Just a quick plug for the best book I have read in awhile (except for my scriptures of course). And certainly the best thing I have ever read about infertility.
The Infertility Cure, by Randine Lewis.
My N.D. (Naturopathic Doctor) asked me to read it while I am doing my overall wellness treatment so that I am better prepared when we move on to the fertility treatment phase. So, if you are struggling with the same problems we are, READ THIS BOOK! I found it on Amazon for like $15.
It is written by a woman who struggled with infertility while she was an OB/Gyn. She was not finding solutions in western medicine so decided to turn to eastern and natural medicine. She moved to China and became a licensed dr there and went on to have 2 more children. She now runs a very successful clinic in Houston where she uses both eastern and western medicine to help her patients conceive. I really like her approach because although the focus is mainly on alternative medicine, she explains how it relates to traditional medicine and how the 2 can work together. I don't fully understand or relate with all of the concepts she writes about but the underlying theme hits home with both Brent and I. Heal the body and it will function as nature intended. We've already tried the medical route which treats symptoms and overrides the body's natural processes. Now, don't worry, I'm not going all "Crazy Hippie" or anything. It just makes sense. Rather than pump my body full of synthetic hormones and chemicals (which we did for 2+ years) to force it to do something it's not doing on its own, I am making lifestyle changes and taking supplements to help balance my systems so that they can do what they are meant to do.
Having struggled with infertility of her own, Randine really understands the emotions and needs of women in our position. I knew that I would enjoy this book before I even finished reading the introduction because I came across these 2 statements:
"Western medicine had once mislead me into thinking I was infertile or somehow "broken." But I wasn't infertile: I was imbalanced."
And my very favorite quote from the whole book:
"I don't know why we have been chosen to undertake such a painful journey, why we must go through such struggles to bring our children into the world. But I do know that when we look into our babies' faces, they will never have to wonder if they were really wanted. Ours are the children, who no matter how they came to us, will look at their parents and know, from the deepest place in their heart, how much we cherish them, and how we labored to give them life. And in that there is no greater security and no greater gift."
My naturopathic treatments may not help us get pregnant, who knows? But I DO know that it is changing my health and starting to heal parts of my body which have been "broken" for a long time. And that is worth all the nasty tasting supplements and crazy detox diets in the world.
6 comments:
Got my DCI today. We'll see how it goes. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Wow! I am glad you are getting such wonderful advice. I hope this leads to success!
I love this post Emily, I think a balance between the two is great. Modern medicine is really amazing at times but then other times it really can't do anything, like for Kate, there is no wonder pill, if she wasn't a picky 5yr old (who will never have to wonder if she was truly wanted) I would try more holisitic things, maybe when she gets older. When I worked at the chiropractors we had an accupuncturist there who helped a couple get pregnant who were going through IVF, his job was to increase blood supply to the uterus. I think you are getting the best from both worlds, GO EMILY!! Also, just curious, even though the detox diet is crazy are you on some level enjoying it? do you feel better?
That's awesome. I love this. Yeah, I agree with Claire. I'd be interested to hear about the detox diet, too. Any favorite recipes. ???? Good luck with everything. Thinking of you guys.
Hi Emily, Janel Higham (now Hillstrom). Just blog hopping. Have you tried acupuncture? a lot of women I see have had success with that.
The diet? Well, I'll write a whole other post about that next week when it's over.
Janel, I haven't tried acupuncture yet, but I do have my first session next week. My ND wanted to get through the initial phases of my treatment before starting. So, have the women you seen had acupuncture with various ART programs or was that their main treatment? Nice to see you on here, by the way. :)
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