We had the privilege to sit down with Dr. Kamilla Holst recently and learn some tips about her journey with In vitro fertilisation (IVF). IVF is one of several techniques available to help people with fertility problems have a baby. It involves taking an egg from the woman and combining it with sperm in a lab. The fertilized egg, called an embryo, is then placed back into the woman's womb where it grows and develops.
Dr. Kamilla, from 2014-2019 was known as the No.1 Pregnancy Chiropractor in Hong Kong while secretly struggling to become pregnant herself. Everyday her patients would ask her how many kids she had and she would go home and wonder why it wasn’t happening for her yet. It was a daunting thought, "Will I ever have kids of my own one day."
Dr. Kamilla and her partner decided to see a doctor in Hong Kong, only to find out that they had less than 1% chance of becoming pregnant naturally. "If you’re anything like me, going through fertility treatment was NOT on my wish list! It can be quite a blow for some people, especially if they’ve spent years trying not to fall pregnant and then when they finally decide to become a parent, things aren’t working the way they thought it would" says Kamilla.
IVF can be scary but, once you know you aren't alone and it's a journey you have decided to go on there are ways to cope. There are so many things I wish I knew on my first IVF journey, now it's a blessing to share tips openly with women who are on their own IVF journey.
Dr. Kamilla's 5 Tips to help you on your IVF Journey:
1. When you first start out trying to fall pregnant, set aside a fertility bucket. That’s a savings account for in case you have to go through fertility treatment later on. Too many people max out their credit cards when they realise fertility treatment is their only way to have a baby. This will just add unnecessary stress to the whole process.
2. Don’t assume it will work in your first trial. If it does, great for you! Go into it feeling positive, but also know that many couples experience multiple trials before success and nothing is guaranteed.
3. If you’re not already doing some kind of meditation or yoga to be in better contact with your own body and lower your cortisol levels (stress hormones), get started yesterday! This will immensely increase your chances of a successful transfer.
4. Find something to occupy your mind during the 2 week wait or time will feel like it’s going backwards. (This is the time from egg transfer until you can take a pregnancy test, without getting a false positive result).
5. Make sure you have a supportive community of like-minded women to share your ups and downs with. Fertility treatment can be a very lonely process, even if you are in a relationship, as you are the one who has to go through all of the hormonal changes.
I’m sending all the baby dust your way in hopes of a successful pregnancy and with the best wishes for you to start your dream family.
May the force be with you mama 🙏
XO
Kamilla Holst
Personal note from Dr. Kamilla: When I finally became a mother I was introduced to Malabar Baby through a friend and it made the transition so much easier knowing that my baby had the softest fabrics to be swaddled in from birth and sleep in when I came home.
Later when I had my second baby I purchased the robes and pyjamas, making my hospital stay after my c-section so much more comfortable. Both kids have been sleep trained in the sleep bags and I have them in all sizes and 3 different patterns. It’s all about the little details and Malabar Baby definitely knows how to take care of new mamas and their babies. And meeting the founder Anjali on my recent visit back to Hong Kong made me even more of a fan of this brand. Her bubbly personality, warmth and dedication to her business is remarkable. I will continue to purchase everything she comes up with and recommend it to all my mama friends.
