Holistic Medicine Gave Us a Baby When Nobody Else Could
Holistic Medicine Gave Us a Baby When Nobody Else Could
“Keep it together, do NOT break down,” I whispered this mantra to myself as I sat huddled next to my 5-year-old-twin nieces watching Disney’s “Encanto.” Mirabelle, grief-stricken after having not received a family gift, proclaimed, “I will stand on the side as you shine,”/ “I can’t take another night up in my room waiting on a miracle,”/ Am I too late for a miracle?” An immediate pool of tears blurred my vision. The feelings of shock, disappointment, and numbing pain Mirabelle was experiencing resonated with me. She wanted to join in on the ecstatic celebration with her family and friends, but her joy was stolen.
For nine years, my husband and I tried to have a baby. We did receive our miracle, thus our story is truly one of hope.
As is often the case, infertility blindsided us. In 2014, I followed my OBGYN’s referral to see a reproductive endocrinologist. Well-meaning as it was, this referral plunged us into financial debt and disempowering procedures that ultimately did not work for us. Endometriosis was the initial diagnosis. Our first of many IUI’s ended in early miscarriage. The doctor prescribed Levothyroxine, half-mumbling something about subclinical hypothyroidism. This medication lifted my mood and brain fog- and with renewed hope, we dove into IVF procedures. Yet, I responded poorly to the hormones. All in, six embryos were transferred (fresh), yet none were implanted.
Navigating the next step to grow one’s family is difficult. I remember wishing someone – a stork? - would place a newborn baby on my doorstep. Anger and bitterness took over. My stomach knotted watching gender reveal videos. Social media became a trigger. Movies portraying families became triggers. Suddenly, my whole life was viewed from a different perspective. While the cliché, a baby changes everything, is true, I realized that infertility even more so changes EVERYTHING in your life. My husband and I isolated. Yet, many thoughtful gestures showed just how much our family and friends loved us, as we trudged along with the stress and grief this journey encompassed.
My husband and I decided to take a break from fertility treatments to focus on a move across the country, to celebrate our relationship – child or no child- and, most importantly, for healing.
As Mirabelle sang, “I Can’t Heal What’s Broken” I am so grateful that there are options beyond the fertility clinic that could help me. It was early 2022 and I was recovering from a failed embryo transfer with a donor egg (my sister had donated an egg). We even tried a donor embryo transfer which ended in early miscarriage. Around this same time, our dog sitter, a young college student who was a true animal lover, could not help but notice yet another box of Lupron injections and fertility protocols cluttering our home. She was perplexed when a brand-new crib was set up (in preparation for our adoption home study) with no evidence of a newborn. She eventually developed the courage to send us what would prove to be the most life altering text message, imploring us to see a specific local holistic/functional medicine practitioner with an outstanding reputation. Her clinic claims to “fix the seemingly unfixable.” I was intrigued and, having exhausted so many options short of gestational carrier, I immediately arranged an appointment.
Looking back, it was pure faith and hope that allowed me to step into that clinic with an open heart and mind and put myself out there to try again to have a baby. This practitioner looked at my symptoms along with my “normal” TSH lab value and immediately knew I had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. A complete laboratory thyroid panel (interpreted using optimal ranges) revealed elevated thyroid antibodies.
I learned that my hypothyroidism had been improperly managed. I learned that thyroid hormones have such a significant impact on egg quality and ovulation. She added a handful of supplements (a dessicated thyroid/ T3 component), requested a few dietary changes to optimize my health, and progesterone cream for part of my menstrual cycle. When I began weeping in her clinic, she told me with so much certainty that I would get pregnant and that I would be the best mom! Within three months, I had my first unassisted pregnancy ever.
We now have a nine-month-old baby girl. Every day is filled with immense gratitude, joy, and disbelief. Healing from infertility will be a lifelong process. All in, I had been a patient of at least three different clinics, but the holistic one worked for us. It is a priority of mine to spread awareness of various options, namely holistic/functional medicine for infertility, which should ideally be explored in the initial stages of this journey.
Erin L.
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Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider or qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog.