What to Expect at your first Acupuncture visit
At Nurture, we see quite a few women that have never been to a chiropractor or an acupuncturist. We love that women come to see us for their first visit and do everything we can to make the initial visit relaxing and comfortable! Prior to coming in, we will send you intake forms to fill out which includes information like why you're coming in, any past medical history, previous procedures or treatments, nutrition, etc. During your visit, Dr. Merkel will go over these forms with you, perform a physical exam, come up with a treatment plan specifically for you, and discuss any questions or concerns you might have.
Most first-time patients are a little nervous about the acupuncture needles. Don't worry!! This is absolutely normal. Dr. Merkel will walk you through exactly what points she will use and let you know ahead of time if a point is known to be more tender than others. Acupuncture needles are very fine, unlike what we typically think of as needles, and most of the time you feel the initial tap and then you may feel an ache or a slight pinch. Depending on what you coming in for, Dr. Merkel will let you rest for 15-45 minutes. Generally for first time patients, the actual acupuncture treatment lasts about 20-25 minutes. She will then come in and remove the needles and let you know when you're free to move.
Once your treatment is over, she will discuss your treatment plan specifically and go over any recommendations for you to do at home. She usually gives stretches and/or exercises, especially if you are pregnant or have a musculoskeletal complaint. We discuss treatment frequency as part of your treatment plan, but as a general recommendation, we recommend treatments of once per week during pregnancy and for women trying to get pregnant. For acute conditions, sometimes visits of up to twice a week are indicated to control inflammation and pain. Once symptoms are under control, we reduce visits back to once per week with a goal of monthly check-in wellness visits to maintain your progress. Acupuncture treatments build on the previous sessions; if you go too long between treatments, you can often times end up back at square one, wondering why you are not improving.
You may not start noticing the relaxing effects of acupuncture until your 2nd or 3rd visit. After this point, most of our patients doze off into what they refer to as "acu slumber" and wake up feeling relaxed and refreshed.
Common reasons women see us for acupuncture
General wellness
Hormone/cycle regulation
Fertility Challenges
Support throughout IVF and embryo transfer
Pregnancy discomforts - nausea, headache, musculoskeletal pain, anxiety
Labor preparation
Natural induction
Postpartum healing and recovery
We are always happy to answer any questions and LOVE giving people their very first acupuncture treatment.
Mercier Therapy and Fertility
Fertility
Statistics show that fertility challenges affect 15% of the reproductive-age population. This accounts for approximately 7.5 million people or 1 out of every 6 couples. Really common, right? Due to the high prevalence of these challenges, women and men are becoming more educated about their fertility and are realizing there are more options out there besides IVF. You have probably heard of many alternative and complementary approaches that treat infertility, with the most popular being acupuncture, abdominal massage, and yoga. In our practice, we see quite a few women that are experiencing fertility challenges and one of the most common threads is stress and anxiety. Calming the nervous system and re-connecting to your body plays an important role, not only in healing but hormone balance which is essential for healthy conception.
What is Mercier Therapy
Mercier Therapy is an alternative fertility treatment that can be utilized on it's own or as a complement to any other natural fertility treatment, or assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as IVF or IUI. Combining Mercier therapy with chiropractic, acupuncture, and/or other bodywork can be so emotionally AND physically healing that we often recommend combining treatments to our patients. Mercier Therapy is a safe and gentle, soft-tissue pelvic organ visceral manipulation technique that addresses scar tissue, adhesions, malalignment and/or decreased mobility of the pelvic and reproductive structures. Mobility plays an integral role in proper blood flow and optimal function of all structures in the body. By improving the mobility of any structure in the body, whether it’s a musculoskeletal structure or a uterus, you optimize and enhance the function of that structure. Many of the women who seek our support have a history of pelvic surgery or have conditions such as endometriosis or PCOS, potentially creating adhesions or scar tissue. Restrictions can affect the function of these organs and can cause pain, lack of blood flow, hormone imbalance, just to name a few, and can lead to a further cascade of effects that can diminish fertility.
How the protocol works
The Mercier Therapy protocol consists of 6 hours of therapy that is generally broken up into one-hour weekly sessions. We do offer treatment intensives consisting of 4 days of therapy for women who are traveling to see us from out of town or for those wanting to have the therapy work done prior to their stim start. One of the great things about this protocol is that it can be used as a stand alone treatment in and of itself or can be used to prepare for a medically assisted cycle. We consider this "training and preparation" similar to what you might do prior to running a marathon because, let's be honest, working through fertility challenges can feel like a life marathon with all of the ups and downs. In order to have the best possible race, you train both physically and emotionally. Most people would not run a marathon without adequate preparation and we think that preparing the body and the mind optimizes your chance at a successful first cycle. The moment the word 'fertility' is mentioned, the stress and tension affects a woman and her partner. In our experience, we have found that it is helpful to have someone knowledgeable and in your corner, walking through the entire process with you, answering questions about diet, lab results, prognosis, etc.
