I had been working with this lovely patient for about 5 months before she conceived. She originally came to me after experiencing a miscarriage from which she had conceived naturally. After the miscarriage, her usually regular periods became long and irregular. She and her husband had been trying to get pregnant again for months without success. She visited her gynecologist and was told her AMH level was very low at 0.1, at this point she reached out to me to seek Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine and also made an appointment to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist to consider IVF.

At her initial appointment we discussed her medical & menstrual history and took a close look at her lifestyle & diet. We examined what factors may be contributing to her fertility issues and identified some significant stressors in her life. She had a very busy work schedule and as a result she had developed unhealthy and irregular eating habits like skipping meals and frequently eating quick unintentional meals. This lead to an overall lack of nutrition and big drops and spikes in her blood sugar, which contributed to her hormonal imbalance and negatively effected her fertility. We discussed the importance of eating regular meals and I gave her specific diet and lifestyle suggestions to optimize her fertility.

Over the next 3-4 months she took her diet and lifestyle changes to heart and put them into action. She was intentional about reducing her stress and making more time for rest. She changed her diet to include regular meals focusing on high quality proteins and lots of vegetables, and reduced her consumption of quick processed foods. She also started walking regularly. She got regular acupuncture treatments and consistently took the herbal medicine formula I had prescribed for her.

Just a of couple weeks before she was scheduled to start IVF, this beautiful momma conceived naturally!!!

The take away lesson we can learn from this case is that lab tests and measurements are merely a snapshot in time. High stress, poor diet and lifestyle will effect your fertility negatively and we can often see a poor lifestyle reflected in fertility blood work. Doctors often tell patients that there is nothing they can do to change these numbers and that their only option is synthetic hormones and harsh medications leaving the patient feeling disempowered and sometimes helpless. This is not the right message to pass on. 

One of the things I love the most about being an Acupuncturist is that I get to spend so much time with my patients. I do so much more than "stick needles in people." I take a significant amount of time getting to know my patients with a two hour initial visit. Based on the information I gather from the first visit I make my diagnosis, pick my herbal formula(s), and write up a report that explains the patient's diagnosis to them in detail so that they understand how I am seeing their pattern and what they can do to bring that picture into more balance. I outline a treatment plan and give diet and lifestyle suggestions to improve overall health and optimize fertility. This approach puts the power directly in the patient's hands and gives them the tools to manage a healthy lifestyle for years to come.

Trust in your body's ability to heal. Diet and lifestyle have a major impact on your overall health and when adjusted appropriately the body can often heal itself. Proper diet and lifestyle lays the foundation for your health. You may still need some help to conceive but never think that those healthy changes you are making are not helping even if you don't see immediate results. When we add acupuncture and herbs to a healthy diet and lifestyle your treatments are more effective and last longer because they have than healthy foundation to hang on to. Your body loves being loved.
​
In conclusion, I want to say that there are many factors that can lead to fertility struggles and not everyone is able to conceive naturally, even when they are leading a very healthy lifestyle. I work with both women, men and couples who are trying to conceive whether naturally or in combination with IUI or IVF and I always say, "There is no wrong way to get pregnant, there is no wrong way to get the baby out, and there is no wrong way to feed your baby."

​Each journey is unique and that is OKAY. The important thing is to learn to stay connected to your body's innate wisdom, your body's ability to heal, and the profound impact you can have on your own wellbeing when you have the right tools and are intentional about caring for yourself. 

Sending you love & strength,
Meghan

 
The holidays bring up many mixed emotions. There are feelings of excitement, joy and love but his time of year can also stir up a lot of stress, anxiety and sadness. If you’re struggling to conceive or have experienced pregnancy loss it can be a particularly difficult time.
 
The holidays are hyper focused on children and family. With so much expectation to feel genuine joy around the holidays this can be a very difficult time of year if you’re struggling with fertility issues, grief and loss. Your extended family may or may not know about your struggles to conceive and even the most innocent comments can cut like a knife. Christmas cards, family photos and letters that update you on your friend’s and families’ lives are well intentioned and appreciated but can be a constant reminder that you’re still waiting for your little one…
 
Here are a few things you can do to take good care of yourself this season:
 

1. Get grounded. When you’re grounded in body and mind, you’re present. Take some quiet time to get centered before family gatherings. Practice meditating 5-10 minutes in the morning or at night (try the free meditation app Insight Timer). Attend a restorative yoga class, bundle up and take a walk around the lake, get some bodywork, make sure to get enough sleep and eat nourishing meals. Taking care of yourself will help you to feel more grounded and better equipped to establish healthy boundaries this holiday season.
   
