but making sure the sperm was negative for CMV (Cytomegalovirus).

What is CMV?  According to Wikipedia, Cytomegalovirus (from the Greek cyto-, “cell”, and -megalo-, “large”) is a herpes viral genus of the Herpesviruses group: in humans it is commonly known as HCMV or Human Herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5).^[1] CMV belongs to the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily of Herpesviridae, which also includes Roseolovirus. Other herpes viruses fall into the subfamilies of Alphaherpesvirinae (including HSV 1 and 2 and varicella) or Gammaherpesvirinae (including Epstein-Barr virus).^[1] All herpes viruses share a characteristic ability to remain latent within the body over long periods.

If the sperm sample is not negative or free of the CMV virus, this can cause abnormalities in the baby.

Also according to Wikipedia:  For infants who are infected by their mothers before birth, two potential adverse scenarios exist:

• Generalized infection may occur in the infant, and can cause complications such as low birth weight, microcephaly, seizures, petechial rash similar to the “blueberry muffin” rash of congenital rubella syndrome, and moderate hepatosplenomegaly (with jaundice). Though severe cases can be fatal, with supportive treatment most infants with CMV disease will survive. However, from 80% to 90% will have complications within the first few years of life that may include hearing loss, vision impairment, and varying degrees of mental retardation.
• Another 5% to 10% of infants who are infected but without symptoms at birth will subsequently have varying degrees of hearing and mental or coordination problems.

The incidence of primary CMV infection in pregnant women in the United States varies from 1% to 3%. Healthy pregnant women are not at special risk for disease from CMV infection. When infected with CMV, most women have no symptoms and very few have a disease resembling infectious mononucleosis. It is their developing fetuses that may be at risk for congenital CMV disease. CMV remains the most important cause of congenital viral infection in the U.S.. HCMV is the most common cause of congenital infection in humans and intrauterine primary infections are second only to Down’s syndrome as a known cause of mental retardation.^[2]

Often when using a Sperm bank, you will be given the option to choose a donor who has tested “positive” or “negative” for CMV.  Although positive CMV samples may be cheaper, you will find that the Fertility clinic that you choose, will ask you to sign a waiver in the event that you choose to use a CMV positive sample.

Check out my website at twomommys.com

For our sample, we went the safe route and chose a CMV negative sample.No matter how small the risk, we didn’t want our child having any complications.

REFERENCES:

1.^ ^{a b c d e f g} Ryan KJ, Ray CG (editors) (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology (4th ed.). McGraw Hill. pp. 556; 566–9. ISBN 0838585299.

2. ^ (Article: Bio Protection And Licencing in Europe, p.5, Les Nouvelles, March 2000, ISSN 0270-174X)

Technorati Tags: Important facts about picking sperm donor, Sperm banks

A health problem that causes increase levels of Androgens, missed or irregular periods, developing cysts in ovaries, are health problems that can affect a woman’s ability to have children. This problem is referred to as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).The cause of PCOS is really unknown, but several factors may contribute to the condition such as genetics and hormonal imbalance. PCOS occurs in 5% to 10% of women and is the most common cause of Infertility in women. Often, during a pelvic exams, is when a woman finds out about a cyst.