Did Acupuncture work to induce labour? This is a great question and I'm asked it often. In this post, we'll clarify what labour induction is, what Pre-birth Acupuncture is and I'll tell you a little about my own Acupuncture preparations before labour. We'd also love for your to comment if you've had a story to tell […]

The Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP) is by far the most preferred method of contraception in Australia, the UK & US. A convenient and painless form of contraception, The Pill receives more use than Long Term Contraceptive Methods such as an IUD (Intra Uterine Device). The issues around OCP Prescription can be related to its 'off […]

Menstrual Cycles. Every woman has to deal with it on some level. Some women count, others have no idea what's going on down there. There are women out there that have cycles like clockwork and those that can't rely on any regularity of their cycle. These women are constantly playing a guessing game about when their next […]

Couples struggling with falling Pregnant often go through a silent experience. Often you're trying to conceive but no-one knows from the outside, only your private conversations with your partner bring up the issues around not falling Pregnant or the stress of the hurdles along the way. You may search online to get support or advice from specific forums & chat […]

You've just done a pregnancy test, or several and found out you're Pregnant. Receiving news of a positive pregnancy test can be a time of mixed emotions as you settle into your new path ahead. Excitement, Joy, nerves or even worry. Everyone says those first 12 weeks are the hardest, as you are at your […]

You may have heard on the grapevine about IVF Acupuncture and you're thinking, "What is IVF Acupuncture?". More couples are turning to IVF to help them get pregnant. Our society has produced women that are independent and highly capable of having successful careers in their 20's and 30's. Once the focus shifts to settling down […]

Those trying IVF, may be looking for anything and everything they can be doing to get the most out of each IVF cycle. Depending on if you've used Google or word of mouth as your resource when looking into what else can help your cause, you may have come across Acupuncture and those that say […]

Cramping is a symptom that is never comfortable. The twinges and spasms in your lower abdomen or lower back make it difficult to concentrate on your day and get on with things. Popping a pill of paracetamol or ibuprofen may help or for the more severe cramps, not even touch the sides. In this blogpost, […]

Trying to conceive can be really hard. Not for everyone, but for many it can be one of the most trying, upsetting, frustrating points in your life. Its easy to look back in hindsight about how you'd do things differently. Here's what I would tell myself if I could go back in time and lend […]

The questions keep coming in this series of common questions from new patients. We've already discussed "Can Fertility Acupuncture DELAY my period?" now we're going to answer "Can Acupuncture bring on my period?". I've said time and time again the thing I love about Acupuncture is that it's focus is regulating cycles and optimising hormones. Let's dive a bit […]

Work is putting the pressure on, the Family Social Calendar is on overload, you keep trying to hold it all together and maintain an appearance of everything is fine... but it's not. Inside you may feel annoyed, resentful, angry or even a bit down in the dumps. Stress is not to be underestimated. Brushing it under […]

Fertility Acupuncture is designed to help the body's natural processes and cycles, including that of the menstrual cycle. It's all about regulating the cycle and optimising hormones. In this blog post we look at the question, "can Fertility Acupuncture delay your period?"

Does Fertility Acupuncture hurt? This is one of the questions that comes up when talking about Acupuncture time and time again. Sometimes I'm amazed how creative people's imaginations can be around what is involved during an Acupuncture treatment. No, no, no, Registered Acupuncturists aren't sadistic, lovers of pain nor get some joy out of sticking […]

Does Fertility Acupuncture work? This is probably the number one question I'm asked when it comes to Fertility Acupuncture. Couples that are wanting to conceive don't want to beat around the bush, they tend to want to be sure they're making a beeline for their ultimate result, getting Pregnant. In this post, we'll dive deeper […]

You've made it to the other side - Motherhood. You've had a Caesarian section and the Doctor has said about 6 weeks of recovery lie ahead. Which isn't what you planned on.... Lets look at some ideas Chinese Medicine has, about recovery after C-Section and how it can help you.

