alternative treatments/health tips when ttc after miscarriage

[poppy34]

wasn't sure if this or health best place to go but here goes...

I've recently lost my third baby (long story on other thread) but am trying to read up a little on the best ways to get healthy and ready ttc again after this. After my first m/c I was very rundown - also open to anythign that people have found beneficial (even if for stress relief) after m/c in the past (This is my third m/c in just over a year).

I've got appointments with my consultant for test results etc in a few weeks but have been reading around/advised by otehrs that certain

Apart from keeping fit/eating healthily, what other advice have people been given? I've been reading one of zelda meads books and she is keen on acupuncture and reflexology. Have also been considering homeopath (have been in teh past and had mixed success-not sure how helpful it was when I was ttc last year when I went to see them).

any thoughts /experiences on this welcome

[feedmenow]

Hi poppy. I started acupuncture a couple of weeks after my m/c in January. It is hard to know what/how much it really does, but it makes me feel better. I have noticed differences after sessions, but it could just be coincidence? Anyway, one thing my acupuncturist suggested was that I take a liquid supplement called Floradix (available in places like Holland & Barratt). It is meant to be good to build yourself back up again, and is also safe to take during pg.
Good luck!

[poppy34]

Thanks feedme - I'm not expecting miracles on the baby front from this but what I do want is treatments that make me feel a little better and that maybe help with the minor things. after first m/c seemed to pick up every cold etc going and then had mineral/vitamin test done after second one which identified various deficiencies (inciulding zinc and selenium) and really felt tons better after that (and got pregnant although that didnt end so well but not sure can link the 2 things together).

Need to ask someone if zinc/selenium ok to take when pregnant (although jumping the gun a little here)

[cedar12]

Hi Poppy, I have had 2 ectopic pregnancys. I have just started reflexology and it is wonderful so relaxing. Felt great afterwards. I am taking a multi vit for pregnancy and extra folic acid. Good luck with your appointment and for the future.

[MrsMcJnr]

Poppy hello. I am really sorry to hear your news I cannot imagine how it must feel, had a MC in March and it tore my world apart. I am now pg again I am ecstatic as the first baby took 8 cycles to conceive and this one only took 2. I wanted to share the things that have helped me with you

For the mind:

I bought 2 books when I MC and I think they helped me on many counts. The first was Lesley Regen?s Miscarriage: What Every Woman Needs to Know and the second was Trying Again: A Guide to Pregnancy After Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Loss by Ann Douglas and John Sussman. You can buy them both on Amazon.

The first is quite technical and gives good explanations as to why the MC might have happened (it was from this that I realised that my family?s blood clotting mutation could have had a role to play in my MC and I got it looked into and am now being treated for it to help sustain my pregnancy) the second is full of how other people have felt at different stages in the process and their accounts really helped me with the grieving process. The tips on when you are pg again are also fantastic at putting your mind at rest.

I spent a lot of time on the ?TTC after a MC? thread on here talking to other ladies who?d been through the same thing, their support and genuine care really helped to keep me sane

For the body:

I took Floradix natural iron supplements for a month after my MC and I carried on with the Pregnacare Plus I had been taking. When TTC last time, I took Evening Primrose Oil and Vit B pre Ov and Flaxseed Oil afterwards and I went back to doing that again. I also took my temps and charted them as I?d done before. I?ll be honest and say that I did not eat that well and drank too much after my MC and put on ½ stone, I was just so unhappy.

I hope this helps, you have been through so much more than me but I guess all I have is my own experience

Fingers crossed x

[Smurfs]

Hello poppy34, I had a m/c 4 years ago, first pregnancy and I never expected it to happen. So I had a couple of sessions of reflexology and took it at bit easier for a few months - no late nights, eating well, cutting back the alcohol etc I haven't a clue if any of it worked but I got pregnant with DS 3 months later.

Good luck with consultant

[3sEnough]

I have two friends with PCOS and they both became pregnant after accupuncture (and the practitioner knew when they were pregnant!)

[poppy34]

will definitely investigate some floradix then.

Mrsmac -have those 2 books and foudn them very useful (The regan one for info and the other one for more emotional support). must be a woman thing as I've found them really good but dh can hardly bring himself to talk or read about it.

[MrsMcJnr]

Poppy funny that you have the same two books. I love the poem in the trying again book, about Another Child. It really spurred me on when TTC after my MC. I really hope you get your heart's desire soon.

[aardfark]

Hi Poppy (my daughter shares your lovely name!)

I found Dr Zita Wests, Guide to Getting Pregnant really helped in terms of nutrition and I went to acupuncture for the first six weeks of pregnancy and I think it helped - well I didn't miscarry again and I had a healthy baby.

I also used a hypnoconception CD - sounds barking but it helped chill me out a bit and make me confident that my body could create and grow a healthy baby.

