Miscarriage/Recurrent miscarriage
Having a miscarriage is distressing, having several miscarriages or a late miscarriage can be devastating. There are a number of factors that may play a part such as age, hormonal deficiencies, genetic factors, immune factors, infection, weak cervix, developmental problem of the baby, etc, but sometimes no underlying problem can be found. Chinese medicine has been used to prevent miscarriages for centuries. In Chinese medicine recurrent miscarriage is often to do with weak Kidney energy, Qi deficiency, therefore it is wise to strengthen the body first before trying to conceive again. I often combine acupuncture and Chinese herbs to address the deficiencies. After positive pregnancy test it is advised to carry on with treatment at least till twelve weeks. If there was a late miscarriage in the past treatment should be carried throughout the pregnancy.
T, 45, 3 consecutive miscarriages, fibroids, natural conception
T came to me to have her herb formula prescribed by a Chinese doctor in LA dispensed. She had visited clinics on Harley street and Lister fertility clinic. "On ultrasound scan her uterus was enlarged with multiple fibroids ranging from 10x8x6mm to 31x25x24mm. One of the fibroids was sunmucous and it was distorting the left posterior aspect of the uterine cavity. Approximately 60% of its volume was confined to the myometrium, which indicates that a complete hysteroscopic resection may not be possible." Her NK cells test was high 584.1(<200)
I explained to T that the combination of acupuncture and herbs would be much more effective especially she was running of time. T agreed to try acupunture and felt the benefit of it. Her Chinese doctor in LA convinced that she should have the fibroids removed but T was not sure. She decided to work with me. T fell pregnant in the fifth months while she was in the middle of moving to Cornwall. It was too far for T to have acupuncture during her preganancy but she managed well.
“We are absolutely over the moon that Ben is now here. He is perfect and we are smitten! It’s such an immense feeling of love and blessing-what a miracle it is! It's been an amazing journey and I am so grateful to you for all your help in preparing my body for conception and a healthy pregnancy. I credit you and the Chinese herbs with making it all possible!" I would love to come and see you again but we are so far. I would love to continue with some herbs especially to help me recover from the c section operation. If that is something we could do remotely please do let me know. With love and lots of baby gazing.”
C, 44, 6 miscarriages, natrual conception
C had two miscarriages before she had her first child 5 years ago. She had another four since, despite she was on Progesterone pessaries and Heparin during the last two pregnancies. She miscarriaged at 9 and 6 weeks. Testing for chromosomes were normal. Auto immune profile showed she was heterozygous for the factor v leiden gene whcih means there was more risk of a blood clot hence she would need be taking Clexane in her next pregnancy. She had been having acupuncture from elsewhere. She came to me because she became very fatigued after a viral infection at the beginning of the year. She was very happy to try Chinese herbs which I think were the best to strengthen her constituation. Miracle happened; C conceived after 3 sessions of acupuncture and over a month on herbs. C was put on Clexane and progesterone pessaries (till 11 weeks) again. She contunied with acupuncture throughtout her pergnancy which she felt very beneficial. As she was doing so well the consultant took her off Clexane at 28 weeks which was planned for 34 weeks. C had a very healthy pregancy. She had a baby girl at 39 weeks, weighed 9lb6! Both C and her husband are having acupuncture now for their own health, "baby N is 10 months now and doing very well. We can't thank you enough for all of your help with my successful pregnancy".
G, 41, numerous IVFs, IUIs, FETs, recurrent miscarriage
G had one daughter from second round of IVF. The rest of treatments either didn’t work or ended as early miscarriages. The consultant tried her on Tinzaparin, Aspirin with no success. She conceived recently but lost it again at 5 weeks. She couldn’t face any more loss. She was doing a masters degree for physiotherapy then. While doing research she came across a study on Chinese herbs preventing recurrent miscarriage on Cochrane (independent research into data about health care. Trusted Evidence, informed decision). For the next six months she refrained from TTC, took the herbs and had monthly acupuncture. She conceived the second month after she started trying again and this time it was a strong line to start with. I strongly recommended her to use progesterone to support her pregnancy. She had enough left over Cyclogest pessaries from previous fertility treatments to lasther till 9 weeks. She wrote after her frist scan at 7 weeks "Thank you so much for helping me to get this far in my pregnancy. I know it is still early days but everythin seems to be going in the right direction so far". A healthy baby girl was born at full term weighing 6lb8ozs. "She is doing very well and adored by her sister. Once again thank you so much for helping us to complete our family".
