https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:25:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-first-acupuncture-experience#post-2736601 Tue, 16 May 2017 12:58:00 +0000 PeaceLily 2736601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiBeachWife: She wanted me to go every week for a little while since I first started seeing her just a few weeks after my loss and my hormones were crashing. I went every week for a few months, but I now go every other week. I just started taking herbs that she recommended as well so we'll see what happens. </p> <p>I've heard about the clamps to help stimulate the area, that sounds good! It can be a little uncomfortable at first, especially when you can feel the needles going in. I think the more you go the more you get used to it. I'm still not crazy about getting needles in my feet since they usually hurt a bit going in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-first-acupuncture-experience#post-2736587 Tue, 16 May 2017 12:43:42 +0000 YogiBeachWife 2736587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PeaceLily: So sorry about your loss. Does she want you to have a session every week? I had my first appointment today. She ended up putting two needles where my ovaries would be and put these tiny clamps on them which stimulated the area. I think there were 12 needles total. I hope I become more relax during the sessions, it was an interesting feeling. </p> <p>@CatchAFallingStar: Thank you! I'm giving it a shot and will look into Circle &amp; Bloom. </p> <p>@pachamama: I need to work the meditating part! lol Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-first-acupuncture-experience#post-2736292 Mon, 15 May 2017 18:45:40 +0000 pachamama 2736292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Chiming in that acupuncture may have helped get me pregnant but I doubt it was the needles.,. Rather I meditated and had a little therapy chat with my acupuncturist! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-first-acupuncture-experience#post-2736252 Mon, 15 May 2017 16:50:05 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2736252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiBeachWife: Hi! I did stick with it. However, a lot of variables went into me getting pregnant. I think it really helped me to relax and might have helped my lining thicken a bit. I also had acupuncture during pregnancy. I had an IUI cycle, which is what worked for us. I went more often during that cycle and listened to Circle &amp; Bloom while I had the acupuncture treatments. Best of luck to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-first-acupuncture-experience#post-2736176 Mon, 15 May 2017 14:32:38 +0000 PeaceLily 2736176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got pregnant last summer the first month I did acupuncture. I'm not sure if it was just a coincidence, but I like to think that it helped.</p> <p>I started seeing a different acupuncturist this year to help get my body and hormones back to normal after my loss at 19.5 weeks. I think she definitely helped get things back on track quicker, but I haven't gotten pregnant yet unfortunately.</p> <p>Acupuncture is very relaxing though and I do think it has the ability to help straighten out hormones, which can help with fertility.</p> <p>The acupuncturist last year told me I was blood deficient and put needles in specific points in my stomach to help with blood flow to my uterus. The one I go to now never puts any needles in my stomach. I kind of wish she did, but I trust her and plan to stick with her for at least a few more months.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-first-acupuncture-experience#post-2736159 Mon, 15 May 2017 13:45:59 +0000 YogiBeachWife 2736159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: Great to hear! :) Thanks for chiming in! I'm trying to stay positive that this may work for me - time will tell. </p> <p>@periwinklebee: Relaxing is always a good thing! Good to hear regarding helping your spotting issue. Btw - thinking of you and sending positive vibes for a healthy pregnancy. XO </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-first-acupuncture-experience#post-2736119 Mon, 15 May 2017 12:59:23 +0000 periwinklebee 2736119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiBeachWife: I've been going off and on to a group place since last Sept or so. I don't know if it helped with TTC or not, but it is very relaxing. I think it did maybe help with luteal phase spotting, which I was concerned about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-first-acupuncture-experience#post-2736104 Mon, 15 May 2017 12:25:49 +0000 erinbaderin 2736104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@YogiBeachWife: You weren't asking me but I did acupuncture when I did IVF and I firmly believe it helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-first-acupuncture-experience#post-2736095 Mon, 15 May 2017 12:21:36 +0000 YogiBeachWife 2736095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know this is an older thread but...</p> <p>Hi @CatchAFallingStar! Thanks for sharing. Did you stick with the acupuncture? Did it help with getting pregnant? I have my first appointment with an acupuncturist tomorrow. Hoping to lengthen my LP. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-bs-birth-story#post-2728958 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:43:00 +0000 peaches1038 2728958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats! 