Pregnancy Patient Stories

Five years later and on my third pregnancy

I started seeing Rachelle at the end of my first pregnancy for carpal tunnel syndrome in my wrists. I had been struggling at my desk job and my maternity doctor recommended I try acupuncture to relieve my symptoms. After researching various acupuncturists, I made an appointment with Rachelle and it was the best decision…

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Our wait for a family was shortened

“I was referred to Elements of Health for acupuncture while awaiting fertility consultations. Rachelle was so knowledgeable, professional, caring and understanding! It is because of her that our wait for a family was shortened as she was able to help identify our issue and suggest further blood work investigation as we waited to see doctors. I could not be more grateful to her and this office!” ~ CR

Morning sickness & cervical ripening for a home birth of a 3rd child

“Thank you for all of your support these last few weeks and in the early months of my pregnancy as well. I think the acupuncture helped with encouraging my labour along, but also gave me a chance to connect inwards in the last few weeks of my pregnancy when it was really hard-going for me. I appreciate that time now looking back from the other side.” ~T

Breech Baby

Thank you so much for your kindness and excellent treatment while I was going through some very hard times. It was only a month after I started seeing you that I became pregnant after two years of trying! Then again, you were able to help me turn my baby when all my doctors told me she would stay breech. What you do is truly amazing and I’m so glad to have come under your care. Thank you. ~A.R

Vaginal Birth After Cesearean

“Thank you again for your support and compassion. I consider you part of the “team” that helped me to realize my VBAC goal, particularly when it looked like the odds were stacking up (being several days past my “due date”) and my own confidence was starting to shake. I am so grateful to know people like yourself.” ~RW

Acupuncture and Mindfulness support to have “a beautiful c-section delivery

Thank you again for all your kind words and thoughts during my appointments with you. I am not a religious woman but I do believe we meet people for a reason throughout our lives. I want you to know that your words helped me through a very stressful 4 days of labour… You said: “sometimes you just have to surrender”. Nothing about my labour was what I had expected as I was so healthy and thought I would have a “normal” labour. It was far far from that. I had a hard time excepting that and it seemed like nothing was ever going “right”…

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Positive Second Birth Experience

I have to tell you that one of your readings was one thing that helped me have the natural labour experience I wanted. It was the reading about the coach who was riding his bike along a stretch of road with many potholes and how he had to just focus on the pothole in front of him and not all of the ones in the distance. I actually visualized myself riding a bike and each contraction being the pothole right in front of me. Thank you so much! ~ JM

Post Labour Back Pain

If you are looking for an acupuncturist…I cannot recommend Julia enough! I am a massage therapist in town and have had a lot of experience with acupuncture from various practitioners. Julia came highly recommended after I experienced debilitating back pain post labour. I was trying everything to alleviate my pain and return to being a normal functioning new mom. After my first treatment, I literally got off the table with 90% less pain…

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Labour Prep for arrival of 2nd child

I wanted to let you know we welcomed our healthy baby boy Arlo into the family in the early hours of Jan 11th. I saw you last on the 9th, my due date, and then saw Lorna in the afternoon on the 10th. At that point my cervix was 3cm and still a little firm. Following our visit I had mild regular contractions and went to bed that night not sure if this was it, but woke @ 1am with strong and long contractions. Arlo came @ 3:43am! Unfortunately my placenta did not….

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Pre-natal Massage and Acupuncture

I had a horrendous experience with my first child – a 3 day labour and complications of an undelivered placenta following the delivery (in England). As a result I waited over 3 years to get pregnant again and was so worried about a repeat that my doctor recommended Elements of Health for cervical ripening acupuncture and pregnancy massage therapy for relaxation…

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Pre and post-natal care

Dear Stephanie and Jonna, My husband and I attended your Acupressure Workshop in February, and I also attended your clinic a few times to help turn my breech baby. I wanted to drop you a line to let you know that we had a baby girl on March 17th at 11:33am, 7.3 lbs. We had a planned C-Section scheduled for 9:30am on the 17th because she was still in the breech position. I ended up going into labour at 3:00am on the 17th…it seems that she liked the planned date better than her due date (which was today, the 25th). While at the hospital we discovered that she had turned into a head down position…

