Devastation. Revulsion. Regret.
Devastation that their dream of being pregnant, giving birth, breast feeding and being a Mother feels unattainable.
Revulsion of the dysfunction of their body and often even God.
Regret in marrying their spouse or waiting too long to conceive.
The strain on their marriage is equivalent to an affair or death of a child. The forced timing of intimacy expunges the passion they once had. The anger and regret every time a pregnancy test reflects one lonely line proving once again she isn't pregnant is hostile and all consuming. The mood swings are volatile. The depression crushing. The anxiety overwhelmingly colossal. The strain shreds the bond the couple once felt was unconditional and eternal. Their entire existence hangs in a weak and decaying balance.
This is what my patients experience every day of their lives for months or years on end. That is until I am able to gracefully bring balance and fertility to their cold and once barren wombs. Then miraculously the burden of death and inconceivable grief lifts instantly and they plunge into the ecstasy and challenges of pregnancy and parenthood.
Kristen Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M. is a nationally known and sought after fertility expert in the U.S. Patients have travelled as far as London, England for her fertility expertise. She has been featured in national health magazine such as: USA Today, Woman’s Day, Parenting Magazine, Natural Health, Better Nutrition, Achieving Families, Resolve Newsletter and Parents Magazine. She has also been the subject of newspaper feature stories in the San Diego Union Tribune and the Idaho Statesman, radio spots on NPR, K-POP and Pregtastic and television news magazine segments including: KUSI TV News in San Diego.
She served on the board of Resolve, the non-profit organization helping couples struggling with infertility. She has given treatment to hundreds of couples during the embryo transfers of their IVF cycles at the most prestigious fertility centers in the United States. Ms. Burris was the founder of Fertility Retreats for couples where 75% of the participants are now parents.
Showing posts with label stress and infertility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stress and infertility. Show all posts
Monday, February 7, 2011
Monday, July 26, 2010
65% More Likely To Become Pregnant: Here is How
Acupuncture is very effective in treating infertility for many medical reasons. Acupuncture has been proven for over 2,000 years to increase blood flow to reproductive organs, reduce uterine cramping, regulate hormones and induce ovulation; all of which significantly increases a woman's ability to conceive and carry a child full term.
Western medical science explains the efficacy of acupuncture by saying it stimulates the neurotransmitters triggering production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. This hormone controls a woman's menstrual cycle and her ability to ovulate in a timely manner. Acupuncture is known to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and increases the production of endogenous opioids which allows the body to relax inhibiting stress, one of the greatest known factors in infertile couples.
A visit to a Licensed, Board Certified, Acupuncturist resembles that to a medical doctor. Prior to a visit the patient fills out extensive paperwork explicitly describing their health history, symptoms ranging from digestive health to mental health to reproductive history. The patient will also share family health history and any western medical problems or diseases including whether the patient has attempted procedure like IVF or IUI.
Various diagnosing skills are employed by the acupuncturist including: pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis (this is the only muscle we can see externally therefore it is thought to reflect the internal disharmony within a patients body) and abdominal palpation. We assimilate your information, make a diagnosis and treat accordingly with acupuncture, herbal medicine and supplement or dietary recommendations to increase fertility.
During a treatment patients experience a unique calm and deep relaxation from acupuncture. Once the Acupuncturist assesses your paperwork, examines your body and listens to your concerns they choose anywhere from 10 to 20 acupuncture points to treat your medical problems. You can expect hair-thin, sterile, painless, needles to be inserted on your lower arms, legs, abdomen or back. It is common for patients to fall asleep during treatment. Acupuncture shouldn't hurt, if it does tell your Acupuncturist where you feel sensitive. They should be able to lighten their technique so it's virtually pain-free. If they are unable, and you are uncomfortable, it may be time to seek help from another Acupuncturist.
Your Acupuncturists office should be professional, clean and apply strict needle technique using sterile, disposable, one-time use needles only. The thought of acupuncture can be nerve wracking but the reality is an enjoyable experience that is worth trying. Western medical science gets excited about a mere 1% increase in the effectiveness of any of their drugs or surgeries in relation to infertility. Acupuncture when combined with IVF procedures has been proven in a study to increase a woman's success by a staggering 65% Source: British Medical Journal Feb 2008. It's imperative to include acupuncture to your IVF treatment plan.
Kristen Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M. is a board certified Acupuncturist and Herbalist whose expertise is infertility for women. She was featured in Woman's Day, USA Today and Eagle Magazine in June and July of 2010.
Western medical science explains the efficacy of acupuncture by saying it stimulates the neurotransmitters triggering production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. This hormone controls a woman's menstrual cycle and her ability to ovulate in a timely manner. Acupuncture is known to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and increases the production of endogenous opioids which allows the body to relax inhibiting stress, one of the greatest known factors in infertile couples.