If you are struggling to conceive, here are a couple of reasons you should consider whether Mercier Therapy is for you:
Mercier Therapy has an 83% stand-alone success rate supporting women to conceive and can complement other fertility treatments
Mercier Therapy is restorative and therapeutic and creates space for healing, aiming to treat the root cause of fertility challenges
Mercier Therapy is individually tailored to each woman, depending on her specific history, symptoms, and goals
Mercier Therapy is beneficial for the following:
- Amenorrhea (lack of period)
- Anovulation
- Blocked fallopian tubes
- Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)
- Endometriosis
Infertility
- Ovarian function
- Painful intercourse
- Pelvic scarring from previous trauma or surgery ( laparoscopy, laparotomy, D&C, LEEP, abortion, cystocele or rectocele repair, cesarean section, or hysterectomy)
- PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
- Uterine Fibroids
- Follicle quality
Mercier Therapy™ completed an on-going four year medical study to show an 83% pregnancy success rate within one year of finishing the Shared Journey Fertility Program. The study concluded in September 2012 and was published in Midwifery Today, Spring 2013.
Mercier Therapy is a highly effective technique and even I am amazed at the results our patients have. One of the most common questions we receive is "Who is Mercier Therapy most beneficial for"? This is a difficult question to answer because we have seen positive results in so many of our patients. In our practice, we have treated women that:
- Have had difficulty conceiving naturally and wanted guidance and support
- Have had repeated unsuccessful IVF attempts and conceive naturally after the Mercier Therapy protocol
- Wanted to prepare the body prior to going through ART
- Decided to stop trying to conceive after multiple unsuccessful IVF attempts and wanted to heal the body only to conceive naturally after a protocol of Mercier Therapy
we are here to support you as you go through this process regardless of whether you are a patient in our office or not. please reach out if you have any questions.
Dr. Brook Merkel is a Chiropractic Physician and acupuncturist and is the founder of Nurture Women's Wellness
Blocked Tubes?
Quite a few women have inquired recently if Mercier Therapy is beneficial for blocked tubes so thought I would post since more women must be wondering as well. The short answer is Yes. Fallopian tubes can become blocked by adhesions/scar tissue that forms when the body heals from a previous surgery, infection, inflammation, or trauma. Adhesions and scar tissue are very binding and can prevent the fallopian tubes from functioning properly. Mercier Therapy can help reduce and sometimes eliminate these adhesions allowing the tubes to open and natural fertility to return.
For more questions, schedule your 15 minute complimentary consultation at 323. 863. 5154. We look forward to supporting you to get pregnant naturally!
What People with Infertility Want You to Know
If you have never experienced the emotional roller coaster of infertility, it can be easy to say something insensitive to someone who is struggling to get pregnant. And, while you may come from a good place and you are not intentionally saying something judgmental or hurtful, it doesn't mean we shouldn't learn how to react or have a conversation regarding fertility. 1 in 6 U.S. couples face difficulties conceiving so, it's quite likely you know someone that doesn't have kids but would like to, whether or not they choose to disclose that information.
"I bet you would be able to get pregnant if you could relax"
Telling someone to relax and 'let it happen' is, for lack of a better word, ridiculous. The mind-body connection is not to be disregarded but you cannot assume the reasons behind one's infertility nor can you assume what treatment options they may have already tried.
"Kids are such hard work, you're better off"
It may sound logical and comforting to a parent with little ones that a friend without kids does not have to deal with sleepless nights, cluster feeding, and toddler tantrums. However, this is an incredibly insensitive and hurtful statement. Those who are having fertility challenges are acutely aware of the parenting struggles that come with having kids and would happily deal with lack of sleep for a chance to get pregnant and have a baby.
Secondary infertility is real and also emotionally painful
Secondary infertility is when a couple has one child who was naturally conceived, is unable to get pregnant again. Couples with secondary infertility are generally told to 'be happy with what they have' and 'you should be happy, you have one healthy baby'. Secondary infertility should be treated with as much respect care as infertility.
Addressing Pelvic Pain and Infertility with Dr. Jennifer Mercier
Do any of you listen to podcasts? I've recently started listening to them while in the car and find it's a great way to learn new and exciting things I wouldn't otherwise have the time for. There are literally thousands of great ones ranging from motherhood to business to health. I especially like Bridgit Danner's podcast because she focuses on women's health - fertility, pregnancy, and lifestyle. One of her recent interviews was with Dr. Jennifer Mercier, the developer of the Mercier Therapy technique and it's an informative one, folks. If you're thinking about pregnancy, preparing for pregnancy, or trying to get pregnant, take a listen!! If you know anyone that might be interested, please share!
Mercier Therapy Helps Infertile Women Achieve Pregnancy
Dr. Brook is a certified Mercier Therapy Practitioner and is thrilled to be supporting women and their partners to conceive. Studies show Mercier Therapy is beneficial in helping couples achieve pregnancy. An on-going 4 year medical study was performed and demonstrates an 83% pregnancy success rate within one year of completing the Shared Journey Fertility Program. The study was completed in 2012 and was published in Midwifery Today, Spring 2013.