Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture

[Luv2BaMummy]

Hey everyone!

My husband and I began acupuncture and herbal medicine about a month ago to assist us with trying to conceive. We have been down the IVF/ ICSI road with no success. Reason being: poor egg quality/ immature eggs.
Has/is anyone else out there doing herbal/ acupuncture? Or, has anyone has success and become pregnant? We've only been doing it a month so I guess it might be too soon to see if it is helping at all.

Cheers! :flowerz:

[baibee]

Hi Luv2BaMummy

I'm having my first acupuncture appointment today. DH and I have been TTC#1 since Oct 08. I know it hasn't been that long but I thought I would try this before being referred on to an OB/GYN.

I don't really know much about it but I have heard some good things. One website I read said that it can take about 3 months to fall pregnant but you can't believe everything you read. I guess it's like everything else, it works for some and not for others. I'm looking forward to hearing what the acupuncturist has to say. I will keep you posted. Hopefully we'll both be lucky ones who acupuncture works for.

[feathergirl]

I have been going to the acupuncturist once a week for a month now and while I don't expect to get a BFP this cycle I do think it is helping.

(TMI alert) - AF had been really long and heavy since my MC and really clotty but in the one AF since I started acupuncture it was shorter and also a bit clearer which is good as apparently the clots are the older stuff and you want it to be fresh.

My pre-O temperatures were a lot less erratic than they had been which is supposed to be good. Just need to get the post-O ones behaving now.

Also the pills they have given me to help me sleep seem to be helping - instead of waking up at 3am every night I am waking at 5am so I am getting a couple more hours of sleep. I am hoping they will keep improving until I sleep right through.

And the pills they have given me for liver cleansing seem to be improving my mood and giving me more energy (almost like magic). The effect of them only lasts a few hours but I take them in the morning and at lunchtime and they help me get through the day at work without being totally exhausted.

In the first couple of weeks the needles freaked me out a bit but now I am actually starting to relax during the sessions and am starting to enjoy them.

I decided to try this before going the FS route. I am going to give it three full months and then re-assess the situation.

I hope you find it helpful too.

:babydust2::babydust2::babydust2::babydust2::babyd ust2::babydust2:

[sparkles123]

I went for TCM last weekend and can see the impact already. CM has definitely changed and I am feeling fantastic. Main reason I went is because of no AF for 11 weeks after coming off the pill and wanting to fall pregnant so fingers crossed! Have been given herbs to drink as well as a whole lot of foods that I should be eating and should be avoiding.

[Luv2BaMummy]

Thanks for your replies :)
It is encouraging to hear that you have had positive changes as a result of the herbs/ acupuncture. I am at the point now where I am open to pretty much anything...so the (yukky) herbal mixtures just fine by me!
I find the acupuncture very relaxing. In my busy lifestyle just laying still for 40 minutes each session 'forces' me to relax, which is what my body needs!
Good luck to you guys.:sunshine:

[BabyJoy]

Hi!
Best of luck with your TTC journey. I just wanted to let you know that I fell pregnant thanks to acupuncture and TCM. Both DH and I had monthly acupuncture right on the day of ovulation. I take a daily dose of chinese medicine and we both take Elevit/Menovit. We also purchased from her a relaxation/meditation CD which is very good if you are stressed out. It has tracks for the first and second phases of your cycle.
You don't need to get acupuncture every week... unless you have other issues, it just becomes too expensive otherwise.

Our specialist said to give it at least three months because that's how long it takes to get really good viable eggs and sperm. On the third cycle of the treatment we were pregnant. I had a miscarriage unfortunately, but we are back seeing her again and I'm feeling very confident we will be pregnant again soon.

TCM changed my periods dramatically. It was so amazing! Before, they were heavy, dark blood, lots of clots, lots of cramping and lasted at least 5 days. Now, they are less heavy, bright red, no clots, no cramps and last about 3-4 days.

I hope you get a good fertility specialist (there are definitely acupuncturists out there who specialise in this area) and it helps you get your BFP after such a long time trying to conceive. Big hugs and babydust! :hugs::babydust2:

[luvtobeamum]

HI there,

I had accupuncture and TCM at the start of the year weekly for over 3 months. Whilst it did help regulate my cycle into a 29 day cycle, it did not help me to conceive. There are definitely positives to it, but in my case it didn't help TTC.
Best of luck for you, and hopefully it will help you eggs mature and become strong and viable. :fingerscrossed: for you and your husband. It looks like you've been through a lot and deserve your BFP sooner rather than later.

[Luv2BaMummy]

Hi ladies

Thank you for your friendly and encouraging posts. There a so many lovely people posting in this forum!:) We've been ttc for a long time now, but hearing from people in the same boat as us and that you have had success gives us the hope and motivation we need to keep trying.
We will continue with the herbs and acupuncture as I'm sure it will help. We also recently changed fert clinincs and they are amazing! So.. finger crossed!:fingerscrossed:

[baibee]

Hi, just wondering how often everyone is seeing their acupuncturist? Mine has asked to see me weekly. She has also given me a herbal supplement called endo fem which I take 3 times a day. I read in another post that weekly visits aren't necessary. Just wondering what everyone else is doing.

[elwoodgal]

I am on weekly appointments also. I am currently taking 3 tablets twice a day called Fertility 2.
I don't know if the acupuncture has helped get my BFP. It has helped in othere areas. Improved my digestion & kidney function.

[BabyJoy]

Monthly visits for myself and for DH... acupuncture is timed for us right on day of ovulation.
Daily TCM in the form of liquid mixed with orange juice (since it tastes so gross!)

Personally I do not see the value of getting it done weekly except to line someone's pockets, but every patient is different I suppose, just like every acupuncturist has their own theories. I have a great deal of confidence in my specialist. She recently went to Harvard in the US to further her studies in infertility, and a huge number of her patients are undergoing IVF.

[feathergirl]

Just thought I would let you know that I got a :bfp: yesterday. :smiliedance:

I was convinced we had not succeeded this month and that the acupuncture was just preparing me for the future but I was 16dpo when my LP was usually 11 so I decided to do a test and get it over with and it was positive.

My acupuncturist was the first person I called to check what I should stop taking. I am going to keep seeing her until 12 weeks to hopefully make this a sticky one.

I hope everyone else gets such positive results. :babydust2: :wizard: :goodvibes:

[BabyJoy]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! :smiliedance:
That's great news... and I would definitely say the acu helped... even if it helps just to relax our bodies.
When I get my BFP I'll be getting weekly acupuncture to help baby stick, so hopefully that will work for you and you enjoy a wonderful nine months ahead.

[baibee]

Yay!! Great news Feathergirl:thumbsup: Congratulations! This gives the rest of us hope. I've got my second appointment on Friday. Hope I can post a message like yours in a couple of weeks time.

Congratulations again:D