You may ahve heard about Acupuncture being great for assisting Fertility. Overall, Hormone regulation is something that Traditional Chinese Medicine is good at. So lets take a look at some of the ways Chinese Herbs can help enhance your Fertility & hormones.

Women can assume they're ovulating, when trying to conceive. But how do you know for sure? Conception is all about Ovulation. If you're not ovulating, your likelihood of conceiving is very low. Here are some ways to ensure you're ovulating with a definite YES or NO answer.

Your Doctor May Not Want You To Take Chinese Herbs. Do you know the reasons Why? In the world today, Female Infertility rates are at 30-40%. We have Male Infertility rates at 30%. The rest of couples have Unexplained Infertility. Taking steps to assist and improve your fertility is well worth it. So Why wouldn’t you try […]

The latest research suggests preparing for labour using Complementary Medicine makes differences in birthing outcomes. Here, we continue our look at the Basics of Birth Preparation with one of the most important tips - Relaxation. 

Stress, yeah, yeah, I know. Stress this and Stress that. We're all Stressed aren't we? Q: Don't we all just have to put up with it and keep going? A: No. Stress is one reason our health fails, and yet many of us brush it off, like its nothing important. But it's time for a reality […]

You may have your bag packed for the hospital and are ready for this baby to arrive. If you're worried you've missed something or want some ideas of things you may not have even considered preparing for labour. There are things you can do to help make your birthing experience easier, more relaxing and a […]

Perineal Massage. Just by saying those two words, I may have already got you offside! Some women are open to this technique and others are not. So here, we'l present the technique and look at the evidence behind it as a preparation for Labour, including less risk of tearing and episiotomy. (Which are the best […]

Pre-Birth Acupuncture is Acupuncture in the third trimester and should begin at around 37 weeks gestation. The latest research shows that using Complementary medicine tools to help prepare for birth, improves birth outcomes with epidural rates and medical induction rates being significantly lower in women who did their preparation(link here). Acupuncture can be one of those […]

In The Yin Ova Center's Jill Blakeway & Dr Sami's book "Making Babies" they discuss 5 Fertility types, including the Dry Fertility type. Here we'll discuss the antidote to Dry types - the Yin Energy. Why overcoming dryness is important in fertility? What is Depleted Yin? How do you help your body gain Yin energy?

Yesterday I went to a seminar on the recent outcomes of a study completed by Dr Kate Levett, Registered Acupuncturist & PhD. Kate and her colleagues at the Western Sydney University have published their paper on how Complementary Medicine and birth preparation courses similar to 'She Births' can assist birthing outcomes and even shorten labour […]

Pregnancy & Heartburn. Its a fact up to 50% of women are likely to experience heartburn at some point in their pregnancies. You may not be able to avoid it or relieve it completely during pregnancy, but there are ways to control it.

Bоth male аnd female fertility іѕ affected bу obesity. Obesity іѕ harmful fоr women, especially bесаuѕе the woman is carrying the child, pregnancy brings ѕоmе major hormonal changes іn а woman's body and so if she is at risk, the pregnancy can also be at risk.

Partners may be thinking "Is Acupuncture Safe During Pregnancy?" and this is common. Sometimes partners can be protective of their pregnant wife, thinking that Acupuncture can be harmful to them or their baby. Here we'll discuss the safe Pregnancy Acupuncture practices and some of the benefits Pregnant women can get from Acupuncture. This way you'll be […]

When you're Pregnant in the second or third Trimester, you may start to feel the niggles, aches and pains of your body adjusting to accommodate the baby as it grows. Aches and pains in the neck, shoulders, and lower back are common as your posture changes. A massage sounds divine, but here's some tips before you get […]

Sub-fertility оf а couple іѕ defined аѕ thе inability tо conceive, even after months of attempting unprotected sexual intercourse. Infertility is the inability to conceive or when it takes years to successfully conceive. We look at the criteria for Infertility in this article and give you some practical advice about how to deal with it step […]

Your Period. You can love it because its reliable and runs like clockwork, or you can hate it, dreading the transformation you make into a hormonal monster groaning in pain once a month. There are a lot of preconceptions about Women's periods and here, we're going to dispel a few by talking about what "NORMAL", if it […]

What is Cord Clamping and what are the benefits? In this brief Ted Talk, Dr Alan Greene of TICC TOCC discusses why delayed cord clamping by as little as 90 seconds can have huge benefits. For more info, his website is here.