A visit to a Licensed, Board Certified, Acupuncturist resembles that to a medical doctor. Prior to a visit the patient fills out extensive paperwork explicitly describing their health history, symptoms ranging from digestive health to mental health to reproductive history. The patient will also share family health history and any western medical problems or diseases including whether the patient has attempted procedure like IVF or IUI.
Various diagnosing skills are employed by the acupuncturist including: pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis (this is the only muscle we can see externally therefore it is thought to reflect the internal disharmony within a patients body) and abdominal palpation. We assimilate your information, make a diagnosis and treat accordingly with acupuncture, herbal medicine and supplement or dietary recommendations to increase fertility.
During a treatment patients experience a unique calm and deep relaxation from acupuncture. Once the Acupuncturist assesses your paperwork, examines your body and listens to your concerns they choose anywhere from 10 to 20 acupuncture points to treat your medical problems. You can expect hair-thin, sterile, painless, needles to be inserted on your lower arms, legs, abdomen or back. It is common for patients to fall asleep during treatment. Acupuncture shouldn't hurt, if it does tell your Acupuncturist where you feel sensitive. They should be able to lighten their technique so it's virtually pain-free. If they are unable, and you are uncomfortable, it may be time to seek help from another Acupuncturist.
Your Acupuncturists office should be professional, clean and apply strict needle technique using sterile, disposable, one-time use needles only. The thought of acupuncture can be nerve wracking but the reality is an enjoyable experience that is worth trying. Western medical science gets excited about a mere 1% increase in the effectiveness of any of their drugs or surgeries in relation to infertility. Acupuncture when combined with IVF procedures has been proven in a study to increase a woman's success by a staggering 65% Source: British Medical Journal Feb 2008. It's imperative to include acupuncture to your IVF treatment plan.
Kristen Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M. is a board certified Acupuncturist and Herbalist whose expertise is infertility for women. She was featured in Woman's Day, USA Today and Eagle Magazine in June and July of 2010.
Monday, November 30, 2009
To Work or Not to Work? That is the Fertile Question
Your dilemma is a common one and quitting your job doesn't always equate with less stress. There are some questions you want to ask yourself. Can you afford financially to quit your job? Does your job bring you happiness and satisfaction? If you do quit your job how will you fill your daily life: sitting around watching television or taking up yoga and cooking with whole foods? The latter will bring more healthful rewards and will increase your fertility and the former weight gain and depression. Quitting your job may actually add more stress to your life but that is for you do decide.
If your job is producing an extraordinary amount of stress then yes, it will increase your fertility to quit and here is why:
Most people don’t realize the stressors we endure in modern day life. Just as I write this I have numerous stressors that I have learned to ignore 1. The traffic driving by just beyond my computer screen 2. The phone ringing 3. Music in the background 4. The lingering list of to-do for Christmas preparation 5. The pesky worry of the future that pops up from my conscience to every day awareness 6. My husband typing on his computer… you get the idea. We don’t perceive these things as stress but the modern person is constantly multi-taking even in our peaceful office with aroma therapy and soothing music. The majority of people have real intense pressures from spouses, in-laws, neighbors, bosses, and financial institutions. This constant attack we endure stresses our sympathetic nervous system putting our body in a constant state of fight or flight wreaking havoc on our endocrine system and literally shutting down our reproductive system.
Fight or flight is a state in which we feel under attack that some have theorized was built into our bodies for survival against savage animals when we lived in the wild. When we feel our lives are at stake our pupils dilate to see better, our heart rate increases dramatically propelled by adrenaline so we can run quickly and our breath quickens. Unfortunately our digestive, urinary, bowel and reproductive systems get cut off. There is no need to reproduce or go to the bathroom when all of our energy needs to be expended in order to survive and flee as quickly as possible.
How this translates to modern day time is that our stressors are constant and overwhelming. The modern conveniences push us to do more, work more, be more. The intensity of the daily news is so traumatic one can’t help but be stressed by the devastating news of the world at large. We are constantly answering phones, texts, emails, paper mail just to get out the door in the morning and get our real work done. We are constantly bombarded by advertisers, telemarketers, politicians, local business men and women, churches, schools, and neighbors, to give, drive, celebrate and donate. We have accepted this as the way of life but it costly us all dearly in our health, weight, emotional well-being and our fertility.
We often run out the door with coffee sloshing in our mugs taxing our adrenals and slowing blood flow to our reproductive organs. Maybe a handful of crackers are shoved haphazardly in our mouths as we race down the road to sit in traffic and ward off maniac drivers. Then we turn on the radio to be bombarded with talk and gossip and dread. We rush into our offices only to find our irritated boss with a deadline to meet and a pay cut delivered and it’s only 7:30 a.m. The madness must stop. We all need to slow down, calm ourselves and take a good look at our lives to discover how we can reduce stress thereby improving our reproductive successes.
