All About Mothers-to-be

When I had my first baby in 30s, a nurse told me one thing I still remember, basically most her patients tend to be older than her, when she started out in 20s till her 30s. A decade later, my patients seeking fertility help also moved to the late 30s and early 40s range.

The good news is people are willing to get more medical help from IVF with more successes.

The downside of course is more painful procedures and financial cost. When IVF failed multiple times, the couple might revert to more natural courses and give their body and mind a break from high stresses.

Traditionally, Chinese medicine doctors have helped a lot of men and women from general assessment only, menstruation, pregnancy history, digestive system, stress level, energy level, etc. Nowadays, we also ask patients for the fertility lab test results to help pinpoint the likely root cause, hence increase the chances.

Areas of Health Issues	Likely Symptoms	Treatment	Acupuncture	Herbal Treatment
Irregular menstruation	deviates more than 5 days earlier or later than 28-day cycle, sometimes with spotty days in-between cycles	adjust hormone	Very effective	Very effective
Blood deficiency	mensturation too little blood or color too light	enrich the blood	Yes	Very effective
Yin deficiency	night sweat, dizziness, insomnia	suppliment Yin	Yes	Very effective
Yang deficiency	tiredness, low appetite, loose stool	adjust digestive system	Very effective	Very effective
Liver Qi stagnation	bitterness in mouth, dry eyes, breast sourness, reduced appetite	smooth liver function	Very effective	Very effective
"Phlegm"	head heaviness, sticky stool, high cholesterol	adjust metabolism	Yes	Very effective
Ovarian cyst	abdominal pain	liver meridian	Yes	Yes
Uterine cyst		adjust endocrine	Yes	Yes
Breast hyperplasia		adjust hormone	Yes	Yes

With above examples in mind, the patient may have some idea of how difficult her own case is. Since the nature of fertility treatment is a race against time, we also want to give the patient some baseline to help value the options.

The chance of conceiving at any giving month for a women at 40 is roughly 5%, and reduce to below 1% at 45.
After 35, it is beneficial to have a TCM evaluation what are the areas of general health and reproductive health issues one can improve, for first or second baby.

Around 38-40, the option should include IVF, with periodical acupuncture treatment to prepare the body and relieve side effects.
In early to mid 40s, especially after IVF failures, Chinese medicine treatment would target more on the general health side.
Chinese herbal and/or acupuncture treatment usually last 2-3 months, some patients have success pregnancy near the end of treatment or within 6 months.
Treatment for irregular menstruation, cycle or blood amount usually take effects in 1-2 cycles.
Treatment for whole body health issues last 1-3 months, and may be continually improved by dietary plans and exercises for another few months.

And the last note is more personal than professional, I know how it feels conceiving at 44, an "advanced" age, but did not have a success birth. It's natural selection at play, but it's always the woman who take care of other family members and carry the weight of career choices nowadays. When I read about pregnancy risks, I also read bout how children born by older parents feel. Some said they missed the parents' hay days, some are sad about one parent die right at the kid's young adulthood, but most expressed so much love toward their mothers for giving life to them.

No matter what the end result is, be proud of yourself as a trying mother-to-be, and maintain your health as well as you can. We are glad to help! Contact us to know more!