Placenta Previa can be a diagnosis no woman can see coming.  Least of all knowing if there is anything within her power to help the situation. Doctors will continue to monitor patients with Placenta Previa closely, but often the condition resolves itself near the end of the Pregnancy. Although that's a positive resolution, its the nerve racking weeks […]

The short answer is a resounding Yes. We all know Smoking & Pregnancy is unhealthy. We know smoking regardless is unhealthy. But what about the impact on couples trying to conceive & their fertility plans? Lets take a look at some of the issues of how Smoking impacts on Fertility in particular from a Traditional […]

For some of us its an easy conclusion; Smoking during Pregnancy is unhealthy. But for those that are smokers, the addiction makes it REALLY challenging to quit, even when there's a new life to consider. You might recall the controversy surrounding Radio personality, Chrissie Swan's struggle with giving up smoking, that really divided the nation. Many were outraged […]

Building your yin is very important to fertility for both men and women. In women, their yin is reflected in their oestrogen levels, egg quality and cervical mucus. In men, yin relates to their sperm quality. Without Yin, fertility can be of poor quality. We've already discussed Yin & Fertility, in this article here. Now we'll show some […]

There are early pregnancy signs that typically occur very soon after the pregnancy takes place.  Ordinarily, a pregnancy test can confirm your suspicions quickly.  However, being able to recognize some of the clues that your body is giving you, can help you decide if you need to look further into the possibility that you could […]

Fertility for Men & Women in particular the Dry Fertility type can lead to problems conceiving. In The Yin Ova Center's Jill Blakeway & Dr Sami's book "Making Babies" they discuss 5 Fertility types, including the Dry Fertility type. Why is overcoming dryness is important in fertility? Why strengthening Yin is the antidote to dryness, and […]

Chicken Bone Broth for a stockpot Ingredients: 1 Organic Chicken 2cm knob ginger chopped, 2 cloves garlic 2 carrots, 4 celery sticks chopped 1 red onion (optional) 6 cups water Parsley, Chilli (optional) Pepper & salt to season Lemon juice Method:  Brown the onion, carrots, and celery in a pan until onion is soft. […]

If there's one things that walks out the door with the Fertility Acupuncture clients I'm seeing, its this link to a recipe for Bone Broth.  Bone Broth is a golden oldie that has come back into fashion with all this talk about the Paleo Diet, but over the ages, many cultures around the world agree about […]

A recent investigation into IVF Clinics by the Australian Media has highlighted the IVF Clinics and their marketing strategies. Do they make too many promises? Is it considered misleading, once you look at the statistics? For all the emotive language, imagery and some couple's unwavering commitment to their fertility plans, can the marketing and business […]

Acupuncture may be something you're considering when it comes to your fertility plans or other health concerns. But for some people it may be considered "Wu-wu" and a load of hogwash. Others it may be completely off their radar and they don't know what to expect. Others will have had some experience with acupuncture, whether […]

Did you know Acupuncture can be recommended by midwives to initiate labour? Doctors can also be supportive of trying methods such as acupuncture to bring on labour naturally. Here we discuss Acupuncture to bring on Labour, what's involved and how the body can respond.

Menopause is an inevitable natural change in the life of every woman. During this stage, there is a great shift between the chemistry and hormones due to the reduction in the levels of progesterone and oestrogen in the body. To some women, these hormonal changes can result into night sweats, hot flushes, mood swings, and […]

For those who want a checklist to scan through for ideas they might not have considered or tried to improve their fertility, this blogpost is for you. Its not an exhaustive list, nor in any particular order. Look at this a good beginning for some fertility basics that look at managing your stress & lifestyle as […]

If you've never tried Acupuncture before, it can seem a bit of a foreign or unusual experience to put yourself through. But thousands of Australians are using the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture to help with aches and pains, bouts of insomnia, headaches, migraines, and managing their PMS. Traditional Chinese Medicine tools […]

Abdominal Separation can often happen to women during or after giving birth. Most doctors say it will heal and just to continue normal daily life. We ask Osteopath, Vanessa Fisher about Abdominal Separation, the importance of helping it heal more fully and the issues with multiple births on the core stability. 