Good luck.

[poppy34]

hypnoconception cd sounds intersting - where do you get those??

have tried hypnotherapy before and it was fab for making you relaxed (was dead nervous about starting a new job and it really helped -couldn't imagine how it would be but really love the job and met dh)

[aardfark]

Poppy - it's really bloody hard to get hold of...would you like me to CAT you with some details (actually I still have my copy upstairs).

[poppy34]

yes please if you woudnt mind aardfark!

[whomovedmychocolate]

Poppy - have had to sign in on my other account but I have done so.....winging it's way to you now.

[iwillbepositive]

The CD sounds good - have googled and found one on a 'flower essences' site. Is that the one? Hypnotherapy seems to work for me too (one mc and 15 months of ttc) but the real thing is so expensive that maybe a Cd is the way to go.

Never thought it could possibly be this difficult, after many years of desperately trying to prevent pregnancy, but we live and learn!

[whomovedmychocolate]

Nope. I've never heard of the flower site -post a link and I'll have a look, it doesn't sound the same.

[iwillbepositive]

flower-essences.net under 'nourish pre-conceptual care'

[whomovedmychocolate]

Ooh no, it's not that one....but that looks good too.

[poppy34]

does look good - someone has suggested a naturalist that they know ? anyone been to one and got any views on pros/cons?

As i read htis post I realise I have actually turned into my mother who was the original alternative medecine queen

[Janus]

Poppy, so sorry to hear about your horrible year, I do hope things get better from now on.
I too had a m/c 18 months ago. I have been ttc since January last year. I have tried a few things and am now on 'aculiving', there seem to be a few centres dotted around. It is basically accupuncture with other alternative therapies and I am also having cupping. I have had accupuncture before and I find it really helpful. I am also taking a herbal supplement, prescribed by this lady, for relaxation as I have become quite stressed about all this ttc business. I have a good diet, ie not too much crap and organic when I can, but I have also seriously cut down on the alcohol the past month or so as we pretty much shared a bottle of wine each evening. I feel like I'm getting nearer, feel 'cleaner' and healthier. I'll let you know if I finally get some good news but basically I have heard great things for accupuncture and reflexology so if you can, it may be worth a try with either of these. Good luck.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Poppy34 - I went to a naturalist and they tried to sell me several hundred pounds of 'vital essences and vitamins'. Didn't do it for me though.

I personally think it depends, if you believe in something it'll probably work, if not, it may well not work.

[poppy34]

suspect that you're right - do believe reflexology helps (even if for nothign else I'm completely relaxed afterwards and that can only be a good thing). Felt completely spaced out in a very good way after session yesterday (And therapist was such a nice lady which really helps)

Also keen to start the accupuncture - what actually happens when you go to a consultation?

[lissie]

poppy, i sort of know how you are feeling. ive had 4mc's and 1 ep in the past 2y and each one has torn me apart. however i found seeing a counsellor has really helped, i laso take pregnacare and 75mg of asprin in the second part of my cycle. however i firmly believe that thinking positive is one of the biggest factors when ttc and if you think that acupuncture will help then do it. a lot of women on here have had a lot of success with alternative remedies.

[poppy34]

lissie- sorry to hear about what happened to you.

Have started seeing counsellors and although its very early days I do think its beneficial. Like you I believe that having the right attitude is good.

[bearsmom]

Hi Poppy, I've been lurking on this thread as I've just had my second missed mc in less than 12 months (plus I had an mc at 5 wks before I had ds) so I'm also searching for anything which might help me carry another baby to term. I'm about to start having acupuncture and have great faith in it. I fell ill with ME (chronic fatigue syndrome) in 1998 and I feel very strongly that the acupuncture treatment I had over the course of about 2 years was probably the most crucial thing I did to aid my recovery. Plus I have two friends who swear it sorted out their fertility problems. Make sure you find an acupuncturist who is a member of the professional body as they're bound by a code of ethics and have all the correct training and insurance. Also try and find someone you like and feel comfortable with, as I think that's important, not for the success of the treatment necessarily but just so you feel comfortable. My acupuncturist started by taking a detailed medical/emotional history from me, so the first appointment is usually about 1.5 hours. Then the subsequent ones usually followed a format of 15 mins of catch-up on how I was feeling, followed by the treatment which lasted about 25 mins. I'm fairly squeamist about needles but never had a problem during treatment. You definitely feel the needles and a sensation when they go in but the only one that ever truly hurt was in the ball of my foot (and that was very painful!). Good luck with ttc and with the acupuncture if you decide to try it.

[poppy34]

thanks bearmom - I am not too bad with needles but just wanted a better idea of what went on.

Sorry to hear about your recent experiences- both my 1st 2 m/cs were missed m/c so I do sympathise about the particular stress they cause.

Hoping that you have some good news soon