My husband and I were on an emotional roller coaster ride trying to get pregnant with our second child. I had four unsuccessful rounds of IVF treatments. During my consultation with a new physician, acupuncture was discussed. I knew very little about acupuncture, but was willing to try anything. I had acupuncture treatments starting a few weeks before my IVF retrieval as well as before and after my transfer. Acupuncture had a very calming effect on me mentally. The time spent lying down helped me to relax and concentrate on my body. Each time I completed a treatment I felt positive and more connected to my inner self. Physically, I was successful and pregnant after my fifth IVF treatment. I am again pregnant–with my third child; this pregnancy was achieved following acupuncture and another transfer. I am a believer that Chinese and Western medicine go hand in hand.
-Anonymous
I tried to get pregnant for a couple of years with no success. When I finally was pregnant, with twins, I was very fortunate to have seen Mari throughout out my pregnancy. Her expertise was essential in helping me maintain a healthy pregnancy. I now have two beautiful daughters. Thank you.
-M.C.
After two miscarriages resulting in two D&Cs within a one-year period, I found myself emotionally drained and feeling hopeless about the idea of ever having a child. My doctor did not know what was wrong and could only give me options that seemed extreme and invasive. My depression and anxiety were taking their toll on my marriage. The onset of the Chicago winter wasn’t helping matters and after an excessively negative reaction to the biting cold and frozen pipes of our new house, bought for the child I was supposed to have, I knew that I needed to change something about my situation soon before everything collapsed in on itself.
I did research and discovered that many couples had had success with the help of acupuncture. I’m a skeptic but I was a hopeless skeptic. I discovered WholeHealth Chicago and Mari. My first appointment I took the train to the office, cursed the elements, and wondered to myself as I sat waiting among the hippie/alternative types what the hell I was doing here. It only took one session with Mari to know that something had changed within me; I had never felt better. I discussed with my husband the needles and the “heat stick” I was supposed to place above my womb and I’m sure there was a part of him that was convinced I had lost what was left of my mind. We didn’t try to get pregnant for another 6 months. In that time I made my weekly acupuncture visits a sacred ritual; a time for only me. Most visits were the same in which the first 25 minutes my thoughts rushed and swarmed around and I was only able to fully let go for the remaining 20 minutes.
One day when I was lying on the table I finally had an honest moment with myself in which I knew that no matter the outcome that everything would be okay. I was okay with what was and what is and what will be. It was my breakthrough and what acupuncture truly did for me was give me a perspective on myself that allowed my brain to work with my body rather than against it. Three months later I was pregnant. I now have an amazing 2-year-old daughter and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my second child. There isn’t a single day that goes by, seeing my child grow, that I don’t think of and thank Mari for her healing. She didn’t fix my body; I’m not sure my body needed too much fixing. She healed the part of me that makes the miracle of all things physical, particularly childbirth, possible. Her help is without measure.
Be well,
David Edelberg, MD