Myself (34) and my Husband (32) had been trying unsuccessfully to conceive for two and a half years. For the first year we were not too concerned, but after that I decided to go to the Doctor. The Doctor took various blood tests for thyroid problems or hormone deficiencies etc, all which came back as being normal.
My Husband had a sperm analysis done, which was also normal. I had a 28 day cycle and ovulated right on cue on day 14 every month. However, my periods had been very light since coming off the pill. They would only last 2 days max and while they came every month, some months were extremely light.
The next step for us was to attend a fertility clinic. Around the same time I heard about Siobhán through a friend and although I was sceptical at first, I decided to go and see her.
In the meantime I had an internal scan done at the fertility clinic, which showed up no blockages or abnormalities in my reproductive system. They suggested we have IUI and we agreed, but decided to leave it a few months as we had a lot on.
As we had about six months before starting treatment, I attended Siobhán's clinic on a regular basis. I always found her to be friendly and straight talking, and it made more sense than the Doctors! She said my body had stagnation that needed to be cleared before I could get pregnant and that it would take her about six months to sort it out. She gave me herbs to boil up and put me on high does of Spirulina and Barley grass. My Husband took these also. While the herbs are not very pleasant to take, there was no point half committing to it! So I took them as instructed. For the next three months my periods were a little heavier.
On the fourth month, for the first time since I went on the pill (I'd been on it over 10 years), I got really bad period pain and a heavy period that lasted nearly a week. I actually felt faint and in pain for the full first day. I wondered was this what my period was going to be like from now on?!
Well that was the last period I had - I am now 8 months pregnant with our first baby and literally counting down the minutes until his/her arrival! One of the first things I did after I got the positive test was to book an appointment to see Siobhán. She said my body had just cleared itself of the stagnation, I had more healthy blood flow which was what needed to happen.
I have continued to attend her clinic throughout my pregnancy and I continue to take the spirulina and barley grass. I haven't been sick at all, and my energy levels have been great all the way through pregnancy. I put this down to a combination of the tablets and the acupuncture.
I find Siobhán's treatment a great reassurance during what could be a very stressful time, a first pregnancy and I will continue to attend right up until I give birth. I will be eternally grateful to Siobhán and will never forget the feeling of ringing the fertility clinic to cancel our treatment!
M, Enniscorthy