Miscarriage is one of the more heartbreaking issues to confront for couples that are struggling to start a family. Traditional Chinese medicine views each person and their miscarriage history individually, allowing for a customized solution, often integrating with other medical interventions. Certain hormonal imbalances or circulatory blockages that lead to miscarriage can be corrected with acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, exercise, and meditation. The right combination and timing of chosen modalities, together with a diligent patient, can yield seemingly miraculous results by optimizing the human body’s ability to create a new life.
I recently had the distinct pleasure of treating a darling woman by the name of Liliana. She and her husband had dealt with what seemed like every possible physical and emotional hurdle on their way to becoming parents. Before you read on, know that Liliana’s story ends well and that the ups and downs of one’s journey toward parenthood may be long and traumatic. But in Liliana’s case, her success came with just the right combination of medicine and perseverance.
Liliana was 30 when she decided to get pregnant her first time. She quickly got pregnant but, unfortunately, quickly lost the pregnancy as well. She was devastated, but with her husband’s support they tried again a few months later. The second time it took over a year to get pregnant. She safely made it to her second trimester, but Liliana’s world was rocked once again when she heard her baby was dangerously small, and at 23 weeks, Liliana delivered her stillborn son. Needless to say, Liliana struggled with the loss, sadness, and confusion for some time after this. But, after a year passed, Liliana sought out Tao of Wellness (in Los Angeles, California) as a way to reclaim her life again. Liliana explains:
At my initial appointment the doctor told me he would let me know when to start trying to conceive again. I explained to him I never wanted to get pregnant again. I told him I just wanted to be healthy and happy. I never imagined that I would end up being a patient of Tao of Wellness for 3 years. For 3 years I drank the herbs and went in for weekly acupuncture, which I deeply enjoyed and looked forward to. Gradually I came out of that deep sadness that had taken over my life.
My final two years at Tao of Wellness I worked closely with Jason Moskovitz. Jason was always there to calm my worries and fears. And there was never a shortage of worries as I decided to get back on the path to motherhood again. I was so scared of the unknown and felt like I couldn’t possibly hold on to a pregnancy full term. Jason always reassured me that I would be OK, and so would my baby. 4 years after my stillbirth, I was once again pregnant, this time through IVF.
My husband and I were ecstatic. I was highly monitored from the start by my reproductive endocrinologist, and by Jason. I kept up with acupuncture and herbs the entire pregnancy. At 38 weeks and 2 days my dreams finally came true. I delivered my beautiful son. A dream that started many years before with so much heartache and pain had finally come true.
I really thought I would never be able to have children of my own, but I kept going. I am so happy I did. I look at my son now and I am so in love with him. He has brought my husband and I so much joy. I will always be eternally grateful to the doctors. The love, support, and hope they gave me will never be forgotten.