   
2. Get real. Just remember that despite the season, you are ALWAYS entitled to feel how you really feel. Put cultural and seasonal expectations aside and give yourself permission to be exactly where you are. Take some quite time to check in with yourself and let your true feelings come up. If you feel joy that’s great, if you feel sad acknowledge those feelings and make space for them. Unexpressed grief often comes out as anxiety, irritability and detachment, which can make it difficult to feel connected to those we love. Make time for open and honest conversations with your partner and don’t be afraid to seek out a counselor to help you through the hard times. *PHA Wellness has a great team of counselors who specialize in fertility, grief and loss. Contact info: 612-296-3800 | phawellness.com 
   
   
3. Give yourself permission to say, “NO.” You don’t have to attend every party and gift exchange you’re invited to. Let go of that sense of obligation and fear of missing out. Choose the gatherings you REALLY want to go to and give a big fat NO thanks to the rest. When you force yourself to do things you don’t want to do, the people around you pick up on your energy. So, honor your needs and opt out if it doesn’t feel like fun.
   
   
4. Disengage in social media. Social media is ever present in our lives and plays a huge role in creating unrealistic expectations of constant happiness and perfection. Images are very powerful and it’s easy to forget that the things you see and read on social media are most often just contrived moments in time. Any mommy blogger with 5 kids dressed perfectly and a spotless house is a total bull-shitter. Images of perfect families are hard to digest when the picture at home looks different. Try to remember that you don’t know everyone’s story. Pregnancy announcements may or may not come with a loaded backstory. At least 1 in 8 couples are struggling with fertility issues, so even if it looks like it “just happened” it might not be true. I fully encourage you to do a massive ‘unfollow’ on all of your social media accounts. Pay close attention to how you feel when you look at different personal and business accounts and delete anything that doesn’t add value. I delete accounts immediately when I notice feeling bad about myself or my life. If it’s a friend or family member and you don’t want to offend just hide their feed.
   
   
5. Get support from someone who truly understands. Your friends and family may have the best intentions of providing you with love and support but no one can truly understand how it feels to struggle with fertility better than someone who’s been through it. Fruitful Fertility was founded by wonder woman, Elyse Ash. After experiencing her own fertility struggles Elyse was inspired to create a free support system to match people who are trying to conceive with mentors who have been through the struggle and made it through to the other side. The mentors at Fruitful Fertility know the deep pain of struggling with infertility. They are there to listen with a compassionate and understanding ear, to remind you that you’re not crazy, and to be your personal cheerleader as you navigate your way through the path of becoming a parent. Check Fruitful Fertility out here: fruitfulfertility.org

 
I hope these tips help get you through the holiday season. Remember to be gentle with yourself and to take time to find joy in the little things. Come back to your breath and the present moment as often as possible. Trust the timing of your life and honor your unique journey. You are truly amazing and you really are doing a wonderful job- I promise.

And with that, I’m sending you lots of love, support and light as we transition into the New Year!
 
Meghan
 ​

 
Q: “I’ve been feeling so anxious and irritable lately. What is my problem? I have no idea what’s wrong with me.”
 
A: In my personal life, and through working with many women who experience anxiety, I have come to believe that anxiety and irritability can often present as surface emotions that result from repressed grief.
 
Here’s a personal story I want to share with you…
 
Over the summer my Grandmother passed away. I knew it would be hard to lose her, but I tried to tell myself that it would be okay. She lived a long life, she had a loving family, she was old and she was ready to go…
 
When I got the news that she had passed away, I was on a date with my husband. We were sitting in the sun on a beautiful patio enjoying dinner. Immediately, tears flooded my eyes but I pushed them back. I was in public and didn’t want people to see me crying. At her funeral, I was surrounded with family. We cried, shared memories of her, and felt the heartbreak of losing someone who was so very special to us.
 
After her funeral, I returned to work and my regular routine right away. Life moves so quickly that I didn’t really have time to grieve. As the days passed, I felt myself becoming more and more anxious and irritable. I was snapping at my family, my heart felt like it was pounding out of my chest, my thoughts were racing and scattered. I was exhausted but couldn’t fall asleep at night. I felt like a terrible mess.
 
I remember saying to myself, “What is wrong with me?! I don’t even know what my problem is!” I started to go down that ugly road of beating myself up in my head. 
 
But then I stopped…
 
I got out my yoga mat. My thought was maybe I just needed to do some yoga to calm down. I stood there for a minute trying to get up the motivation to move my body. Suddenly, I felt exhausted and just laid down on my mat.
 
Then, the tears came. My first instinct was to stop them, push them down and get on with my day. But I didn’t. This time, I let them come. First just a tear or two fell down my face. Before I knew it, an ocean opened up inside me, and I sobbed and sobbed for the deep loss that I felt.
 
As I cried, I began to realize I was not only crying about losing my Grandmother, but also about other past hurts and difficult losses I had not given enough time or attention to. I let myself cry for a long time that day. I decided this time I would allow myself as much time to grieve as I needed. I wouldn’t put any timeline or expectations on when I was supposed to feel better.
 
