On December 19, 2009, my husband PJ and I started a new chapter in our infertility journey. After approximately 2 years of trying to get pregnant our OB/GYN decided that seeking the help of a reproductive endocrinologist was our only hope of starting a family. After much research we found Dr. Kort at Reproductive Biology Associates. We had harvested 9 eggs and only 5 of those 9 eggs fertilized and became healthy embryo. On the 1st embryo transfer we decided to transfer one embryo. We were devastated to find out that our 1st embryo transfer was unsuccessful. On 02/07/2010 we had our second embryo transfer. We decided to transfer 2 embryos to increase our chance of getting pregnant. On April 23, 2010 we found out we were pregnant and all the numbers looked fantastic. To say we were ecstatic was an understatement. On May 10, 2010 we went in for our 1st ultrasound. The ultrasound showed two embryos with no heartbeats. We felt like we had hit a brick wall.
After two failed attempts at invitro, our anxiety levels were through the roof. We had only two embryos left and no financial resources to go through another round if the transfer of those two embryos was unsuccessful. I started doing some research and consulting with friends who had been through the invitro process. Everything I was reading kept pointing me to acupuncture. I am a nurse so Western medicine is more my thing and I was clueless about any alternative medical treatments such as acupuncture. However, it was at this point after much research that acupuncture started making sense and feeling like the path we needed to take. The studies were showing that acupuncture has been shown to increase optimism, reduce anxiety and improve the flow of energy and balance certain body chemicals which can increase fertility success rates by up to 65%. I also found a really good article on Celine Dion and how her and her husband had turned to acupuncture after undergoing her sixth unsuccessful invitro fertilization attempt. Celine Dion successfully delivered twins after her first invitro fertilization attempt combined with acupuncture. A friend of mine also had multiple failed attempts at invitro and decided to try acupuncture. She also delivered a healthy set of twins after one attempt of invitro fertilization combined with acupuncture. After all my research I decided to give acupuncture a shot. I did lots more research on acupuncture doctors and decided that I wanted to meet Dr. McDonald. At my first appointment with Dr. McDonald, I immediately knew that he was the perfect doctor to facilitate a healthy and successful pregnancy. He was very smart, kind and caring. I had my 1st acupuncture session on 08/11/2010. When I left Dr. McDonald’s office I felt different. I cannot even begin to describe the sense of calm that I felt after that 1st acupuncture treatment. Here we were facing the possibility that we may never have children of our own and suddenly my constant angst is gone. My husband and I could not believe it and I continued acupuncture for two months.
On October 10, 2010 I went and saw Dr. McDonald and then made my way to Atlanta for my 3rd and final embryo transfer. I went into it knowing God, Dr. McDonald and Dr. Kort had this, and that we would be bringing a baby home from the hospital soon. On July 2, 2011 I delivered a healthy 8lb 11oz baby girl. She has been the light of our lives, and I am forever grateful to Dr. McDonald for his amazing knowledge and compassion that helped bring our baby girl home to us. I truly believe that without acupuncture we would still be childless.
—-Brooks Shippey—-