🎉 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-bs-birth-story#post-2728951 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:32:40 +0000 Kitkat 2728951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: owww! I can't even imagine...kudos to you for getting through that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-bs-birth-story#post-2728897 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 14:12:02 +0000 azjax 2728897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-bs-birth-story#post-2728874 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 13:52:24 +0000 travellingbee 2728874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great story! With my second I had an epidural that failed on one side and it was hell. I was in so much freaking pain during crowning. He was also big like your guy. :) Congrats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-bs-birth-story#post-2728842 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 13:19:30 +0000 snowjewelz 2728842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aww, a great story! I'm glad you finally got that epidural! With my first, there was this one spot it never got to either and that really hurt! I suck at pushing so both times I really needed to feel the pressure to get motivated lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-bs-birth-story#post-2728832 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 13:09:56 +0000 Kitkat 2728832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Forgot to add a picture :happy: </p> [attach=6383/17/ooz94k.450x600.FB566D68-3CC6-4E2D-A1A0-02FDADE5EBAE.JPG] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-bs-birth-story#post-2728712 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 09:44:25 +0000 Kitkat 2728712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve been meaning to write my birth story for 6 months now, since, like everyone says, I enjoyed reading them while I was pregnant. So, here it is! (This ended up being a lot longer than I thought - tl;dr at bottom)</p> <p>My EDD based on LMP was October 7, 2016, but we had had some trouble getting pregnant so I was tracking my cycle through temping and was also on Clomid. Through temping, I knew when I ovulated, and this put my EDD at October 12. However, my doctor used the 10/7 date. The 7th came and went with no sign of baby. Throughout my pregnancy I kept the 12th in my head as the due date, hoping that it would make me less impatient, but I have to admit I was pretty disappointed when there was no baby on the 7th.</p> <p>I had weekly appointments from 36 weeks on, and I believe I was 1cm dilated at 36 or 37 weeks. When I had my appointment on October 11, I was 2 cm dilated and had my membranes stripped for the second time. An induction was scheduled for the 17th and my doctor seemed to think I would make it that far. I left that appointment so upset, not so much because I was uncomfortable (I actually enjoyed being pregnant), but because I wanted to meet the baby so badly and waiting 6 more days seemed like an eternity. I had an acupuncture appointment scheduled for that afternoon, and my acupuncturist had told me he would do everything he could to induce labor, but I was not feeling optimistic.</p> <p>I called my husband after my OB appointment sobbing (thanks, hormones) and he tried to talk me down, but there was no convincing me that 6 days was not a long time and that we would, in fact, actually have a baby at some point in the near future. I ended up driving to his office and we went out to an extremely spicy Thai lunch. After lunch, I left and went to the mall to pick up some makeup before my acupuncture appointment. The acupuncturist hooked electrodes up to the needles and told me if nothing happened within two days to come back in. I headed home, DH and I had dinner, watched some TV and went to bed.</p> <p>I woke up at 1:00am to go to the bathroom, and as soon as I laid back down I felt a huge gush. I jumped out of bed, ripped the sheets off in an attempt to save the mattress, and yelled at DH to wake up. As he groggily got up, I went back into the bathroom and my water continued to gush. I am still amazed at how much amniotic fluid was in there. It would not stop. Based on our childbirth classes, I figured we had some time before we actually had to go to the hospital, so I started straightening up the house (luckily my nesting instincts had ensured it was already pretty clean) and took a shower. My bag was already packed, but I kept thinking of random things to add to it.</p> <p>About an hour later (2:00am) I decided we should probably get to the hospital because contractions were starting to get uncomfortable. At that point they felt like bad period cramps. I don’t know how close they were or how long they were lasting because for some reason it never occurred to me to time them. Our hospital is only about 10 minutes away and my contractions were getting more uncomfortable. I told DH on the way there that I was definitely getting the epidural, but was going to try and wait as long as possible.</p> <p>We went to the ER and they wheeled me to the maternity ward while DH parked the car. When I got to the room, the nurse told me to change into a gown and she would test the fluid to make sure it was actually my water breaking. After seeing the giant puddle on the floor in the bathroom, she said there was no need to test. Seriously…I still can’t believe how much fluid there was.</p> <p>DH got to the room as they were hooking me up to the monitors and by that point my plans of waiting as long as possible for the epidural went out the window. I wanted it and I wanted it now. Unfortunately, at that hour, there was only one anesthesiologist, and he was needed for a C-Section. I was in so much pain that I was vomiting. They offered me Fentanyl and explained it wouldn’t take the pain away, but it would make me high enough that I wouldn’t care about the pain. This was not true; I still cared very much about the pain.