We have discussed Kidney Jing and its importance, previously in this article. Particularly with conception, Kidney Jing is essential. So lets take a look at some Trying To Conceive Tips that will help you preserve the Kidney Jing you have.

Chinese Medicine has a whole medical text on the importance of the Spleen called the Pi Wei Lun dating back to early history. In all of us, the Spleen is important for Qi & Blood Production (aka energy levels), digestion and mental clarity. For women in particular, blood & energy production can be one of […]

In Traditional Chinese Medicine Kidney energy (called Kidney Jing) determines your ability to conceive, your vitality & longevity. Kidney Jing is concentrated in the brain, bone marrow, ova (eggs in women) and sperm in men. Learn why your Jing is crucial to conceiving successfully and how you can work with a TCM Practitioner to support […]

Starting trying to conceive can be a conscious decision or not. There are many reasons why NOW is the time to begin that fertility journey - career, age, the right relationship, or just pure hormonal cluckiness. Many women have expectations of conceiving right away. But what if it doesn't happen immediately?

A good solid resource for couples trying to conceive, Making Babies is a go-to-guide for fertility. In my clinic I have 2 copies of Making Babies that are constantly on loan to clients to help them demystify their bodies and discover what their real fertility issues are, whether they're using IVF or not. Here I'll give […]

Following the 37 weeks over a Pregnancy, this Pregnancy Nutrition App, Poppyseed to Pumpkin provides recipes for each week of the journey in the convenient format on your tablet or smartphone. Reviewed by a nutritionist, these recipes use healthy wholefoods to give you the best nutrition during such an important time for you and baby.

Miscarriage can be a trying and challenging time for couples. There is no 'one way' for navigating their path through an experience like this. In this article I have interviewed Tina Bakalla, a Demartini Facilitator, about Grief and Loss after Miscarriage to get her perspective on the issue and any useful information on how to cope.

This is for the new mums. The exhausted parents. The time-poor with children. If you haven't heard of Mamabake, it's something you should know about - whether you've recently had your first child or are parents to a tribe of kids of various ages, Are a bit tired of your own cooking repertoire, need some […]

If you're undergoing IVF, did you know you can receive Acupuncture to support your Embryo Transfer? Its called Embryo Transfer Acupuncture. Studies show that for clinical trial groups that have a pregnancy success rate of less than 35%, Embryo Transfer Acupuncture definitely has benefits. So what's involved? And what benefits does Acupuncture provide for women […]

With a newborn, after the hormone high has gone, the perils of sleep deprivation can be a huge shock to the system; Physically, Mentally & Emotionally. Days fly by quickly and you get to the end of another week, and think where has that time gone? Long term Sleep Deprivation can lead to a Sleep […]

A diagnosis of unexplained Infertility can be an emotional rollercoaster. Fear, Uncertainty, anger, grief and helplessness can be some of the emotions women might feel. From a Chinese Medicine perspective, these emotions can absolutely influence the flow of qi, general energy levels, menstrual cycles and hinder the fertility journey further. In Chinese Medicine, the organs said […]

What is vaginal discharge? Isn't it normal? What if my discharge doesn't look like what the books & Google say it should? Here we'll take a quick look at the basics of Vaginal Discharge, how it affects fertility & how Chinese Medicine can help. Vaginal discharge is fluid as a result of glandular secretions within the […]

This article is about why Fertile mucus is so important. I'm sure if your on your fertility journey, you might have done your research and are aware of what you should be looking for at different times in your cycle when it comes to Cervical Mucus. Let's look a bit closer at why Cervical mucus helps you understand […]