On the eve of the birth of my first child, I find it important to reflect and give gratitude to the people who played an intricate part of my success. I first came to Yinstill on August 12th, 2013 after a laproscopy and miscarriage. I had been told that, at 37, I had little to no chance of successfully carrying a baby to term because of low egg quality and quantity. Needless to say, I was crushed but decided to give IVF and acupuncture a try regardless of the odds.
My first visit with Dr Spence Pentland was full of nerves and ambiguity. I knew I had nothing to lose but could never have imagined how valuable and crucial my treatment over the the next few years would be. He put me immediately at ease, and in my first session, despite a fear of needles, I felt as if I had already let go of something. It’s hard to explain, but I came home feeling rejuvenated. My first IVF worked, despite all the medical statistics stacked against us.
Dr Pentland saw me through two more IVF retrievals as I banked what eggs I could. Each one of those was more successful then the last, with better quality and higher numbers. It truly was a miracle given my diagnosis of having no chance.
Dr Pentland listened intently to my fears, offered the best counsel and cared for me with a deep compassion I did not receive from other members of my infertility journey. He was instrumental in helping me not only stay focused but also remain positive in the face of great diversity. Acupuncture I absolutely attribute to my continuous success.
On my fourth retrieval we decided to do a fresh transfer. It was also at this time that I met Junko as Dr Pentland went away on leave. I was reluctant to pass my care on to someone else, but found Junko to be equally as capable in her abilities and in her compassion for my situation.
After the first transfer failed, I broke down, completely devastated. Perhaps all the doctors were right and this whole venture was fruitless. If not for Junko, I would have given up. Not only with words of encouragement, but also with a reminder that although it didn’t likely make sense right then, I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I’ll never forget the warmth I felt that day and the words that carried me back from a deep darkness, and will forever be indebted.
Ironically, three weeks later and one week before my 40th birthday, I discovered I had become pregnant naturally. I continued to visit Junko through the first 12 weeks of my pregnancy to help baby stay with us. I have now seen Junko in these final days for inducement and after each appointment felt amazingly relaxed. I’m entering into labour and delivery feeling strong and confident thanks to her.
To say that the care and services of the staff at Yinstill were paramount to my success would be an understatement. They are like a family. And while it might take a village to raise a child, in my case it took this family to make one.
