A vibrant, cheerful young woman, Vera epitomizes the Southern belle, according to Dr. Lewis who tells her story in the book The Infertility Cure. This attractive and petite woman had been unsuccessful at achieving pregnancy, and this lead to numerous unsuccessful adventures at concep­tion utilizing the techniques of Western medicine.

Vera had laparoscopic surgery because of painful periods and ovulation; she’d undergone hor­mone testing; and tried 6 months of the drug Clomid^rm to stimulate ovulation at the recommenda­tion of a doctor. As each procedure escalated in intensity and became more invasive she submitted to several cycles of intrauterine insemination and had one failed IVF (in vitro fertilization).

Growing discomfort with medical treatments brought her to the office of Dr. Lewis, where she was examined from a perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Dr. Lewis spent 4 years studying and practicing TCM in China and attributes her own successes with motherhood to this background. The Infertility Cure is one of her ways of sharing this information with everyone seek­ing to conceive.

A thorough examination of Vera’s condition lead Dr. Lewis to a diagnosis of hyperactivity (over activity) in her sympathetic nervous system. This was depriving the pelvic organs of blood flow. Twice a week Acupuncture was recommended to address the disharmony.

Dr. Lewis used traditional needle-type Acupuncture to address energy disturbances, reduce sym­pathetic dominance and to harmonize menstruation. Some electro-acupuncture to more strongly stimulate points in the lower back was also used. Vera was also introduced to self-administered femoral (upper leg) massage to increase blood flow to the uterus and ovaries.

“After beginning treatment, Vera’s next menstrual flow was heavier and without any pain,” says Dr. Lewis. The treatment was continued during the early phases of her next cycle of ovulation and changed only slightly about the time conception could occur. Dr. Lewis noted that 10 days after ovulation, Vera’s pulse became “rolling and lively.” This indicated to Dr. Lewis that Vera had con­ceived. This turned out to be true and months later Vera gave birth to a son!

Here is Dr. Lewis’s belief: “If you have been told you are infertile, I have one message for you: There is no such thing as infertility; it is a myth! Rarely have I met a woman of childbearing age with all her reproductive organs intact who isn’t capable of bearing children. As long as the anatomical structures are present, a medical diagnosis of “infertility” is often a fallacy. Many fac­tors can cause a woman to have difficulty conceiving, but once these factors are overcome and a woman’s body is restored to health, conception can occur naturally.” Acupuncture is one of the tools that helps bring this about!

Source: The Infertility Cure by Randine Lewis, Ph.D. Little, Brown and Company, New York, Boston, London. 2004.

A study of women with both back and pelvic pain showed that 60 percent who received Acupuncture treatment reported less intense pain, compared to 14 percent of women who did not. The study found no complications associated with the use of Acupuncture in pregnant women.

Back and pelvic pain can interfere with everything – work, recreation and even sleep. According to an updated review of eight studies involving 1,305 pregnant women from Sweden, Iran, Brazil, Thailand and Australia, more than two-thirds of pregnant women experience back pain and almost one-fifth report pelvic pain.

“When you’re pregnant, your center of gravity is off. You have to arch your back to balance this huge tummy, so you end up with extra strain on your back and pelvic muscles,” said Victoria Pennick, M.H.Sc., a senior clinical research project manager at the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto, Canada.

Although none of the eight studies reviewed addressed back or pelvic pain specifically, data on the effects of pregnancy-specific strengthening exercises, water exercises, Acupuncture and other pain-relief interventions to regular prenatal care were available.

“We were able to group trials about women who had back pain alone, women who had pelvic pain alone and both,” Pennick said.

The review authors found that women who participated in prenatal exercise programs to stretch the pelvic muscles, strengthen the abdominal and hamstring muscles and increase spinal flexibility reported significant decreases in back pain compared to women who received the usual prenatal care.

One study evaluated work absenteeism during pregnancy and found that only 12.9 percent who participated in water gymnastics missed work due to low back pain, compared with 21.7 percent who received usual prenatal care. Another study found good results from use of the “Ozzlo” pil­low, a soft curved cushion designed to support the pregnant abdomen when lying down, superior to a regular pillow in relieving back pain.

On average, women who followed through with pelvic or back pain interventions experienced some pain relief and reported less need for pain medication, physical therapy and posture-support belts.

SOURCE: Health Behavior News Service, May 2007, http://www.cfah.org/hbns/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1505

A fine case in point comes from the recent success of a mother-to-be in the Monterey, California, area. The 36-year-old woman who was 32 weeks pregnant received word from her obstetrician that her baby was in a high risk position in her womb. Ultrasound showed that the baby was actually turned a full 180 degrees from the normal head-down position.

