Need help in getting pregnant.

Q:  I need Help I'm 32 woman, married for over 9 years without kids.  My husband and I have tried IVF twice and failed. First Doctor said my tubes were blocked, surgery in 2003 to correct then they said I had polycystic ovary syndrome because I was overweight did gastric bypass lost over 100 lbs and still no baby. I not sure what the problem is, but I think my body is out of whack I need to be made whole. Can you guide me to the path of parenthood?

 

A: Hello, thank you for writing.  You are wholly you, you are beautiful.  What you can do is nourish this wholeness, your beauty.  Have you read these articles:
Fertility Herbs
Fertility After Forty

You will see mention of Red Clover blossom infusions.  They have worked wonders even for those with fallopian tube scarring.  You can also nourish your hormonal system with Vitex (Chaste Tree) berry tincture.  I know you really want a child, and for this reason I want it for you too.  I encourage you to focus now on you as a fertile woman.  Whatever this means to you.  Foods, herbs, symbols, thoughts, anything that helps you in this way.  If reading helps, perhaps you would enjoy Conscious Conception by Jeannine Parvati Baker.

Don't underestimate the power of the thoughts and images we surround ourselves with.  Besides, anything you do to nourish yourself inside and out right now will carry with you forever.  If you are to conceive, it will help you carry your child to term, have a more rewarding pregnancy and birth, and on into your mothering and nursing years.  If you are not to conceive it will help you deal with this, and explore your many other life options to help you fill your desires.  Since right now your choice and desire is to conceive a child, I would start with reading the above articles and see if anything there feels right for you.

There are so incredibly many answers out there as to how best to help you achieve your goals.  Ours is only a handful in thousands.  If you jump from one to another looking for quick results you may feel let down.  The same is possible if you decide to try 20 different things at once.  I invite to explore for some length of time, then decide what feels most appropriate to you and even perhaps give yourself a timeline for when to check in to see if you want to continue that/those, or whether you want to try something else.

We also have a wonderful resource available 24 hours a day.  This is our online forum where people from around the world come to share life experiences and questions.  By searching past posts, or starting a new one of your own, you may find a variety of ideas, support, and inspiration.

Please let me know if I can support you further.  I am so happy to help, and also will want to hear what you choose and how it works for you.  I am wishing you the absolute best!

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com

 

Q: Thanks for responding, I had a hsg on Monday. Today's report show tubes are hydrosalpinx. Are there any natural remedies for this?

A: Hello, it is my understanding that if one or both are hydrosalpinx, it is because of the tubal scarring.  This blocks the tubes and makes them less likely to reabsorb the water they normally would.  We can't make them reabsorb the water, and would not want to make them not produce the water in the first place since that is a healthy part of their functioning, so it seems to me the only true answer is to heal the scarring, if this is possible.  I think often women are told this can be done only by removing the tubes altogether or cutting them open through surgery.  The latter only for young women with minimal scarring, though even then the recurrence rate is high.

I understand too that IVF, though bypassing the fallopian tubes, is still at risk since some of this fluid, potentially harmful to the fetus, can leak back into the uterus.  In this case the only answer is removing the tubes.

My love of herbal medicine has not only to do with the plants, but the approach to health.  I know you want a child and it sounds like you are comfortable with many surgical procedures that feel too invasive to me.  I heard you say you want to be made whole, I am guessing this is by conceiving a child, though on the path have had many outside influences prodding you to move in a direction that does not at the moment seem natural for you.  I can not decide for you about the surgery and since you ask about natural remedies, if it were me I would stick with what I mentioned before, given the high success rate I have heard about conception even for those with tubal scarring when drinking Red Clover infusions.

Keep in mind though I am not too familiar with your condition other than what I have read so do not know the success rate for those with not only scarring but experiencing the hydrosalpinx.  The scarring is your main problem, and the hydrosalpinx the symptom of it.  Of course the scarring can be a symptom of something still occurring, though I imagine this has already been explored.  The symptom of hydrosalpinx may be seen as the problem if you only wish to conceive through IVF.  I have read that the fertility drugs often used to help women conceive are possibly one contributor to an increase in the hydrosalpinx, as can be the testing used to diagnose it.  You can read a bit about this on this website.

I also again encourage you to post at the forum to hear the experiences and ideas of others. I would so like to support you in any decision you choose.  I share my thoughts because you ask them though respect your life choices.  Please let me know if I can help further.  You are always welcome to write!

