April is a CNY Fertility Center patient and has been on her journey to fertility for approximately two years. April will share candid stories and a unique perspective on the fertility challenges many women and couples face.

Week Six: Bahama Mama

As I was recently ordering lunch at a local coffee shop, another teacher noticed that there was a bag of Bahama Mama coffee next to me and asked if it was mine. She initially thought I was buying it and wondered how it tasted. When I told her it was not mine, she looked at me for a quick second and excitedly declared, “Bahama Mama – you’re going to be a MAMA. It’s a sign!” Her excitement immediately spread to me, and I began to believe that Bahama Mama was a sign. Of course, this excitement soon transformed into my familiar internal conflict; Yes, I am going to be a mama, but what if…. My list of what ifs is terribly long and downright dismal, but I have been diligently trying to change my negative thought patterns. However, I have to admit that consistently replacing negative thoughts with positive ones requires vigilant commitment and immense effort.

I know that as future mamas-to-be, we consistently hear the so-called encouraging phrase, it will happen. Our friends and family tell us to just relax and not think about it or share stories of those women who adopt and then surprisingly conceive. It always amazes me how easily those who have children, or who have no interest in having children, are quick to dismiss my terribly real fear that I may not have children. However, my Bahama Mama experience has given me a different perspective on the entire thought process relating to when and how I will become a mother. Simply stated, if others believe it will happen, why don’t I, especially since I know numerous stories of couples who try (and try, and try) for so long and do eventually achieve pregnancy?

Stories of couples who persevere and do conceive nurture my spirit and provide motivation for me to persist. My intention for you this week, is to remember such a story. If you are sure you have not heard a successful fertility story, please do some research (friends, valid websites, etc.) until you learn of a story that can serve as personal encouragement. If you feel comfortable enough to share such a story, please do so in the comment section.
Let me begin with one of my favorite fertility stories.

An acquaintance of mine went through a multitude of assisted cycles, including one IVF cycle in which fertilization did not take place. Afterward, the doctor explained that she and her husband were “incompatible.” They were encouraged to look into other options including donor egg possibilities and adoption. Three months later the couple naturally conceived. Although this alone would have been complete joy for the couple, they were even more ecstatic when they learned the mother was carrying twins!

Again, please feel free to inspire each other by sharing any encouraging fertility stories.

Inspirational wishes,
April all Year

Below are links to April’s past articles in case you missed any of them:

Week five: The right path for us

Week four: Our fertility treatment “break”

Week three: Deliberate choices

Week two: This moment

Week one: My story

If you have questions, you are invited to email Debra Woodhouse at dwoodhouse@cnyfertility.com.

Syracuse CNY Healing Arts Center:

Mindfulness Meditation Workshop
Saturday, July 18th, 2009, 1:00-3:00pm
Join Cynthia Powers-Broccoli for a transformational Mindfulness Meditation Workshop where you will learn ancient yogic techniques to help quiet the mind.  Through the practice of guided meditation, you will gain greater clarity, calmness and insight in facing your everyday experiences – even life’s challenges can be transformed into occasions for self-exploration, deepening your personal strength and wisdom.  Stress melts away when we quite the mind and meditate. There is no cost to attend.
* RSVP by calling CNY Healing Arts Center at 315.671.5755

Latham CNY Healing Arts Center:

Fertility Enhancing Foods Workshop
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009, 6:00-7:30pm
Join Rebecca Rice to learn how to make simple recipes to enhance your fertility. We will taste test several dishes and you will take home recipes that you and your family can enjoy. Eating for your specific constitution according to the principles of Chinese medicine will be discussed. This workshop will take place in our beautiful kitchen. Cost to attend is $15.
*RSVP by calling CNY Healing Arts at 518.724.5750

TeleWorkshop from the comfort of your own home

Making Sense Out of Supplements:
Enhancing your Fertility Journey with Dr. Deb
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009, 7:00-8:00pm
This is a Tele Workshop which means you can attend from the comfort of your own home. Dr. Deb will be sharing information related to supplements that enhance fertility during this one hour teleconference. All you need to do is RSVP to the email address below and then you will receive instructions for the Tele Workshop in an email reply. It’s that easy so why not dial in and join us!
* Please RSVP by emailing vitamins@cnyfertility.com

Rochester Circle of Hope Group Support Meeting
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009, 7:00-8:00PM
Circle of Hope is a peer support group for current and former patients of CNY Fertility Center. This group can help provide support from others going through the same experiences, the opportunity to ask questions, discuss how best to cope with the emotional aspects of infertility, and to learn about different paths to parenthood.
*NO RSVP NECESSARY

Albany Circle of Hope Group Support Meeting
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009, 7:00-8:30PM
Circle of Hope is a peer support group for current and former patients of CNY Fertility Center who are experiencing difficulties coping with the realities of infertility, treatments and pregnancy loss. This autonomous group was created by former patients and is a forum for patients to find support from others experiencing the same issues, to ask questions about treatments, discuss how best to cope with the emotional aspects of infertility, and to learn about different paths to parenthood.
*RSVP to Eileen at eclark@cnyfertility.com