Rather than face the possibility of a cesarean delivery, the woman sought the help of a chiropractor skilled in doing an adjustment that could turn the baby a full 180 degrees. The Doctor of Chiropractic consulted was skilled in an adjustment known as the Webster In-Utero Constraint Technique. (In-Utero refers to “intrauterine,” which means “occurring or situated within the uterus or womb.”)

Basically, what occurs is that forces external to the developing fetus obstruct its normal movement. These “constraints” can prevent the developing fetus from attaining a proper headdown position. Today, nearly 13% of all cesarean deliveries performed are due to this breech presentation.

The Webster Technique can be performed by a growing number of Chiropractors and involves specialized analytical knowledge and ability to make a series of correct adjustments. Analysis involves checking the proper relationship of the bones of the pelvic area.

The adjustment involves a 2-step process. Light force is applied to the sacrum (one of the pelvic bones) in Step 1. This is followed by an analysis of muscle tension or spasm in the stomach and relieving this in Step 2. Together, the causes of the constraints on the baby in the uterus that may lead to cesarean delivery are able to be relieved.

The California woman said this about her treatment, “I felt great relief after the first adjustment.” She received just two adjustments from her chiropractor. A new ultrasound showed the baby was now in the proper head-down position. “Immediately after the first treatment I felt he moved,” the woman said.

It should be noted that for this treatment to produce the proper results it should be done prior to the 34th week of delivery. After that time, success rates have been shown to decline.

Source: http://www.kidchiropractic.com and The World Chiropractic Alliance http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/2001/aug/aug2001l.htm

A study of women with both back and pelvic pain showed that 60 percent who received Acupuncture treatment reported less intense pain, compared to 14 percent of women who did not.The study found no complications associated with the use of Acupuncture in pregnant women.

Back and pelvic pain can interfere with everything – work, recreation and even sleep. According to an updated review of eight studies involving 1,305 pregnant women from Sweden, Iran, Brazil, Thailand and Australia, more than two-thirds of pregnant women experience back pain and almost one-fifth report pelvic pain.

“When you’re pregnant, your center of gravity is off. You have to arch your back to balance this huge tummy, so you end up with extra strain on your back and pelvic muscles,” said Victoria Pennick, M.H.Sc., a senior clinical research project manager at the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto, Canada.

Although none of the eight studies reviewed addressed back or pelvic pain specifically, data on the effects of pregnancy-specific strengthening exercises, water exercises, Acupuncture and other pain-relief interventions to regular prenatal care were available.

“We were able to group trials about women who had back pain alone, women who had pelvic pain alone and both,” Pennick said.

The review authors found that women who participated in prenatal exercise programs to stretch the pelvic muscles, strengthen the abdominal and hamstring muscles and increase spinal flexibility reported significant decreases in back pain compared to women who received the usual prenatal care.

One study evaluated work absenteeism during pregnancy and found that only 12.9 percent who participated in water gymnastics missed work due to low back pain, compared with 21.7 percent who received usual prenatal care. Another study found good results from use of the “Ozzlo” pillow, a soft curved cushion designed to support the pregnant abdomen when lying down, superior to a regular pillow in relieving back pain.

On average, women who followed through with pelvic or back pain interventions experienced some pain relief and reported less need for pain medication, physical therapy and posture-support belts.

SOURCE: Health Behavior News Service, May 2007, http://www.cfah.org/hbns/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1505

When Christine Malone’s pregnancy was taking what her medical doctor thought was too long, he decided to induce labor. The drug Dr. Roger Anderson chose to use was one the manufacturer explicitly warned should never be used for that purpose.

According to the Physician’s Desk Reference, Cytotec® was approved by the FDA for the treatment of ulcers. It is never to be used in pregnancy as it can cause abortion and pregnancy complications resulting in maternal and fetal death.

As a result, Ian’s short life was downright tragic. He suffered severe brain damage at birth. His problems included not being able to hold his head up, suck, swallow or gag properly, and he required 16 hours or more of nursing care daily. He got nutrition through a feeding tube in his abdomen, breathed with a ventilator, took medication daily to prevent seizures and needed a sedative to sleep.

That the drug Cytotec was administered to Ian’s mother was a definite blunder. Equally disturbing is the fact that the obstetrician, Roger Andersen, was even allowed to be practicing medicine at the time of the incident. He had an open investigation against him by the state of Washington, and his work privileges had previously been restricted by his hospital, Providence Seattle Medical Center. He had been required to participate in a monitoring and proctoring program regarding his obstetrical patients. He had also received repeated warnings regarding his failure to establish safety protocols for his midwife patient referrals, which Christine was.

Dylan and Christine Malone, Ian’s parents, have undergone much personal sacrifice in their crusade to bring greater attention to medical malpractice issues. They want to ensure that other families do not suffer through the same kind of negligence that stopped Ian’s life so short. They have created a website, www.babyian.com, to share Ian’s story and to educate the public about healthcare reform.

SOURCE: www.centerjd.org/stories/Malone%20Obit.html