CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The stress of trying to have a baby can take a toll on a woman physically and mentally. Many women have been struggling for years. But for patients at Conner Hall Health, a university hospital, there is an approach that can help them get pregnant, have a successful baby, and even postpartum.
Not too long ago, the idea of a family of four seemed out of reach for Katie Collins.
She had an uncomplicated pregnancy and gave birth to her first child, then suffered two late miscarriages.
“Once I got through the first trimester, I thought I would be okay. I had no idea what the problem was. My husband and I were both so sad that we thought we would never be able to do it again.” Collins said.
During the once again delicate first weeks of pregnancy, Katie worked with her doctor at University Hospital Connor Hall in Beachwood, which focuses on pre- and post-pregnancy health through integrative therapies such as nutrition, exercise, stress management and acupuncture. – Seeked help from health team. .
“It was a week-by-week approach, like, ‘Okay, we’ve made it this far this week.’ It never felt like there was a safe point. Every time I went to the doctor, I was wondering if I was going to have a heartbeat. ” she said.
So Katie started acupuncture to increase her chances of success.
Christine Kaiser is the Conner Endowed Director of Reproductive Wellbeing. She says any woman trying to conceive can benefit from lifestyle changes.
“Eat healthier, sleep better, manage stress, exercise more, and all these things we talk about at Connor Hall Health, but especially for those who may be struggling to conceive. A woman, or a woman who has had a miscarriage, will want to work on optimizing her health for her next pregnancy,” Kaiser said.
During the session, Kaiser said acupuncture stimulates the body and creates positive changes.
“So we’re looking for changes that improve blood flow to the reproductive organs so they can function better, or improve the relaxation of the nervous system. , you want to switch to a parasympathetic state where you can digest, heal, and relax,” she said.
“I felt like I was doing extra things to help my body as much as it could,” Collins said.
After the session, Katie said she was able to sleep better, her digestive system felt better, and she felt less stressed and anxious.
“If I had hip pain, it seemed like it would get better. If it was just a cold, it would get better faster,” Collins said.
She said she believes in this whole-health approach to conception and pregnancy.
“I felt like I had some really great teammates in my corner and they were going to help me out. I hope it turns out to be a success,” Collins said.
“Surprisingly, acupuncture is very relaxing. Most of my patients take a nap and feel very happy and relaxed after the session,” Kaiser said.
“I’m not afraid of needles and I’m never afraid to try something new. So I thought I’d give it a try, and it didn’t hurt.” she said.
Katie says her family is finally complete after the birth of her baby girl, Kit.
“I think she’s a miracle. I think both of my children are miracles in a way that I didn’t realize before,” she said.
The Conner College of Whole Health team says the benefits of acupuncture extend to postpartum patients as well, supporting breastfeeding issues, stress and sleep issues, and post-operative care after a C-section. .
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