</p> <p>Finally, around 5:00am, I was able to get the epidural. It took a couple of tires because I couldn’t stay still enough through the contractions, but once it was in, it was heaven. I was able to sleep for a little bit, but once I woke up, I started feeling pain again in one small area of my stomach. I kept pushing the button the increase the medicine, but it wasn’t working (I later found out this was because I had maxed it out. Oops). I called the nurse in and she said she said she would see if the anesthesiologist would give me more. He warned me that he could give me more, but I would probably be completely numb and unable to move. I was so terrified of feeling the pain of the un-medicated contractions again that I told him to do it.</p> <p>I was completely numb from my stomach down and it was wonderful. The nurses had me lay on my side with a peanut shaped yoga ball between my legs to assist with dilation and they would come in every so often to help me roll over to my other side because I could not move. This was so contrary to what I thought I would want, but at that point I didn’t care. I thought I would want to try pushing in different positions, like squatting or on all fours, but after feeling the pain I was in before the epidural, I could not have been happier with my choice. I’ve heard contractions are more intense after your water breaks, so I’m not sure if things would have been different if contractions had started before my water had broken. All I know is that was the most intense pain I had ever felt and I just wanted it to stop.</p> <p>We mostly spent the morning napping. My mom came around 8:00 and my MIL stopped by for a few minutes around 10:00. This was also something I didn’t think I want – I always said I just wanted it to be me and DH in the room and we’d call everyone after the baby was born, but I was feeling so good after the epidural that it was nice to have some company to visit with. At 11:00, the nurse came in to check me and I was fully dilated. This surprised me because I had heard horror stories about the pain of transition, but thanks to the world’s best epidural, I had not felt a thing. She said she was going to turn the epidural off so I would be able to feel when to push. I was not on board with this idea at all. We ended up compromising and she just turned it down instead of off.</p> <p>The nurse took one leg and DH took the other and we started the pushing process. DH would tell me when a contraction was coming because I still couldn’t feel them and then the nurse would count for me while I pushed. I was actually really good at pushing even though I was so numb, so they didn’t have to turn down the epidural anymore (thank goodness). After about 20 minutes, the nurse said they baby was right there and it was time to call the doctor. It ended up taking her 30-40 minutes to get there and I can’t imagine what it would have been like waiting that long with the baby was crowning without an epidural.</p> <p>Once my doctor (plus a ton of other people – I was amazed at how many people were there and amazed at how much I did care) arrived, I pushed one more time and the baby was out. He came out faster than she was expecting and my placenta came out immediately after. It was such a whirlwind that some had to ask if anyone had looked at the clock to see what time he was actually born. It was decided that he was born at 12:08, so it was almost exactly 11 hours from my water breaking to delivery. I had a second degree tear that has had some issues healing, but all in all, it was a great experience; much better than I expected and I can’t wait to do it again. Baby B was born 10/12/16 (his due date based on when I ovulated), weighted 8lbs 15ounces and was 21 inches long. He’s 6 ½ months old now and the happiest, most adorable baby ever.</p> <p>We were in the hospital for two nights. Because of his relatively big size, B had to have his blood sugar checked every 12 hours to make sure he didn’t have diabetes. They also kept getting conflicting jaundice readings – the head scan they did would come back high, so they would do a blood test which would come back normal. After this happened three or four times they decided that he did not have jaundice (or at least not enough to warrant being under billi lights.</p> <p>****tl;dr: easy 11 hour medicated labor, possibly induced by a mixture of spicy food and acupuncture. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2581238 Tue, 05 Jul 2016 15:56:38 +0000 PeaceLily 2581238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: I'm sorry to hear about your chemical pregnancy. Good luck trying again this cycle.</p> <p>I just reached out to an acupuncturist in my area since I've read such great things about acupuncture helping with fertility and stress.</p> <p>I can't help much with the vitex. I actually took vitex for about 4 months before trying to conceive to help regulate my cycles, but I decided to stop taking it before we started trying because I was worried what would happen if I was taking it and ended up pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2580808 Mon, 04 Jul 2016 22:24:45 +0000 Iced Tea 2580808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just wanted to update you all that I had a chemical pregnancy following that first ovulation. We decided to continue with acupuncture and try again this next cycle. </p> <p>I actually panicked a bit and starting taking vitex right after ovulation. I'm trying to decide whether to continue the vitex or not. Anyone have advice on that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2570390 Mon, 20 Jun 2016 07:01:15 +0000 Iced Tea 2570390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsB2012: that's great! Best of luck to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2570343 Sun, 19 Jun 2016 22:48:06 +0000 MrsB2012 2570343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to acupuncture the second month I was TTC my first and got pregnant that cycle. I wasn't going for fertility, I was going to help my sleep cycle, but I do think it played a factor in getting pregnant. We had been NTNP for like a year prior to that. I'm now trying for my third baby and we're on our 9th ( I think? 