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Induction

Thank you for your part in the birth of our precious little boy. I don’t think we could have waited another day! ~ SA

Pre and post-natal care

Since I discovered Stephanie and Chinese medicine, I have sought her care, advice, and attention for pretty much every pre and post-natal issue that has popped up – from varicose veins, fatigue and anxiety, to preparation for labour, mastitis, and rebuilding strength post-partum. Stephanie is gifted at delivering acupuncture and other Chinese medicine techniques while holding a caring, quiet space. I have found her help invaluable on my journey through three healthy pregnancies and two smooth home deliveries…

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Headaches, insomnia, nausea and hip pain

(Infertility patient who continued treatments through pregnancy)
I continued receiving acupuncture throughout my pregnancy for general prenatal support and treatment of various ailments – nausea, hip soreness, headaches and sleeplessness among them. It was a significant help. At nine months pregnant, I received treatment to position the baby and “ripen” the cervix, which I partially attribute to the smooth delivery of our son, who was born at home after just five hours of laboring. ~ NP

Breech

I just wanted to write to you and let you know that the ultrasound we had last week verified that the baby has turned. Thanks so much for all your help! ~ KL

Nausea, backache, hip pain

(Infertility patient who continued treatments through pregnancy)
I carried on with the acupuncture, and once I had successfully made it through the first trimester, Stephanie suggested that I come less frequently. I found it was very helpful at reducing symptoms of nausea and backache in early pregnancy, and in the last trimester, it seemed to help with the pain in my hips.

Proud mom, Registered Nurse, Masters in Public Health, Reproductive Health Consultant

Morning sickness

I want to say thank you so much for all of your wonderful help throughout my pregnancy. I can’t tell you just how much I appreciate it, especially your help in the early months with the terrible nausea. You are truly wonderful! ~ CL

Fatigue, nausea, and back pain

(Infertility patient who continued treatments through pregnancy)
I continued to see Stephanie in the early months of the pregnancy and am sure that acupuncture is responsible for minimizing my nausea, back pain and fatigue associated with the first and second trimesters. ~ EH

Uterine cramping, morning sickness, back pain and varicose veins

I have been receiving acupuncture from Stephanie Curran for over two years now. I first went to her when I was pregnant with my now 18-month old son and was in-and-out of the hospital, on bed rest, and generally having a very hard time being pregnant due to severe cramping. I went to the chiropractor, physio, massage – none of which helped very much.
I was finally referred to Stephanie and for the first time in months I had relief!…

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High blood pressure

(Infertility patient who continued treatments through pregnancy)
I recently called Stephanie again to resume acupuncture. I have been retaining water and my blood pressure was beginning to rise. My friend who initially suggested acupuncture for helping with my miscarriages, again suggested that Stephanie might be able to help treat my blood pressure…

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Postpartum depression, insomnia and anxiety

Acupuncture was a miracle treatment for me. I was treated by Stephanie in the fall of 2006.; I am a thirty-four year old high teacher and new Mom. I had my first baby in August and was not doing very well. The delivery of my baby was a bit traumatic and it resulted in me experiencing post partum depression almost straight away…

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Cervical ripening and induction

I just wanted to send you a little note to let you know we had our little girl on Sunday, July 12th, just as our midwife had predicted. Labour went very well and was only 18 hours from start to finish. I was delighted to have had the baby without any medications or interventions. I’ve attached a photo taken the day after she was born. Thank you both for your help, it was greatly appreciated.

~ AW

Breech presentation

My little one did turn!!! I found out right before my second acupuncture appt. with you, so thankfully she stayed head down and I was able to have a wonderful home birth with Jill. Everything turned out perfect and the baby was born after 4 hours of active labour. Baby was a beautiful and healthy 8lbs 12oz girl! She is doing sooo good and is 4 weeks old today! Can’t get over how fast time flys. Thank-you again for your wonderful service to help turn my baby!!! It worked!!!!

~ AJ

Breech (that turned!), cervical ripening, successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)

Thank you for all your help over the past months, Stephanie! The final leg of our journey would have been very different had it not been for your knowledge, skill and gentle manor. I feel very fortunate at the moment considering I delivered Kalen at 4pm on Friday and my midwife Angela told me I could go home that very night. It’s a very different result than my first. It’s just wonderful to be at home with my family so soon and to be able to take care of my two beautiful boys, thank you!