Syracuse Circle of Hope Support Meeting
Monday, July 20th, 2009, 5:30-7:00pm
Our support group meetings strive to provide support from others going through the same experiences, the opportunity to ask questions, discuss how best to cope with the emotional aspects of infertility and time for sharing. This month Dr. Kiltz will join us and we hope you can attend! *Please note our support meeting has been changed from Tuesdays to Mondays so as not to conflict with Yoga for Fertility classes.
*RSVP to Meg at mmarnell@cnyfertility.com ]]> http://cnyfertility.com/2009/06/29/cny-fertility-support-group-meetings-in-july/feed/ http://cnyfertility.com/2009/06/29/words-of-support-and-encouragement-week-of-june-29-2009/ http://cnyfertility.com/2009/06/29/words-of-support-and-encouragement-week-of-june-29-2009/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:57:40 +0000 lstack http://cnyfertility.com/?p=1300 Realizing Happiness

At CNY Fertility we see many dreams pass through our doors.  When boiled down, most of these dreams are rooted in the search for happiness.  Often we can get distracted and consumed by this seemingly endless pursuit.  What if we are already there, or have most of our dreams right in front of us but we are too distracted to notice?

I have a quick activity for you this week, to clarify your image and dream of happiness.  Sit somewhere quietly with little distraction, and close your eyes.  I would like you to imagine yourself at your happiest state.  Who is around you?  Where are you?  What are you doing in life?  Try and imagine your long-term happiness, not just a moment such as a particular vacation spot.  Where are you living?  What is your family like?  Take a few moments to feel this happiness and really observe all that is around you.

Now open your eyes.  What part of that image already exists?  Take it piece by piece; does your family situation contain any complete components?  Are you living in your dream home, or town?  Do you have your ideal job?  Are you healthy?  Is your spouse healthy?

You may realize that you have already accomplished more of your dream than you have thought.  You may have all of the components of your dream life except for one, but that one is in the forefront of your mind and will overshadow the realization of everything else you have accomplished.  There may be many aspects of your life that are in that ‘true happiness’ category, and it is important to recognize that, reward yourself, and enjoy them.

Try to remember that one component, regardless of how important and pinnacle it seems, will not completely ruin your image of happiness.  There are multiple factors in that dream situation you created in your mind, and many of them are already coming true.

Lisa Stack
Lstack@cnyfertility.com
315-744-8073

In case you weren’t able to attend the recent Nutrition for Fertility Workshop we wanted to share some of the helpful information here.

On Saturday, June 20th, CNY Healing Arts Center in Syracuse, NY hosted a workshop entitled, “Nutrition and Fertility”.  We had a great turn out, and hopefully everyone left with a little bit of information that will help them on their fertility journey.

I started off by talking about how important nutrition is in increasing your chances of becoming pregnant.  This included the need to increase your nutrient stores of certain vitamins and minerals before becoming pregnant, as well as taking a prenatal vitamin that contains adequate iron, folic acid and Omega-3 fatty acids.  I then moved on to what foods contain the vitamins and minerals that are necessary for fertility.  Tips and hints were provided to help the women fit these foods into their daily diets. Not only did we talk about what foods to include, but also things that women who are trying to become pregnant need to stay away from.  I briefly talked about the “Eastern Diet” and some alternative fertility diet ideas, such as wheatgrass juice.

The last topic that I touched on was just how beneficial being at an “ideal” weight is for fertility.  I discussed the disadvantages of being overweight, as well as underweight, and how it can affect how the body ovulates.  Exercise, stress reduction and other lifestyle changes were also encouraged.

We concluded our workshop with a question and answer session.  The women had excellent questions and seemed very enthusiastic about what they learned.  They left with handouts on the importance of Omega-3 fatty acids, Pregnancy facts and several recipes that tie into nutrition and fertility (click here for a sample recipe).  As always, I am available for individual counseling sessions.  Together we can see what is lacking in your diet and develop a meal plan that can get you on your way to becoming pregnant.  Call the CNY Healing Arts Center at 315-671-5755 to schedule an appointment.

Heather Neely, RD
CNY Healing Arts Center

April is a CNY Fertility Center patient and has been on her journey to fertility for approximately two years. April will share candid stories and a unique perspective on the fertility challenges many women and couples face.

In examining our approach to becoming parents, we knew that making an appointment with another fertility specialist was an absolute necessity. After unsuccessfully going through multiple IUI cycles, we were at a loss as to what the next best step was, but felt that consulting with CNY Fertility Center might offer a different perspective.  Fortunately, our consultation with Dr. Kiltz was helpful and refreshing. During the hour long visit, Dr. Kiltz did not focus solely on my cycle or my husband’s sperm count. Instead, he focused on the fact that the possibility of our becoming parents was far more likely to happen than not and that our journey to parenthood had to involve what was best for us. We left the appointment feeling relieved for numerous reasons. First, we had a doctor who was listening to us and trying to thoroughly address our emotional and physical needs. Secondly, we left with a short term plan which included a series of different blood tests, continuing alternative treatments (acupuncture, massage, herbal remedies, etc.), initiating lifestyle changes (daily gratitude lists, meditating, yoga, etc.) and my undergoing a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy surgery.

