Holistic healing

I’ve started acupuncture.  I’ve always been interested in trying it but reluctant because of the price tag and the fact that I couldn’t find anyone that specialized in fertility and was relatively close.  Well, back in January, before I found out I was pregnant I found a lady who not only specialized in acupuncture for fertility, she was practically down the street.  Seriously, it takes me about 5 minutes to get there.  I put in a request for information and then after we found out we were pregnant, forgot about it.  We all know how that turned out.

So, I’ve been doing some soul searching and I feel ready to start trying again.  We are still going forward with the foster care thing though.  It’s something we want to do whether we have biological children or not.  I’ve been doing some reading on ways to better manage my diabetes as well as natural ways to prepare my body to get and stay pregnant.  One book I found was The Infertility Cure by Randine Lewis.

It’s about how to use traditional chinese medicine to treat infertility.  It covers acupuncture, herbs and foods to take/eat to treat infertility.  Reading this book is what made me get back in touch with the lady I had found in January. 

If you live in Maryland, or even DC or Virginia and are interested in meeting her (she offers a free consultation) her name is Cara Bergman and the name of her practice is Stillwater Fertility Clinic.  She is extremely nice, knowledgeable and compassionate.  I was very comfortable talking to her.  I cried.  And I never cry.  At least not in front of strangers.  I couldn’t help it though.  She talks to you about EVERYTHING.  I’ve never opened up so much in my life.  I don’t generally enjoy talking about my feelings.  I tend to bottle things up.  Not so healthy as it turns out.  ;o)

I had my first treatment on Sunday and had needles placed on my abdomen, legs, feet and back.  Some of them I could feel when they were put in and others not so much.  Some ached in the places they were put and others I couldn’t tell they were there.  After she placed them in my back she brushed her hand over them and it was the WIERDEST feeling ever.  It’s what I would imagine a cat or dog feels when you brush their whiskers. 

It’s going to cost me $85 a session and I’m doing one session a week.  I should really be using the money to pay off credit cards faster but I’m cutting things from my spending to be able to afford this.  This means no more pedicures, eyebrow waxing (I will be tweezing them myself), buying lunch (bringing lunch is healthier anyways) or other stuff I don’t really need.

She’s given me a ton of tips to try that I plan on sharing.  Things like foods to add and to avoid.  Supplements to take.  And other things as well.  That will be a whole other post.  I promise.  One thing I will share now is that she recommends making a “Vision Board.”  Just a simple posterboard (the arsty fartsy in me plans on doing something a little nicer than that) with pictures of things that you want in your life.  Specifically for me and most of the women she treats, a baby or a family.  It should be pictures of things that bring you happiness so if seeing a pregnant belly or ultrasound picture upsets you (even though you want it) you shouldn’t put it on there.  I’ve been collecting magazine pictures and I hope to start on that soon.  I’ll post pictures as soon as it’s done.  You can use a vision board for anything.  So, if you already have a baby, what would you put on your vision board?