~ DW

High blood pressure and cervical ripening

My beautiful son was born on Dec 21st, the winter solstice, like I knew he would. He weighed in at 5 lbs 14 oz, a little guy who now has almost doubled his birth weight. The work and chats you and I had were such a blessing.Thank you. His birth was an exercise of trust for his mama. I had an epidural, in that it decreases BP, and pushed for 3 hrs with a great OB who really honored the process, and he was born with assisted forceps at 4:40 pm. Thank you for all of your healing work and energy you shared so freely with me. It made all the difference.

~ KB

Induction / successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)

I’m overjoyed to share the news that our son was born two days before his due date! It was a long labour (48 hours!), but there were no complications or medical interventions. Thank you for your role in helping induce labor and for your compassionate care and advocacy. We’re so thankful we were able to welcome our baby to the world with a natural delivery. ~ KW

Cervical ripening and induction

A quick hello from the pregnant gal who was 11 days overdue last time you treated her. I just wanted to let you know that our baby was born this Sunday. I took castor oil at 8:30 am, with zero effect, until my first contraction at 11:30am…and our daughter was born by 12:31pm. (Yes, that’s one hour later not thirteen)

Thanks for poking me everywhere! I was very impressed with the skill, bedside manner, and professionalism that I felt with both of you. I will definitely recommend your centre. ~ MC

Cervical ripening and successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)

Our baby was born July 13th at 4:33 am after a three hour labour. He was delivered naturally with no drugs and it was an absolutely beautiful birth. Thank you for all your help! After two treatments (one at 38 weeks and one at 39 weeks) he came 4 hours and 33 minutes after the due date :0). ~RW

Anxiety and pregnancy support

Thank you Stephanie for all your support through this pregnancy and during my pregnancy with my first daughter. Not only are you a skilled acupuncturist, but you’re incredibly sensitive and caring. I’ve always felt the utmost respect for you and confidence in your care. I can’t say enough good things about you to all those I meet who are looking for an acupuncturist, but I hope you know that you are already very highly regarded in our community and deservedly so. ~ SN

Correction of transverse position

Shortly after discovering my baby was transverse (at 34 weeks), I received an acupuncture and moxabustion treatment from Jonna at Elements of Health. After this very relaxing initial treatment, my husband and I were given instruction on how to continue the moxa treatments at home…

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Cervical Ripening

I just wanted to say thank you for the acupuncture treatments. I went into labor the evening of September 24th, after my last appointment with you. My son, Liam, was born the next morning. Labor and delivery went very well with minimal pain medications (you even said on Thursday that my pain tolerance was up). I’m sure the treatments helped me to achieve such a positive birthing experience. ~ CF

Induction

Thank You! It was quite amazing actually. The night that I got the treatment from your office, I started feeling braxton-hicks contractions. Over the course of the next day, my water broke, and I went into labour that night. Our little girl Sophie was born on Saturday, October 10th and weighed 6 pounds 2 ounces. I hope to have a chance to come back to your office for more treatments! ~ VB

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean

The next week after I saw you, I went to see my family doctor…I think my cervix was 1 cm dilated because he said that he could put a finger through it and was able to palpate the baby’s head. That same night my contractions started at home at 1 am. When we arrived at the hospital at 4:30 am I was about 3 cm dilated. In a nutshell, this delivery was longer than my first one but I am glad I was able to go through it the natural way with no C-section or the use of forceps or vacuum. ~ CV

Winner of Our First Splash Prize!

I was just thinking of you. Thank you for your help, it was such a surprise, and I must say a great way for me to start my birth story. I am sure it’s not something that happens all that often!!…

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Induction

“It worked! My water broke early Saturday morning (4:15). My labour wasn’t progressing very well though, so they started me on an oxytocin drip at about 11:30 am. After a very very long day, my little boy was finally born at 11:59 pm, August 6th. Another 20 seconds and he would have has a different birthday! I so appreciate the time you took to help me with my labour, my sister was able to be here like we wanted and that was so important to me. Thank you so much!” ~ JP