I remember believing that surgery was the next best step. When there is no explanation for what is wrong with you, when your husband’s “numbers” are fantastic, and you have failed many assisted cycles, all you want is an answer (other than a baby, that is!). I felt that the surgery might offer some explanation. I knew it would be an invasive procedure, but that it only required small incisions (as long as there were no significant issues with my reproductive organs) and that this exploratory operation could be productive, depending on what the doctor found. The closer surgery date became, the more I knew that the doctor was going to find something that would provide an explanation for us. I do not know how I knew - call it intuition or call it coincidence, but I just knew.  The first question I asked when I awoke from surgery was, “Did he find anything?” The nurse, who was phenomenal in terms of meeting my post-surgery needs, stated that I had a “spattering of things going on,” and explained that the doctor removed endometriosis, scar tissue and a fibroid. I remember silently thanking God and smiling because I felt as if we now had several more puzzle pieces to lay into place.

I feel so much more hopeful now that we are working with a fertility center that meets our needs a bit more personally. My post-surgery follow-up visit was about 45 minutes and we discussed the likelihood of achieving pregnancy and exactly what my chances of conception look like at this point (not too bad, I might add!).  After discussing how my husband and I could continue to stay positive and spiritually “intact,” we decided to simply relax until my two month follow-up, at which point we would discuss our overall “fertility plan” with the doctor. As of today, our plan is in rough draft form and developing our plan has been an emotional process, but I am determined to become a mother, and I have to be able to ask the tough questions and seek out the necessary answers.

My intention for you this week is that you would begin to ask yourself some of the tough questions and consider what resources you have that will assist you in best developing your own plan. I promise to discuss our plan more elaborately next week. Until then, keep persevering.

Miracles and blessings,
April all Year
Below are links to April’s past articles in case you missed any of them:

Week four: Our fertility treatment “break”

Week three: Deliberate choices

Week two: This moment

Week one: My story

Monday, June 29th, 2009, 6:00-7:30pm

Did you have your initial consultation with CNY Fertility Center and realize you had more questions after you left? It’s difficult to get all of the answers within one doctor’s visit. Join us for this informative evening where you will have the opportunity to ask our knowledgeable staff the questions you still need answers to.

We will have a Nurse, an Embryologist, a Financial Person, Donor Egg Coordinator and a Healing Arts Center Representative on hand. If you can not attend in person we will also have a phone line open so you can call in your questions 518.724.5701.

*RSVP to Justine at jtaylor@cnyfertility.com

While enduring fertility treatments at CNY Fertility Center, it can be difficult to believe we will ever be happy, or have the life we desire.  Sometimes our desire for happiness may make us feel guilty, like there are others who are more deserving than we are.  We need to change our way of thinking to realize that everyone, absolutely everyone deserves happiness, and it is OK to ask for it.  Often times we will hear that people are uncomfortable praying for their own happiness, and feel as though they should be praying for others.  While it is important to keep others in mind, we also have an obligation to take care of ourselves.

Regardless of whether you align yourself with a particular faith or not, it is important to pray or meditate on yourself, and your self-worth.  This will help make you more open and willing to realize your importance and all of your capabilities.  Some ways to achieve this besides religious prayer are meditation, yoga, and acupuncture.  It can help to contact any one of our CNY Healing Arts practitioners and see how their faith and set of beliefs can help you through your journey of realizing that you are more than worthy and deserving of your happiness.

“Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.”
-Buddha

Lisa Stack
Lstack@cnyfertility.com
315-744-8073

Rochester CNY Fertility Center Staff members in attendance:
Dr. Robert Kiltz, Judy DeCoste, Dr. Lana Cain, Jodie Brinthaupt, NP, Cathy Imes, R.N., Aimee Fedele, Heather Smith, L.A.c.

Buffalo OB-GYN’s that attended:
Dr. Mario Reyes, Dr. Sam Weissman, Dr. Sheri Baczkowski, Dr. Stephen Mechtler, Dr., Taechin Yu, Dr. Marcelino D’Souza, and Nancy Osgood, R.N.

Quote from Dr. Kiltz:
“On Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 we spent a wonderful evening with great people and great food at Black & Blue Restaurant in Buffalo, NY. We shared some good conversation and connected with new people. We shared thoughts and ideas on Integrative Fertility Care utilizing the Eastern and Western approaches to help people on their journey to creating their family.”

Quote from Dr. Cain:
“Dr Kiltz was able to begin a discussion with local OB/GYN physicians about  his approach of integrating healing arts services with the typical western medicine fertility care.  He emphasized his belief that providers should not be afraid to offer additional services (support groups, acupuncture, massage), that can help fertility clients and their partners address both physical and emotional needs during this challenging time in their lives.”
~Thank you to all whom attended!