Wish to have children

Many couples only find out that the wish for a child of their own is not always and very often not fulfilled immediately when it affects them. Every sixth couple in Switzerland has difficulties in fulfilling their desire to have children. In most cases, it is not a matter of complete infertility, but of a fertility disorder. Regardless of whether a couple opts for medical fertility therapy or not, Shiatsu with its holistic approach can make an important contribution.

Wanda (30) was recommended Shiatsu by her gynecologist to “cushion” the stressful phases of fertility therapy. A well-chosen expression, she actually felt “light as a feather” after every treatment. Not only did she suffer from physical stiffness and fatigue, she was also totally overwhelmed by the demands placed on her in her job, often even at the limit of her capacity. Her menstrual cycle was very irregular, she lacked sleep, motivation and, again and again, the joy of life. Wanda was skeptical at first and actually didn’t believe that Shiatsu could do more than just relax for the moment. Three days after the first treatment, she wrote detailed feedback to the therapist. Not much would have changed, except: She would have slept through the night for a long time, no more headaches since then and her period would have arrived on time and without pain. Although the first treatment had already moved some aspects of her symptoms, Wanda apparently didn’t really notice it herself. The other four treatments at two-week intervals then fundamentally changed the feelings and self-perception of this young woman. Attentive and interested, she began to perceive what was happening in her body, and the relaxation after the treatments in her whole being became a pleasure for her. After the second insemination, Wanda became and remained pregnant. She could hardly believe it, experienced a completely problem-free pregnancy and a very nice birth.

It was different with Xenia and Zoe. In both women, the partner had a gene defect, 50% of which can be passed on to the children. The possible illnesses or impairments for the children would be very serious, so that neither couple wanted to take the risk. Both had consciously used contraception until they wanted to have children. And now it was time to go through the same procedure as other couples with an unfulfilled desire to have children: Both women were hormonally stimulated, followed by a puncture to collect the follicles and subsequent in-vitro fertilization. Then the fertilized egg cells had to be examined before a “healthy” embryo could be transferred into the uterus. This waiting time until the test results are available is very difficult for most couples and, depending on the results, can be stressful or even grueling. So also for the women Xenia and Zoe. They were both very knowledgeable, especially when it came to statistics on the subject. Those numbers seemed to give them some support, too. Both women had to be punctured twice before a healthy embryo – at least without the known gene defect – could be transferred. Zoe, 33, got it right on her first try and pregnancy was a good time for this young mother. Xenia, 28 years old, suffered a loss of pregnancy in the 7th week, but the second transfer was successful and the pregnancy was absolutely problem-free.

With the increasing possibilities of pre-implantation diagnostics, other new topics are also becoming relevant. Very often important questions for the women only arise during the whole procedure. Even for those affected, a lot is very abstract or too specific specialist knowledge and cannot really be understood even in the best conversation – it also has to be experienced. In these cases, therefore, part of a Shiatsu support is to support the women prior to treatment in specifying and formulating the questions that arise so that they can be clarified for the specialists. This clarification supports letting go of thoughts and fears, being able to surrender and not having to worry. A state in turn in which the effectiveness of Shiatsu can develop optimally and conception and a successful pregnancy become all the more likely.