Monday, September 12, 2011

40 Year Old "Mom to Be" feels lucky....her story...

I am a 40 year old "mom to be" who feels lucky to have found another option other than standard fertility treatments! After 5 IUI's and 3 miscarriages, my fertility specialist told me I was a tough case. Mind you, I had absolutely no medical issues(nor did my husband) that were related to us having trouble conceiving. The only thing my doctor could pin it on, was my "advanced maternal age". I had started seeing him at age 37.
With my first miscarriage, we had gotten pregnant on our own, but lost the baby at 5 weeks. After trying for six months to conceive again...I sought the help of a fertility specialist. I endured a total of 5 IUI's, two of which resulted in pregnancy and subsequent miscarriages. Both miscarriages were around 7 weeks, after seeing an unhealthy heartbeat. The doctor tested the tissue and told me it was a chromosomal abnormality.

After hearing about Carolyn's clinic in an article about Heather Van Nest's(anchor for channel 10) success with Carolyn, I decided I had nothing to lose and I knew time was running out. I live 2 hours away from Tampa and I made a decision after meeting her , I was going to give this a try. I did "everything" she prescribed because I felt either I was going to adhere to her recommendations or I was wasting my time. I took COQ10(which I believe had a lot to do with my success too...read up on it and you will understand why), Vit D supplements, B-12, Alpha Lipoic acid , Prenatal vitamins. In the last month, upon Carolyn's suggestion I added Melatonin, as I also had trouble sleeping. In addition,, I adhered to the herbs she prescribed which involved taking several different ones throughout each part of my cycle in both tea and pill form. I was doubtful at first on the herbs, but when my basal body temperatures evened out and got up and stayed up I knew they too were helping. I did TWICE weekly acupuncture sessions which helped me and her stay on top of my progress and brought the final result as a huge surprize much quicker! I fell asleep each acupuncture session sometimes for an hour or two. I also cut out coffee and alcohol and all processed foods.

I am a journalist for a living so I have a healthy dose of skepticism on all topics...however, after two months, I became pregnant. There was nothing wrong with me, I believe my system was completely off balance and not working in harmony to allow a healthy pregnancy. One reason I realized this, is because after working with Carolyn, I went from having a very short 2 day period to a healthy 4 day period and after that period I became pregnant two weeks later. No amount of fertility drugs had ever changed my periods or helped me achieve cervical fluid. Often with the fertility drugs my ovaries were over-stimulated and very sore so as to produce more eggs but not neccessarily better ones. The whole process was nerve racking but with the acupuncture I felt calmer and happier.

Two days after celebrating my 40th birthday, I took a pregnancy test, and seeing that double line was the best birthday gift I could have ever received! It's always been my lifelong dream to have a family and after so much heartbreak and disappointment, I am smiling from ear to ear and happily awaiting the birth of my healthy baby boy!!
Thank you Carolyn, you will always be in my heart for the gift you have helped me achieve!! My due date is February 11, 2012.