My name is Carmen Lindsay and I am 34 years old.

My husband and I married in 1999 and almost immediately we started to think about having a child.

In 2000, we just took the odd chance thinking that if we fell pregnant then that would be fine, but after a while we really started to try. Every month that went by without falling pregnant got harder. I thought it may be that I was working really hard, maybe stress, but holidays would come and go and nothing happened.

Eventually we went to see our GP in 2002 and discussed our concerns. She sent us for tests and so it all began. Everything would come back as normal, but each time I would really hope they would just find something wrong so that we could tackle it. It would have been better than never knowing what was going on, the whole unexplained infertility was so frustrating. We had test after test, and it was all that we could think about, everyone around us seemed to fall pregnant so easily and each month we would hope and pray that it would be this month.

Finally in 2003 I was put on the IVF register. I really hoped that we would never get to that point because I was so against medical intervnention, but doctors offered me no other alternative.

I have always been interested in alternative health. Being a massage therapist myself, I know the benefits. I mentioned to someone at the hospital that I was interested in acupuncture and they gave me Hilary’s name. I didn’t want to go to just any therapist I wanted someone who had specialised in fertility cases. Someone who knew what they were talking about. That was Hilary!

From the first time I met Hilary I felt empowered, like I was doing something positive, rather thanjust waiting for the inevitable IVF. Hilary did a very thorough case history with me, we went through everything. I was moody, depressed, suffering from headaches, my skin had become worse. I was lethargic and my concentration was down. I just never felt really well but had put it all down to the frustration of not falling pregnant.

Hilary did food allergy tests and I also sent off samples of my hair and my husband’s for analysis. The results were that I was intolerant to wheat as well as a few other minor things, raisins being another. The hair analysis showed high levels of mercury in my body and various other minerals and vitamins were up or down.

Hilary suggested that Ray and I go on vitamin and mineral supplements, this was tailored to suit our specific needs and we also tackled our diets. We already ate very well, organic when we could and lots of fruit and veg. I cut out wheat and also watched my sugar levels, as these could go up and down very suddenly. We already had cut out caffeine but also watched how much alcohol we drank. I also increased my water intake.

Hilary also suggested I have my mercury fillings removed, which might have been causing my high mercury levels, which can effect fertility. I had half of them replaced with white composite.

So in general, we were feeling great, I felt so much better and people commented on how different I looked. I saw Hilary on a regular basis for acupuncture at specific times in my cycle.

In the December of 2003 I was suddenly contacted to say that they were ready to do IVF. We were very surprised as we only expected to hear from them mid-2004. Anyway we went to all the preparation meetings with the doctors but at the last moment I pulled out. Something did not feel right and I just could not go through with it. We were tired of it all and I just wanted to enjoy Christmas and think about it all in the new year. On the 2nd of January 2004 I found out I was pregnant. After the countless tests Ray and I had done, we were scared to get our hopes up when my period was late but I will never forget the feeling of seeing that test show a positive result. Thank goodness I never did the IVF.

I really do believe that all the changes that Hilary helped me to make that last year helped me get pregnant: the powerful acupuncture, the dietary changes, supplements, and even just knowing she was there working with me and supporting me.

I would recommend Hilary as she made me feel very comfortable and it was always a very positive experience. The aim was to fall pregnant, but I also feel like I gained much more. I am a much healthier person.

We now have our perfect little boy, Spencer. Ray and I still can’t believe it when we look at him. He is actually here!!