Over the summer, I spent many days just letting tears fall whenever they came. I was gentle with myself. I allowed myself to let some things go undone and I said “no” to things I would have typically felt obligated to do. I took time to sit with my grief and let things be just as they were.
 
As the weeks past I eventually began to feel better, not perfect, but better. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from me. It was such a sense of relief. It felt like I could breathe again. My anxiety was gone, I was sleeping better and I was being gentle with my family and myself. Yes, I was sad. But sadness softens with time, and I knew I would be okay. 
 
Mother Moon exists because I wanted to create a place for true and genuine healing for the body, mind and spirit. I think one of the most important parts of healing is being willing to be honest with yourself. You have to learn to be kind and loving towards yourself. This is a skill we develop over time, with practice.
 
Healing is not always pretty; sometimes it’s downright ugly for a while. But it’s all part of the process…and that’s okay. Grief can be a scary thing to explore. Sometimes it feels like if you really let yourself go there, you might never come back…but you will. There are always hidden treasures, growth and great beauty in grief.
 
Here are a few tips for working with grief and anxiety:
 

• Get curious about your anxiety rather than trying to run away from it. Ask yourself, “What thought, event or conversation triggered this feeling?” Make time to check in with yourself and be honest about what’s coming up. Keep asking yourself questions until you get to the core of the issue.

 

• Be gentle and compassionate with yourself. Notice how you’re talking to yourself. If you wouldn’t say those words to your very best friend, then DO NOT say them to yourself! Replace harsh thoughts with kind, compassionate and loving encouragement.

 

• Expect less of yourself. In one of my very favorite books, “The Women Who Run with The Wolves,” the author, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés discusses how traditionally, women wear veils when they’re grieving. The veil provides protection from the outside world and stands as a reminder to others and herself that she is grieving, and therefore shouldn’t be pressured to keep up with usual expectations. You can do something as simple as tie a piece of string around your wrist or wear a certain color to remind yourself to take it easy.

 

• Invest in your health and well-being. You are worth it! Book that massage, get regular acupuncture treatments, take your herbs, go to yoga, and listen to a guided meditation. These practices help keep you strong, healthy and resilient.

 

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Counseling can be very helpful when dealing with complex and difficult emotions.  PHA Wellness in South Minneapolis is a wonderful clinic specializing in supporting women who are struggling with fertility issues, and also provides counseling support for a variety of other issues.

 

• Eat well, exercise and get plenty of rest. This is your foundation for a healthy life. Never underestimate the power of healthy food, sleep and movement.

 
Sharing our stories shines light into dark places…
 
One of the most amazing parts of my job is that I get the honor of hearing so many women’s stories. Hearing your stories always leaves me in awe of how strong and resilient women are. It reminds me that we are not alone in our struggles.
 
Are you interested in participating in a free Fertility Support Group at Mother Moon? 
 
I’ve been thinking about creating a support group for Mother Moon patients struggling with fertility and sexual health. I would love to know if any of you are interested in connecting with other strong and amazing women at Mother Moon. I think it would be amazing if you had to opportunity to meet each other, share your stories and inspire one another as much as you have inspired me!
 
Here are a few ideas I’m kicking around: 

• Monthly discussion topic
• Guest speakers
• Fertility recipe share
• Fertility and menstrual health yoga, guided meditation, breathwork, etc.

I want us to build this together. I would LOVE to hear any ideas you have!
 
In health,

Meghan

This formula is for a patient who is trying to conceive. It supports the reproductive (kidney) energy, improves digestion, and has calming herbs to soothe anxiety. 

Raw herbal formulas are valuable because we have the ability to build a formula that is specific for the patient's individual needs.

When treating fertility we often change the formula based on where a woman is in her cycle. There are four phases of the cycle: Period | Follicular | Ovulation | Luteal. This formula is for support during the luteal phase. 

Artist unknown- please comment if you know!

Sometimes life brings us storms, situations we can't understand, pain, difficulties and struggles that never seem to end. 

At times like these it's helpful to tune into this...exact...moment...

Ask yourself "is everything okay RIGHT...NOW...?"- The answer is almost always yes. 

Tune into your breath, notice how wonderful it feels to simply breath.

Listen to the sounds around you. Allow yourself to be fully present in the moment. 

It's such a relief to just be here now. You can drop the pain and suffering of the past, you can let go of your fear and anxieties about the future. 

Right now, in this very moment is where you live. You live in the moment that you sip your tea, watch the rain falling on the trees, with every step you take on this beautiful earth. Each breath you take is a precious gift in itself. This very moment we are surrounded by infinite beauty and perfection, the challenge is to slow down enough to notice.