Accupunture.

[paperchase1]

Just wondered if any of you had tried accupuncture and become pregnant following it?

[pointsmakeprizes]

I would definitely recommend it, dor DS I tried for nearly a year then got pregnant after the first month of acupuncture. Am trying again now, it's been 7 months, I have been doing acupuncture for the last 4 months with a month off so 3 months in total. I normally have 30 - 36 day cycles, the month I did not have acupuncture, my cycle was 41 days. Am doing it this month, I ovulated on day 18 which is good for me. The months where I have acupunture my cycles are definitely shorter.

For people having acupuncture, how long do your sessions last and what do you get done? With mine they are approx 30 mins, i have needles put near my toes, one on the inside of my calf and one on my arm and a couple in my head. I always fall asleep in the sessions - the ones in the head are supposed to make you do that.

[whippybamboo]

I was TTC for Baby 2 for over a year and started acupuncture. I had been diagnosed with PCOS and also had had fertility investigations etc. 3 months later I conceived....who knows???

[MogTheForgetfulCat]

pointsmakeprizes - my acupuncturist uses tons of needles, far more than either of the other 2 I've used. He says this is because he trained in the far east rather than in Britain.

Anyway, the majority are on my lower legs - calves and feet. Then 3 in each wrist, plus 4 in the head - one right in the middle, the others along the hairline. When I had it for DS2, she used fewer needles - but mostly lower legs and feet again. Seems a bit counter-intuitive to me, but what do I know! Current man explained it to me, but can't remember what he said...

[MogTheForgetfulCat]

Oh, meant to say - sessions are an hour, but needles not in that long - maybe 40 minutes.

[DitaVonCheese]

I was having acupuncture for a bad leg when ttc DD, and my acupuncturist specialised in fertility so said she would "support" our attempts at conception. We did conceive DD after only a couple of sessions, but tbh I've always put it down to the fact that it was the Christmas holidays, so had lots of time, energy and booze for shagging It did cock-all for my leg, but then that's turned out to be caused by my hip socket being malformed from birth now requiring surgery, so might have been asking a bit too much.

My cycle has been all over the place since my periods returned, so tempted to give acupuncture another go. I have found two - one is slightly cheaper, available now but doesn't seem to have any qualifications in fertility-type stuff though it does say somewhere she specialises in fertility; the other is slightly more expensive, does specialise and belongs to the AFN, but isn't available until the end of March. WWYD?

[northlondonchoclover]

hello! just dropped in to say hi to everyone. have been to 2 acupuncture appointments with a fertility specialist and about to go for another one tomorrow. side effects were fatigue and slight depression for about half day after that, but hey if it will get me a successful pregnancy no problem!

What I found most useful after having gone through 2 MCs was the support and talking to someone who is used to dealing with multiple MCs - who is able to provide proper perspective and opinion on TTC, MCs.

Will update as treatment progresses.

[RosiePosieFlump]

I conceived twins after my first session of acupuncture!

I have no idea if it was just a coincidence, but I did find that subsequent sessions really calmed me and also helped with morning sickness. Also, my practitioner was fab and I actually enjoyed the sessions...

[DitaVonCheese]

Good luck north

[MrsHarry]

Has anyone had success with an acupuncturist who was not a fertiltiy specialist?
There aren't any specialists near me.

[thefatladyscreams]

Whereabouts are you MrsH?

Could you find one off this:

Accupuncture Fertility Network

Apologies if you've already looked at it.

[MrsHarry]

Thanks TFLS, I did look there, which is how I know! There's loads in a couple of big cities near me but they're not really close enough....would be a pain for weekly appointments, esp if long term.

[thefatladyscreams]

Sorry, worth a try. Good luck finding someone.

[Loujalou]

If you look at Zita West's website she has some affiliated to her I am not sure if there is an overlap with the AFN but its worth a go.

[northlondonchoclover]

Just had my session, do not feel as tired/ down as the last 2. Perhaps the body is getting used to it! The acupuncturist is great too, very comforting to hear that 90% of their patients eventually end up with a baby

[Loujalou]

Where in North London do you go?

[northlondonchoclover]

i go to a place in central london, its on harley street, they specialise in fertility & recurrent MC

[northlondonchoclover]

London Acupuncture Clinic, they have a website. I see Daniel Elliot. I go for the moral support as well, and he is great at providing advice and perspective on all sorts of issues relating to TTC.

[tigger15]

Has anyone used any in Hendon, Finchley or NW london generally they'd recommend and who does evening or sunday appointments?

[DitaVonCheese]

tigger This is very much not NW London, sorry, but I used the Leigham Practice in Streatham and they were very good (and the lady who gave me a lovely pedicure when I was pg is a MNer ). Very much SW but there is a train that goes from (I think - I used to get off in the City, sorry) Cricklewood/W Hampstead to Streatham, or you can go from Willesden Junction to Streatham Hill via Clapham Junction, so in the absence of any other replies hopefully this will be of some use.

[AbiAbi]

I had my session on Thursday mornng and it was brilliant.

He felt my wrists before the session, and looked at my tongue, and said that he thought my kidneys were slightly out of whack, probably due to recent stress. He then did acupuncture to my legs and lower stomach (2 needles in each calf and 4 in my stomach) which didnt hurt at all, and actually was really relaxing. He left me for about 25 minutes then returned and did some cupping, which was fabulous! He finished off with a massage which was very vigorous, but felt so much better for it! It left me feeling extremely relaxed and positive, which was well worth the £35 alone I'd say!

Highly reccomend it to anyone.

[DuelingFanjo]

Thought I would report back about my first session. Was basically an hour of talking about everything from Sleep and periods to family relationships and what I do in my spare time. Then she looked at my tongue (a lot) said my mouth was very dry, took my pulse, stuck in two pins (In my shins/calf) and took my pulse loads more times. Took the pins out and then did the pulse again.

Seems I need work on my spleen and my liver, I am lethargic and have 'dampness'.

Didn't feel any side effects but I expect a lot more pins when I go back next week.

[northlondonchoclover]

Hi DuelingF - I had a very detailed conversation about my periods with acupuncturist too. Had to describe it. Funny that no GP has ever asked me that. Although it makes sense that your periods would be able to give some clues on fertility, thickness of lining etc.

[DuelingFanjo]

OK, I have had my second and proper full acupuncture session. She put pins in my shins, wrists and bizzarely in my back!

I am not sure how I am supposed to feel but she did ask me how I felt after the last session and I didn't really know what to say as I basically felt no different to normal. This time the only thing I can say is I have had really bad wind. Is this a side effect?

She's given me a list of things she thinks I should eat - something to do with my Qi?

[DuelingFanjo]

Just bumping this in the hope that an acupuncturist can answer my question.

I have been told to eat more Root vegetables (Roasted) to help my Qi. I absoutely detest them, they are so so sweet when roasted.

Is there really any benefit to this? I have been forcing myself to eat them for the last 2 days but am worried that I won't be able to keep it up. Am much more of a lover of cabage, broccoli etc.

[cluckyduck]

Hi, not sure if this will help at all, but it has some suggestions of other foods to try to help the Qi?

www.drcmolik.com/file_download/QI_DEFICIENCY.pdf