attilio
13.11.2007, 03:56 PM
Hi all,
Taken from: http://www.independent.ie/health/we-changed-our-lifestyle--and-conceived--in-five-weeks-1217146.html
In January 2006, Cork couple Brona and John Hegarty were worried. It had been two full years since they had started trying for a baby, and nothing had happened.
"We weren't thinking about it all the time," says Brona. "We went through phases when we thought, 'We're probably better off without a baby; we can go to the cinema and on holidays without any worries.' But, there were times, too, when we longed for a baby, when we thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if we had one'."
Brona attended her GP. "She took blood tests to make sure I was ovulating, and she suggested the IVF clinic. I agreed, as I wasn't getting any younger.
"We had an appointment in March. They tested me; and they tested John, and they said there was no reason why I was not becoming pregnant.
They said, 'There is nothing wrong with either of you. You are both still young.' They said we should go away and try for another six months, and then, if nothing had happened, go back to the clinic for IVF.
"I left there a wreck. I found the experience cold and clinical. They were very matter of fact; they didn't give any other advice. The only guidance they gave us was to use IVF.
"I didn't like the idea of it. I went out of there thinking, I didn't ever want to go back."
Meanwhile, John's sister, Maria, was also trying to have a baby. Married in 2003 at 30, she and her husband -- another John -- had been trying for a baby for three years. Every time someone she knew had a baby, she'd be thrilled for them, but jealous too.
"I'd always wonder, 'When will it be my turn?' I was anxious in case I would never have a baby."
Maria was also due to go to the fertility clinic, when a friend told her about naturopath, Sarah Leather.
"I went to see Sarah in March last year," says Maria. "We talked things through. She advised me to change my diet a bit, and to take up exercise. I work in an office and had a very sedentary life.
"She gave me some tablets to take, some nutrients and homeopathic remedies, and advised me not to smoke. She talked about timings, about when to try for a baby.
"I went to see her twice, and, in just five weeks, I was pregnant. It was confirmed on our wedding anniversary. That was also the day we were due to go to the fertility clinic," laughs Maria. "So I rang up to cancel."
Maria told Brona about Sarah Leather. And, thinking she had nothing to lose, Brona made an appointment for herself and John.
"We saw Sarah in May 2006," says Brona. "We didn't meet other couples going in or out, and John, particularly, loved that. He hated it at the clinic, where we'd sat with four other couples while we filled out forms."
Brona's diet needed some tweaking, and the couple were advised to take more exercise. Brona was given supplements, and remedies.
"The first priority was to get my period to function properly," says Brona. "It lasted just a day, and Sarah said that wasn't good. She wanted it heavier, so it would clear me out. She said the next one would be huge, but I actually never got it," laughs Brona.
"I was pregnant by the first week of June. It was amazing, after those two years of waiting."
Brona and Maria continued to go to Sarah. Brona took a remedy for morning sickness, and some tablets to help her through labour. She now has a daughter, Clodagh, who is 7½ months old.
Maria's daughter, Eorann, is just a month-and-a-half older, so the two are already enjoying playing together.
"I give Sarah's number to everyone," says Brona. "And, when I want another baby, I will be back to see her again."
Although successful, Sarah Leather stresses that she is not a miracle worker."I cannot promise that a woman will conceive," she says.
"But I can, and do, promise them that they will get healthier in the process, and that they will therefore make the most of the fertility they do have. That helps them to handle what is going on."
Sarah is as concerned with a woman having a healthy pregnancy as she is with fertility. So, she advises women to eat as healthily as possible with plenty of organic and whole foods in their diet.
"Women often need to detox, especially if they've had IVF, or been on the pill for a few years," she says.
"I ensure that a woman has good, healthy ovulation and that their periods are good and healthy, too. So many women have had a miscarriage or been on the pill, and their cycle has never been the same since.
"I look at their lifestyle and, if it is stressful, I advise them to cut down their workload. We look at their weight, too. Being over or underweight can affect fertility, and losing just half-a-stone can really aid ovulation.
"I give women a broad range of multi-vitamin supplements, and, usually, zinc and essential fatty acids. I gave Maria and Brona homeopathic remedies to detoxify them, and some hormonal balancing remedies."
A man's health is important too, as it affects his sperm quality. And most do take it seriously. "Often a man will throw his cigarettes in the bin on the way out," says Sarah.
"Some couples find the changes tough. but there is nothing worse than looking back and thinking, 'if I had done that, maybe it would have made a difference'."
If a client hasn't become pregnant within six months or so, Sarah often suggests that they go for IVF; but she continues to treat them in conjunction with that.
Another natural method that works well with, and sometimes without, IVF is acupuncture. Paul O'Brien, who practises Chinese medicine and acupuncture says that he has had huge success, helping one woman to become pregnant in just three weeks.
Studies show a huge increase in IVF success stories, where acupuncture is used as well.
"I like to treat both partners," he says. "The man might tell you his sperm is fine; and the woman might be ovulating well, but in Chinese medicine we make a diagnosis and we might find an underlying pattern of disharmony.
"In acupuncture, we assess the whole person. We insert fine needles along the body's energy lines -- or meridians. These lines relate to various organs of the body.
"Most of my patients try acupuncture before trying IVF, and we get fantastic results."
Stephanie Hyland (34) hadn't had too much trouble getting pregnant. But, she had suffered two early miscarriages, which left her feeling distraught.
"Then I saw Paul's card up in my gym. He treated me, and just weeks later, I was pregnant. I've been seeing him every week since.
"I'm now 18 weeks pregnant. And I'm thrilled. "Acupuncture is very relaxing," she says. "I feel really good after each session."
Taken from: http://www.independent.ie/health/we-changed-our-lifestyle--and-conceived--in-five-weeks-1217146.html
In January 2006, Cork couple Brona and John Hegarty were worried. It had been two full years since they had started trying for a baby, and nothing had happened.
"We weren't thinking about it all the time," says Brona. "We went through phases when we thought, 'We're probably better off without a baby; we can go to the cinema and on holidays without any worries.' But, there were times, too, when we longed for a baby, when we thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if we had one'."
Brona attended her GP. "She took blood tests to make sure I was ovulating, and she suggested the IVF clinic. I agreed, as I wasn't getting any younger.
"We had an appointment in March. They tested me; and they tested John, and they said there was no reason why I was not becoming pregnant.
They said, 'There is nothing wrong with either of you. You are both still young.' They said we should go away and try for another six months, and then, if nothing had happened, go back to the clinic for IVF.
"I left there a wreck. I found the experience cold and clinical. They were very matter of fact; they didn't give any other advice. The only guidance they gave us was to use IVF.
"I didn't like the idea of it. I went out of there thinking, I didn't ever want to go back."
Meanwhile, John's sister, Maria, was also trying to have a baby. Married in 2003 at 30, she and her husband -- another John -- had been trying for a baby for three years. Every time someone she knew had a baby, she'd be thrilled for them, but jealous too.
"I'd always wonder, 'When will it be my turn?' I was anxious in case I would never have a baby."
Maria was also due to go to the fertility clinic, when a friend told her about naturopath, Sarah Leather.
"I went to see Sarah in March last year," says Maria. "We talked things through. She advised me to change my diet a bit, and to take up exercise. I work in an office and had a very sedentary life.
"She gave me some tablets to take, some nutrients and homeopathic remedies, and advised me not to smoke. She talked about timings, about when to try for a baby.
"I went to see her twice, and, in just five weeks, I was pregnant. It was confirmed on our wedding anniversary. That was also the day we were due to go to the fertility clinic," laughs Maria. "So I rang up to cancel."
Maria told Brona about Sarah Leather. And, thinking she had nothing to lose, Brona made an appointment for herself and John.
"We saw Sarah in May 2006," says Brona. "We didn't meet other couples going in or out, and John, particularly, loved that. He hated it at the clinic, where we'd sat with four other couples while we filled out forms."
Brona's diet needed some tweaking, and the couple were advised to take more exercise. Brona was given supplements, and remedies.
"The first priority was to get my period to function properly," says Brona. "It lasted just a day, and Sarah said that wasn't good. She wanted it heavier, so it would clear me out. She said the next one would be huge, but I actually never got it," laughs Brona.
"I was pregnant by the first week of June. It was amazing, after those two years of waiting."
Brona and Maria continued to go to Sarah. Brona took a remedy for morning sickness, and some tablets to help her through labour. She now has a daughter, Clodagh, who is 7½ months old.
Maria's daughter, Eorann, is just a month-and-a-half older, so the two are already enjoying playing together.
"I give Sarah's number to everyone," says Brona. "And, when I want another baby, I will be back to see her again."
Although successful, Sarah Leather stresses that she is not a miracle worker."I cannot promise that a woman will conceive," she says.
"But I can, and do, promise them that they will get healthier in the process, and that they will therefore make the most of the fertility they do have. That helps them to handle what is going on."
Sarah is as concerned with a woman having a healthy pregnancy as she is with fertility. So, she advises women to eat as healthily as possible with plenty of organic and whole foods in their diet.
"Women often need to detox, especially if they've had IVF, or been on the pill for a few years," she says.
"I ensure that a woman has good, healthy ovulation and that their periods are good and healthy, too. So many women have had a miscarriage or been on the pill, and their cycle has never been the same since.
"I look at their lifestyle and, if it is stressful, I advise them to cut down their workload. We look at their weight, too. Being over or underweight can affect fertility, and losing just half-a-stone can really aid ovulation.
"I give women a broad range of multi-vitamin supplements, and, usually, zinc and essential fatty acids. I gave Maria and Brona homeopathic remedies to detoxify them, and some hormonal balancing remedies."
A man's health is important too, as it affects his sperm quality. And most do take it seriously. "Often a man will throw his cigarettes in the bin on the way out," says Sarah.
"Some couples find the changes tough. but there is nothing worse than looking back and thinking, 'if I had done that, maybe it would have made a difference'."
If a client hasn't become pregnant within six months or so, Sarah often suggests that they go for IVF; but she continues to treat them in conjunction with that.
Another natural method that works well with, and sometimes without, IVF is acupuncture. Paul O'Brien, who practises Chinese medicine and acupuncture says that he has had huge success, helping one woman to become pregnant in just three weeks.
Studies show a huge increase in IVF success stories, where acupuncture is used as well.
"I like to treat both partners," he says. "The man might tell you his sperm is fine; and the woman might be ovulating well, but in Chinese medicine we make a diagnosis and we might find an underlying pattern of disharmony.
"In acupuncture, we assess the whole person. We insert fine needles along the body's energy lines -- or meridians. These lines relate to various organs of the body.
"Most of my patients try acupuncture before trying IVF, and we get fantastic results."
Stephanie Hyland (34) hadn't had too much trouble getting pregnant. But, she had suffered two early miscarriages, which left her feeling distraught.
"Then I saw Paul's card up in my gym. He treated me, and just weeks later, I was pregnant. I've been seeing him every week since.
"I'm now 18 weeks pregnant. And I'm thrilled. "Acupuncture is very relaxing," she says. "I feel really good after each session."