8th? ) cycle so I went this month. I went at the beginning of my cycle and I had a shorter period this month. I also got a positive OPK today on CD 15 when I usually don't O until CD 18. I have another appointment this week. I'm slightly optimistic that it will help :)</p> <p>That's awesome you got a positive OPK already! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2570334 Sun, 19 Jun 2016 21:46:13 +0000 Iced Tea 2570334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh my god; I'm so excited! </p> <p>I had my second session four days ago. </p> <p>Also, I slept all night last night while my husband tended to our toddler for wake ups. </p> <p>I showed hubby and asked if he wanted to BD, and he surmised I must have slept really well. Haha. </p> [attach=5302/16/o91ud1.450x600.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2570130 Sat, 18 Jun 2016 20:46:58 +0000 Iced Tea 2570130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: @sometimesshesings:<br /> Can you tell me more about the herbal treatments? I'm getting weekly acupuncture, and she said if I don't get a period within a month, then she will start herbs. I'm not wild about the idea, but I really don't know much about them. Can you share your experience? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2565865 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 07:04:38 +0000 ValentineMommy 2565865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did - and I got pregnant with DS2 the first cycle trying with acupuncture. This was after a mc, and I definitely think it helped my body. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2562519 Mon, 06 Jun 2016 11:43:24 +0000 Iced Tea 2562519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's great to hear all these stories! I just finished the first session. I'm optimistic, especially since I've had some hormonal symptoms the last few days and we night weaned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2562337 Mon, 06 Jun 2016 06:01:07 +0000 sometimesshesings 2562337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep! It took about six months of acupuncture to finally regulate my wacky periods. When I still didn't get pregnant after another six months, my acupuncturist tried an aggressive herbal treatment (a different formula for each part of my cycle). I felt a difference right away (fewer symptoms that go along with hormonal imbalance) and got pregnant during my next cycle. I had been TTC for a year before seeing an acupuncturist, so it took 2 years total. I went to an acupuncturist when my doctor diagnosed unexplained infertility and offered me meds. I wanted to see if alternative medicine could help me with any underlying issues, which the doctor didn't see interested in investigating. I know there are lots of variables when it comes to successful conception, but I am certain TCM made a difference for me.</p> <p>I also got an acupuncture treatment within two days of going into labor with both of my kids. My acupuncturist says induction via acupuncture only works well if your body/baby are basically ready and just need a little nudge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2562307 Sun, 05 Jun 2016 21:54:18 +0000 stratosphere 2562307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I went weekly for a few months before TTC the first time, as I had a big problem with bleeding about 50% of my cycle. I ended up getting pregnant second cycle trying (first cycle when my DH was in town when I ovulated). For my second pregnancy (currently 29 weeks) I went for a few sessions before TTC and got pregnant the first cycle trying. My acupuncturist has a pretty big practice in fertility acupuncture so has a ton of experience with it (she also treats pain though and is amazing at that too in my experience with a whiplash injury). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2562258 Sun, 05 Jun 2016 18:44:13 +0000 wheres_c 2562258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hadn't had a cycle in over a year. I went for acupuncture, 2 weeks later I was pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2562103 Sun, 05 Jun 2016 08:34:00 +0000 madger 2562103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! I was having 40-60 day cycles after I got my period back post weaning and I started going to acupuncture once a week. After 4-5 treatments I got a BFP! Related, I also used acupuncture to induce labor with my first (I went into labor an hour after my appointment!), so I am a huge believer. As a bonus the appointments were incredibly relaxing and I'd almost always fall asleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2561979 Sat, 04 Jun 2016 19:55:43 +0000 Goldengirl 2561979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did! I got pregnant a lot quicker than I thought I would, but who knows if it was due to that. At the very least, it was suuuper relaxing and a great time for a nap :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-acupuncture-while-ttc#post-2561935 Sat, 04 Jun 2016 18:13:21 +0000 OldpuebloJenn 2561935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did it. I found the treatments to be really relaxing, so besides any perceived benefit, the relaxation, stress relief was huge. </p>