ttc - alternative therapies?

[kiwibella]

just wondering if anyone has tried any other methods ttc (alternative remedies / healers / etc) or is it most commonly keep at it month after month or IVF? I started IVF while ttc dd2 but fell pregnant naturally. She is now eighteen months and although we began trying again as soon as possible after her birth, we still haven't had any joy. There are 11 years between the two dds... I won't wait that long again!

Maybe also worth reading 'The Stork Club' by Imogen Edwards-Jones its a fact based story of her fertility journey but she seems to think some sort of chinese herbs helped her!!
I haven't tried anything alternative yet but also thinking of going down that route.

I think you need to be careful with the chinese herbs thing I know several ivf clinics have asked patients not to take them as they have reduced the success rates
if you do wnat to use them then you need to tell the clinic

Acupuncture is has been proven to improve the success rate of IVF by quite a large percentage. Have a look on the british acupuncture website as they have some studies on there.

thanks greenbeanie... I'm not keen on pursuing IVF at all. Anniemac, yes I'm a kiwi and my dh is NZ Maori... awhile ago I spoke with a lady who was learning with Maori healers and the conversation is lingering in my mind atm. Apparently IVF is detrimental on the body and the first thing they do is 'undo' the affects of the medication.

I fell pg naturally last time when we weren't trying - of course!! After years of hoping, then conscientiously trying, and then starting IVF... we came to the conclusion that we were happy with our one dd. Six months later and hello

I'll have a look for the book JustOne... I have a friend using chinese herbs for her health and she fell pg unexpectedly too.

It's all such a mystery!!

Hi Anniemac... I'm from Palmy and dh from Hawkes Bay, although we lived in Wellington for a number of years before coming over to UK. I loved it!! Where are you in London? We are out east.

I won't go for IVF either. The thing is, I met this lady awhile ago and these Maori healers are coming to Netherlands in October and I'm considering going over. I'm confused and wonder whether this is the best move? Or maybe I should look for similar over here? Hubs isn't really keen but I know he would go along - probably somewhat skeptically - if I decided that I wanted to try it.

He also has an elder dd from a previous relationship so it's annoying that we / he could make babies when we were young and having fun but it is so much more difficult now.

it's not Amsterdam... looking at the map its in another part of Netherlands. They are there from October 13th and appointment dates are on the home page of the site.

Acupuncture really worked for me - effects may have been psychological but results the same. I'd had lap & dye etc but no reason for infertility found, a few months of acupuncture and was pregnant. I'd really recommend the acupuncturist I saw who specialises in fertility issues - clinic in London and Windsor if location works for you?

You could also try Zita West's books/supplements/clinic - www.zitawest.com

good luck

hatcam,

sorry to barge in on this thread - but I am looking to start acupuncture. Could you let me know the name of that acupunturist you recommend? I tried a local Chinese acupuncturist and he didn't speak any english - made me nervous, so now I am looking for recommendations

I'm in London and would like to consider this... although incredibly nervous at the thought of acupuncture!! Congrats Hanaflower... glad that this was helpful for you.

No prob

Daniel at The London Acupuncture Clinic (Harley St, Ealing and Windsor) www.londonacupuncture.co.uk. Daniel was a barrister before he became an acupuncturist & herbalist, very straight talking (as you'd imagine) and logical about the whole process. He's a TCM practitioner too.

Bizarrely, I found acupuncture incredibly relaxing, lying still for a short while every week and only very rarely did a needle hurt and if it did he tweaked the needle and it stopped hurting. The ones he occasionally put in my head used to freak me out a bit though!!

I have had acupuncture while ttc at zita west it was very good as well she has a clinic in harley street and also at the lister
I ahve also heard good things about daniel

a few of us on the TTC thread called "WIMBEWAIF" (come and join us ) are in London. Three of us (inlcuding me) have just started using the same accupuncturist at Exmouth Market (Mike at the Helix Clinic, I'll see if I can find the link. he aso practices in Victoria). Many of us have been trying for 18-20 cycles for a wide variety of reasons, so we understand your frustration, kiwibella.

It's early days on the accupuncture front, so can't claim any "results", but I find it enormously relaxing and really balancing, if that makes sense. if you are loking for a fairly inexpensive practitioner in London, Helix is good so far. DigitalGirl, who is still about and is (I think) on the Due in Oct Ante-Natal thread, had sucess using accupuncture and she might be able to recommend her practitioner.

all of these recommendations are great - thanks!

Hi there,

I just have to pipe up with a recommendation for Mike at Helix Clinic - I've had a few sessions, and have already noticed an improvement in my period and find it relaxing (which helps a lot). He doesn't promise a "magic solution" but is really good at listening and tailoring the treatment to the individual. He's also pretty reasonable, as until I saw his fees i thought acupuncture was out of my budget...

thanks for sharing your suggestions I will have a look at these and have a good think... money will be an issue... but also, I am shit-scared of acupuncture.

But, you never know unless you give these things a go.

helix charges £200 for a block of five sessions which is what i got, so works out at £40 an appointment.

I was sh*t scared of needles too, but really haven't had any fainting issues at all. I never though i would be an advocate of treatments involving needles!