Here is a list of suggestions of how to reduce stress:
Work no more than 40 hours a week
Always plan something fun on the weekends
Exercise is a priority not a luxury
Swap Coffee for Green Tea or Teccino (herbal non caffeinated coffee substitute)
Learn to Meditate or Buy a Mind Body CD
Pray
Enjoy laughter with girlfriends
Make Love when you are NOT fertile
Love your job or change careers
Turn off your TV
Go on a news fast
Have lavender aroma therapy at home, work and your car
Listen to classical music
Learn to Belly Breathe
Get Acupuncture Even if your OBGYN says “You are Fine” Unexplained infertility responds well
Take a yoga Class
Spend time only with people who nourish you; avoid those who don’t
Rent a funny movie
Join Resolve (the non-profit that helps couples who have a hard time conceiving or staying pregnant)
Just say no to baby showers
Let it go
Use an ovulation predictor kit (clear blue easy around $200 is more helpful than just the wands)
Know that what you are going through is one of the hardest things any human can face but you will get through this so try to find the gems in the journey: meeting fabulous people, rediscovering compassion through your own suffering, a stronger relationship with
If your job is producing an extraordinary amount of stress then yes, it will increase your fertility to quit and here is why:
Most people don’t realize the stressors we endure in modern day life. Just as I write this I have numerous stressors that I have learned to ignore 1. The traffic driving by just beyond my computer screen 2. The phone ringing 3. Music in the background 4. The lingering list of to-do for Christmas preparation 5. The pesky worry of the future that pops up from my conscience to every day awareness 6. My husband typing on his computer… you get the idea. We don’t perceive these things as stress but the modern person is constantly multi-taking even in our peaceful office with aroma therapy and soothing music. The majority of people have real intense pressures from spouses, in-laws, neighbors, bosses, and financial institutions. This constant attack we endure stresses our sympathetic nervous system putting our body in a constant state of fight or flight wreaking havoc on our endocrine system and literally shutting down our reproductive system.
Fight or flight is a state in which we feel under attack that some have theorized was built into our bodies for survival against savage animals when we lived in the wild. When we feel our lives are at stake our pupils dilate to see better, our heart rate increases dramatically propelled by adrenaline so we can run quickly and our breath quickens. Unfortunately our digestive, urinary, bowel and reproductive systems get cut off. There is no need to reproduce or go to the bathroom when all of our energy needs to be expended in order to survive and flee as quickly as possible.
How this translates to modern day time is that our stressors are constant and overwhelming. The modern conveniences push us to do more, work more, be more. The intensity of the daily news is so traumatic one can’t help but be stressed by the devastating news of the world at large. We are constantly answering phones, texts, emails, paper mail just to get out the door in the morning and get our real work done. We are constantly bombarded by advertisers, telemarketers, politicians, local business men and women, churches, schools, and neighbors, to give, drive, celebrate and donate. We have accepted this as the way of life but it costly us all dearly in our health, weight, emotional well-being and our fertility.
We often run out the door with coffee sloshing in our mugs taxing our adrenals and slowing blood flow to our reproductive organs. Maybe a handful of crackers are shoved haphazardly in our mouths as we race down the road to sit in traffic and ward off maniac drivers. Then we turn on the radio to be bombarded with talk and gossip and dread. We rush into our offices only to find our irritated boss with a deadline to meet and a pay cut delivered and it’s only 7:30 a.m. The madness must stop. We all need to slow down, calm ourselves and take a good look at our lives to discover how we can reduce stress thereby improving our reproductive successes.
Here is a list of suggestions of how to reduce stress:
Work no more than 40 hours a week
Always plan something fun on the weekends
Exercise is a priority not a luxury
Swap Coffee for Green Tea or Teccino (herbal non caffeinated coffee substitute)
Learn to Meditate or Buy a Mind Body CD
Pray
Enjoy laughter with girlfriends
Make Love when you are NOT fertile
Love your job or change careers
Turn off your TV
Go on a news fast
Have lavender aroma therapy at home, work and your car
Listen to classical music
Learn to Belly Breathe
Get Acupuncture Even if your OBGYN says “You are Fine” Unexplained infertility responds well
Take a yoga Class
Spend time only with people who nourish you; avoid those who don’t
Rent a funny movie
Join Resolve (the non-profit that helps couples who have a hard time conceiving or staying pregnant)
Just say no to baby showers
Let it go
Use an ovulation predictor kit (clear blue easy around $200 is more helpful than just the wands)
Know that what you are going through is one of the hardest things any human can face but you will get through this so try to find the gems in the journey: meeting fabulous people, rediscovering compassion through your own suffering, a stronger relationship with
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