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com

Comments

[neena]

hi i am 23 and trying to concive for about 3 years, I have concieved about 1 adn 1/2 year ago about had a miscarriage. I have very irregualr cycle, I dont get period for months. like two to three at the most.

Please help me out.

[KarenJoy]

Have you read either of the above articles or tried any of the suggestions there? First must be addressed your ammenorhea. This is not something to let slide by. Please read this article on Cessation of Menses, http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Excerpt-104-cessation_menses.htm and start with the suggestions there that seem applicable, then work on nourishing yourself even more deeply with further ideas in the articles above.

Karen Joy

[babycounselor]

Hi! Just wanted to stop by and say hello to all on the journey of motherhood. I thought I would chime in a little on the conception questions; working well and complimentary with the herbal support and suppliments is relaxation and visualization. Remember how powerful our own bodies are!
Try to visualize your healthy eggs dropping into position. Put you hand on your belly after intercourse and picture the sperm reaching the egg. Continue these visualizations for several days after your ovulation with sperm in your body. Picture the journey and the fertilization. This will also help to relax your body, aiding in conception.

Baby blessings,
Jill Diana Chasse
maternal/perinatal wellness
www.magicofmotherhood.com

[KarenJoy]

Glad to have you hear sharing your thoughts Jill...

Karen Joy

[stephanie]

Hi Karen and Susun,

Thank you for this forum and all the wonderful information. I was hoping you could help me with this....Is skullcap or another anti-anxiety herb safe when trying to get pregnant or when pregnant. I know Motherwort is out if you're pregnant. It seems Valerian root is out too. Is this correct? Ever since my miscarriage in Jan. I have had anxiety issues. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you and blessings!

[KarenJoy]

Hi Stephanie, I assume you are the Stephanie I recently corresponded with on this topic :)

In the wild chance it is not, and for others to read, I will post some of my reply here....

"I do not know of specific concern with these two herbs [skullcap and valerian root] and conceiving. However, as sedating herbs, I would limit their use, seeing them as temporary aids in general, but especially once conceiving. I am glad you have found yoga to be helpful. Perhaps you do not need those two herbs now as much.

Have you worked with any nourishing herbs? Nettle leaf infusions can supply a great deal of nutrition, is great for heart health, adrenal health (fight or flight) and a good source of minerals and vitamin K, for pregnancy, birth and nursing. Oatstraw infusions can nourish nerve health and help toward being able to be more relaxed and calm, and sleep more deeply. As nourishing herbs I recommend they be taken daily as foods and given time to take effect. When dealing with something as acute as you did, the herbs you chose, since it seems they worked, are great. In addition it is wonderful to help yourself by working your way back down to more nourishing longer term herbs so you can eventually wean off the sedating ones.

Back to your question... Since skullcap tincture or infusion is often recommended for those who are pregnant, I do not imagine any concern of its safe use while trying to conceive. The same is true for the most part for Valerian, with a little more hesitation, since it seems less is known, though no known cause for concern is mentioned. Neither herb is listed in Susun's list of herbs to avoid in pregnancy or when trying to conceive."

[Kimberlie]

Hi I am 22 and have never had a menstrual cycle. I went to the doctor they ran many test and all test were normal. everything is there. they just aren't sure why I don't have cycles. I am trying to conceive with my husband and not its been two years since we decided that's what we want. if you have any suggestion please help me. sincerely Kimberlie

[KarenJoy]

Hi Kimberly, this is a great testimony to why we can not rely simply on tests to determine our health needs. I would again repeat what I said earlier that no menstrual cycles is something that needs to be addressed. I again recommend you start with this article, http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Excerpt-104-cessation_menses.htm, considering if any of the reasons there may be applicable to you, and choose what way you may wish to work with it. You need the menstrual lining to have a child and you need to ovulate obviously. Whatever is the reason you are not menstruating may also be causing other health concerns that I would think would need to be addressed before a healthy child is growing inside you. I also think it would be great if you took your menstrual/reproductive health into your own hands and rely on your own markers to learn about it rather than the tests which must be missing something. This can be done through the Fertility Awareness Method, you can read about here: www.gardenoffertility.com as well as other places. Here you chart your own unique cycles, and bring attention to this facet of your womanhood.

love and blessings,
Karen Joy