Have you heard of doing acupuncture to get pregnant? Here’s what you need to know about traditional Chinese medicine that helps with fertility.
For most couples, having a baby is the next step to building their own family. And while the whole process is very easy for some, others can have a harder time conceiving and have issues when it comes to fertility.
Couples who are very eager to have a child even try different methods and beliefs to conceive. Even in the Philippines, we subscribe to superstition and cultural traditions to increase our chances of getting pregnant. Some customs have totally no scientific basis, while others have culture and science ingrained in their practice.
Soo Rong Judy, a VIP Parent from theAsianparent Singapore, shared her experience of getting pregnant with the help of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Acupuncture to get pregnant, is that even possible? Read her story below.
VIP mom shares her success with fertility acupuncture
“I got married at 33 years old, and my husband is 13 years older than me. During those two years that we were dating, our lifestyle included staying up late and frequent alcohol consumption.
However, when we got married, I knew immediately that I wanted to have a baby. So we tried for a year, but nothing happened. I felt desperate, wondering why the people around me were getting pregnant easily while it was tough for us.
We went to a fertility doctor, had some tests done, and the results came back fine. I got very stressed due to the fact that I was already 35 years old at that time, and everyone knows that it gets harder for a woman to get pregnant when she turns 35. The stress and confusion I felt caused a strain in our marriage.
One day, a friend of mine recommended TCM. Chinese culture believes that if a woman’s womb is cold, it will be difficult to sustain a pregnancy or have a baby.
However, I was hesitant because acupuncture was a big part of the treatment process, and I was terrified of needles. But because I really wanted to conceive, I mustered all the courage I had and gave it a try.
After a year of treatment, I still wasn’t able to conceive. Because of the restraints on diet and lifestyle, I felt so stressed out. So I decided to take a break on the fertility workups for a while.
To our surprise, it was during this break that I got pregnant!
Pregnant at 35
Image courtesy of theAsianparent SG
Being pregnant at 35 had its own challenges. At 12 weeks, my progesterone levels were dangerously low that I could suffer from a miscarriage. So I took progesterone pills to make sure that the pregnancy would continue. The medication left me feeling depressed and having a poor appetite.
What followed was week after week of on-and-off bleeding. And my prenatal checkups became more frequent to make sure that my baby was safe and doing okay.
At 37 weeks, my amniotic fluid started leaking and it decreased to a dangerous level. Three days later, it dropped even lower and I had to prepare to give birth on that same day. I had to be induced. And after 24 hours, my baby was born, a little underweight, but she was fine.
To other women who are trying to get pregnant, I want to remind you to stop being so stressed. The less stress you have, the easier it is to get pregnant. Quit bad habits like drinking alcohol, smoking, and staying up late.
Finally, another personal tip is to do regular TCM to strengthen your womb. It creates a warm and cozy nest for your baby. It takes a little while for it to work, so be patient.”
What you need to know about TCM?
As Mommy Soo Rong Judy shared, traditional Chinese medicine helped her become pregnant and also have a successful pregnancy.
What is TCM?
Traditional Chinese medicine is an old form of medicine that is widely used in Asian countries. While its purpose serves more to find balance within the body, many experts and supporters believe that it also increases the chances of fertility or pregnancy.
According to Thomson Chinese Medicine, TCM aims to target the root of the infertility by restoring balance to your reproductive organs.
In fertility, the three key organ systems involved are the kidney, liver and spleen. Through TCM, your organs will be restored to great health, hence, your natural production of hormones will improve resulting in increased chances of getting pregnant.
Acupuncture when pregnant
One of the main components of TCM for pregnancy is acupuncture. TCM practitioners believe that the human body is composed of meridians also knowns as energy highways. Each one is connected to an organ and lined with acupuncture points with their own specific functions.
These points help tone your body systems, including the reproductive system. TCM believes that an imbalance of these energies can disrupt your body’s capability to ovulate and produce the necessary hormones.
The gentle insertion of thin and disposable sterile needles can stimulate the 14 major pathways of your body and help restore balance and improve fertility.
In a nutshell, fertility acupuncture does the following:
- Supports digestive functions to maximize nutrient absorption
- Improves blood circulation to reproductive organs
- Stabilizes hormonal fluctuations
- Relieves physical and mental stress
- Regulates ovulation and fix other menstrual issues
Some studies also show that acupuncture when pregnant also relieves anxiety, migraines and morning sickness.
Other aspects of TCM
While acupuncture is an important factor in the success of this practice, TCM believes in making a lifestyle change if you want to improve your chances are pregnancy. They are as follows:
- Stress – Stress is the number one killer of pregnancy hormones because it increases cortisol which redirect the blood flow to the brains and muscles and away from the reproductive organ.
- Diet – TCM believes that having an unbalanced diet can disrupt your ovulation pattern. So instead, opt for clean and healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. TCM also thinks warming your foods more often and chewing them thoroughly helps ovulation by preserving your Spleen’s energy.
- Environment – The toxic chemicals present in the air can have detrimental effects on your body and affect your fertility. Limit your chemical consumption as much as possible (in perfumes, plastic, take-out food packaging), and switch to herbal medicines to support and detoxify your liver.
- Habits – TCM practitioners believe that your hormonal imbalances are due to your restless shen (the spirit in your heart) from being sedentary or overly-active. To restore balance, it’s recommended to stop vices (such as smoking and alcohol consumption) and instead focus on exercise routines like yoga or tai-chi to raise your fertility quotient.
Aside from fertility acupuncture, these lifestyle modifications mentioned above can really help increase your chances at getting pregnant.
As a final reminder, before trying out TCM or acupuncture, it’s still best to consult your OB-Gynecologist first for any health and fertility problems before seeking other methods. For women ages 35 and over, it’s a must to ask your doctor about your chances at conceiving and how she can help you with it.
Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. TheAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.
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