How does our fertility Program work?
Our aim is help you fall pregnant, right? Ultimately, yes. But the journey is often about small victories along the way. Lots of patients who have tried IVF or who have had unprotected sex for 12 months with no luck will fall pregnant after using acupuncture and Chinese herbs. What effect is the acupuncture and herbs having? I have written several articles on here which help to explain various aspects of this ( here ) , but in brief, Chinese medicine can help to improve rates of pregnancy by:
- improve ovarian function to produce better quality eggs
- regulate hormones to produce more follicles
- increase blood flow to uterus and increase the thickness of the lining
- relax the patient and help prevent uterine contractions ( which my interfere with implantation )
- lessen side effects from the drugs used in IVF treatments
- improve semen quality and quantity
- decrease the chance of miscarriage.
Essentially, our fertility program uses a mixture of acupuncture and Chinese herbs to calm the mind, create free-flow of energy throughout the body, and nurture the pregnancy to term once conception has been achieved.
During this time we will attempt to address any underlying hormonal imbalances by addressing your state of Qi and blood, and help to regulate your menstrual cycle.
For various article on how Chinese Medicine and acupuncture is used in supporting your chances of falling pregnant, check out some of the various blog posts and articles I’ve written or call me to discuss any aspect of your current situation 3357 8642.
There are 4 phases to our Fertility Program: select the phase to see more information
1. Pre-conception phase (3 months)
Ideally, both partners will present for an initial consultation so a complete health history can be taken. During this process, any medical tests and diagnosis will be taken under review.
We will assess your general state of health and work towards bringing you both into a better state of balance, giving you both the best chance of conceiving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
Depending on each particular case, you will be asked to come for weekly or bi-weekly acupuncture treatments where you will receive a mixture of acupuncture, cupping and massage, moxibustion and infra-red heat lamp therapy.
It is likely that you will receive Chinese herbal medicine to help prepare the sperm and uterus and, ultimately, a healthy home for the baby.
Most people find acupuncture extremely relaxing and look forward to their weekly ‘time-out’.
Clinically, this preparation period is incredibly important as it gives your practitioner time to help regulate your menstrual cycle and assess and treat any underlying fertility issues that may emerge when treatment commences. For the men, it offers a nice little boost to their mojo, as well as some time out to truly let the nervous system relax and repair.
During this 3-6 month period we work towards:
For her
- regulating your menstrual cycle to remove any obstructions to the flow of energy through the uterus
- supplementing your Qi and blood to make sure your energy is as abundant as possible and the uterine wall is thick and healthy
- balancing hormonal imbalances by regulating the flow of Qi through your body
- ensuring your nutrients and micro-nutrients are satisfactory through Chinese herbal medicine and some Western supplements
- calming your Shen (a descriptive term we use for ‘your mind’).
For him:
- treating any underling imbalances and increasing quantity and quality of sperm
- balancing and boosting the levels of Qi, blood, Yin and/or Yang
- ensuring that sex drive is optimal
- calming the Shen.
Now that you’re pregnant, we work towards maintaining a trouble-free, full- term pregnancy with minimal intervention.
Acupuncture will certainly help to alleviate any unwanted companions of pregnancy, such as morning sickness and muscular aches like sciatica. Chinese herbal medicines may also be prescribed.
Your relationship with your obstetrician is very important and we honour it by working in conjunction with you and your choice of medical professional. Our aim will always be to keep the pregnancy on track and keep you as well as possible.
Common complaints during pregnancy which we can work on alleviating are:
- morning sickness and nausea
- muscular aches and pains
- low mood and or energy, and
- poor sleep.
Acupuncture as a routine pre-birth treatment can help both reduce the time in labour, as well as the need for other medical interventions.
Malpositioned baby – ideally by 34-36 weeks the baby will have settled into a head down position within the pelvis. The ideal position is known as an Anterior Occipital Anterior position. Acupuncture and moxibustion have proven to be very effective in turning breech babies.
Induction – when your due date has passed, we can certainly look at trying to induce with natural methods. In the absence of medical conditions that would prevent us from inducing, several acupuncture points are chosen which have considerable downward bearing properties in order to further engage baby downwards.
Acupressure in labour – the use of acupressure in labour is a practical way of administering some pain relief and creating a more efficient labour. These are points which can be shown and taught to your partner, birthing partner and/or support people.
Acupuncture can help add to a sense of calmness and a higher level of satisfaction with their birth experience.
Following the birth, there are several issues for which acupuncture and Chinese herbs can offer support. Three to four days after delivery, a post-delivery tune up can help restore balance for the body and the mind. However, if there are signs of retained placenta or membranes, we wait until you have received treatment from your medical practitioner.
Some common issues which acupuncture may help with in this period include:
- mastitis
- insufficient or difficult lactation
- perineum pain or swelling
- mood swings or low mood
- persistent bleeding
- night sweats
- low energy
- heart palpitations
- dizziness.