C, 42, miscarriage
K, 39, 2 consecutive miscarriages, one ovary
K had already got two children aged 10 and 5. She came to me just after the second miscarriage at 9 weeks. The first miscarriage was a year ago at 5 weeks, when her left ovary was removed (she couldn't explain what had happened then). She felt that it was sensible to refrain from trying for a few months to give her body a chance to get stronger. She started to ttc again 6 months later and conceived in the second month. She had some mild spotting for a week or so( 5-6 weeks). With acupuncture and herbs the spotting stopped quickly. She carried on having a very good pregnancy and gave birth to a baby boy at 41 weeks, weighed 8lb.
G, 32, stillbirth
G had a stillbirth at 25 weeks 6 months ago. When I first saw her she was still suffering terribly from anxiety, insomnia, palpatations, pain on chest, aching neck and back. A couple of months later G started to recover physically and emotionally. A year later G started to ttc again and fell pregnant in the second month. I was impressed how well G had coped during her pregnancy. She carried on working till 34 weeks and stayed postive. It was an hour's train journey for her but she continued with acupunctiure and some herbs till 28 weeks. She developed gestational diabetes (has family history) at 37weeks which we both think it was due to the stopping of acupuncture and had to be induced. It was a long labour unfortunately but a baby boy, weight 3.67kg arrived healthy and handsome. I felt very proud for her.
B, 33, 2 consecutive miscarriages
B came to me after her second miscarriage. She had to have blood transfusion after her first miscarriage at 6/7 weeks. And then she conceived straight after. Her 12 weeks scan showed the fetus stopped growing at 7weeks. She had ERPC. All tests came back normal. She was still bleeding heavily with abdominal pain and very upset on her first visit. There is no evedence but personally I think the reasonfor her miscarriges was possbily because she should have had a couple of natural periods before ttc after stopping contraceptive pill. She felt sesible to have break from ttc. She conceived about a year later and continued with acupuncture through out the pregnancy. She had a very good pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy baby boy exactly at 40 weeks, weight 6lb9oz. "The labour went really smoothly without drugs. Dream come true…” A year later B came back during her second pregnancy. All went well; natural labour with just gas and air to a baby girl, weighing 7lb3.
S, 42, recurrent miscarriages
S conceivedher first child 3 years ago on her 7th cycle of Clomid, after two miscarriages. When she came to me she had had another four miscarriages, at around 6-8 weeks. She was a keen runner and runs 10-15 miles or more a week for over ten years. I suspect it was her weakened Kidney energy (age and long distance running) and many months on Clomid that had contributed to her miscarriages. I suggested she take Chinese herbs to strengthen her constitution and monthly acupuncture. She discontinued the treatment after 6 months. A year later a friend of hers told me S had a healthy baby girl.
Ectopic pregnancy
Emotional stress can cause spasm and tension in the muscles of the tube walls. Women who have been trying to conceive for a long time, understandably feel some level of pressure at midcycle. The tension held in the body can manifest in tight or inflexible tubes. Acupuncture around ovulation time is a good timing to promote the ovulatin process- to encourage flexibility of the tubes to prevent ectopic pregnancy. Excess secretions from the cells lining the tubes can also block the tubes and cause ectopic.
N, 26, 4 miscarriages, 2 ectopic pregnancies
N had her first miscarriage at 6 weeks three years ago. Her first ectopic was two years ago when she started bleeding dark blood around 5 weeks and scan showed the pregnancy in her left fallopiantube was dissolving. Six months later her second ectopic happened on the same side which ended with left fallopian tube being removed. Three months later she had another miscarriage. I advised her to refrain from ttc for at least two months after starting acupuncture and herbs. She had positive test exactly after two months. She was anxious and we were both thrilled to find out it was in the right place this time on her 6 weeks scan! N carried her pregnancy full time and gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
K, 35, sterilization reversal
K had her tubes tied five years ago. She had the reversal two months ago and was told the chance of having an ectopic was 5%. K conceived the following month. Scan at 6 weeks showed it was at the right place! K messaged to say she had a health baby boy.