Sarah Byfield - Healing Partners Acupuncture

21/12/2023

GIVING THANKS FOR 21 NEW SOUL LIGHTS THIS YEAR

Yule is upon us, the longest night of the year. A time where we beckon in the light and the life that grows out of the darkest of times. The yang that is birthed by the most yin. An evening for introspection and reflection. I like to spend some time counting my blessings, grateful to all those who have offered and exchanged light and deep nourishment with me and those who have allowed me to share my gifts and presence with them.

Tonight, I have a personal tradition of lighting a candle in each of my windows to mark the cycles of nature, to welcome the certain return of light and warmth, and to honour the dark depths that births it. Tonight I have a new ritual to add. 12 candles, one for each of the new babies born to my clients since last Yule. A further 9 candles for the, as yet, unborn babies conceived since last Yule, nestled in the dark nourishment of their mothers bodies.

Clinic audit data: Yule 2022 to Yule 2023. 40% of my clients were working with me for Fertility Support Acupuncture and Coaching because they wished to conceive and go on to have a live birth. 70% of those women have either given birth this year or are pregnant. That’s 12 new souls born and 9 more on the way. 71% conceived naturally and 29% through IVF. IVF success rate is 70% this year (per embryo transfer).

Perhaps you yearn for support on your journey to parenthood, an experienced and knowledgable someone to shine a light so you can find your way through the dark times of trying to conceive and find your joy. I will have space for 6 new clients from February 2024. Contact me through my website https://www.healingpartners.co.uk/.

14/07/2023

Understanding your menstrual bleed and cycle can be the game changer when you are trying for a baby.
Here in the clinic we do talk about the bleeding subject - from goths first dye to cherry chunk and black bean juice. What’s normal?

27/02/2023

Are S***m Counts Falling?

This BBC programme explores the issue. I have been fortunate to have received training from Professor Sheryl Homa who features in this discussion.

What I do know is that dad's-to-be are underserved and are rarely getting the consideration and help that they deserve when trying to conceive.

This week I'll be taking part in a professional development session with Professor Ralf Henkel who will be bringing me up to speed on the TUNEL test for s***m DNA fragmentation. This is something not covered by the standard semen analysis and considers s***m DNA integrity which is important for normal functions such as fertilization, implantation, pregnancy and fetal development. S***m DNA fragmentation (SDF) is more common in infertile men and may be responsible for poor reproductive function.

Are s***m counts falling?

08/10/2022

Women need community.
It's in our blood. Our bones.

We are meant to sing together.
Cook together.
Tend the garden together.
Play together.
Pray together.

We all long for this. Maybe this longing is ever-present and permeates all that we are, or maybe it shows its face in the quiet subtleties of life....
In the way we devour poetry.
In the way we make love.
In the way we fantasize about the lives of passersby.
In the way we draw out conversation in hopes for that familiar old spark of depth.

We remember.
Our bodies remember.
We need it.

And I see so many of us today reaching out for such community only to be met with other women who are also Under-Resourced, Under-Pleasured, Overworked, and Overwhelmed.

I'm seeing a detrimental lack of support for Mothers in particular.

{Humanity is suffering largely in part because our MOTHERS are suffering.}

Read that again.

These days moms can't hardly bathe themselves in peace-- let alone find the energy to pour into their passions and life's work.
The passion of the feminine quite literally keeps the world spinning.
Yet instead of being available for spontaneous creative flow and life-altering love, mothers are constantly forced into "Beta Brain".
Making phone calls, meals, money, appointments...
Balancing schedules and checkbooks... Playing Mom, Dad, Friend, Therapist, Doctor...
Playing every role.

Our mothers are exhausted.

So I must ask... At What Cost?
What will come of generation after generation of children being raised by tired, disembodied mothers?

Just look around.

You see...
Mothers don't need patted on the back. Mothers don't need accolades.
They need tangible support in the household and in their communities.
They need shared responsibility.
They need reciprocity in relationships.
They need to be held.
They need pleasure.
Space to release.
Freedom to create for the sake of creating.

And responsibility lies on each and every one of us to give this to our women.

Humanity cannot be free until women are free. And I believe Community is Key. 🔑

____________

Madison Earthwalker
Hearticulations of a Birthkeeper
Art by: Dorrie Joy Artist 🪶

03/09/2022

I'll respond to all enquiries on my return to the clinic. In the meantime you may find what you are looking for on my website www.healingpartners.co.uk

24/07/2022

I wonder if you know,
the work your body has done today.
And every day.
How much disease it has fought off.
How many times it could have failed but battled on,
how many ways it could have broken but did not.

I wonder if you know,
the work your body has done today.
And every day.
And each day it has done this amazing job,
without your help,
without your approval,
your acceptance,
your kindness.

Each day it has soldiered on,
regardless of the constant stream of negativity,
pulsing its way from your brain to your cells.
Not good enough.
Not attractive enough.
Not the right shape.

Perhaps it’s time to see your body for what is truly is,
An amazing and mind-blowingly competent machine.
To get your soul to where it needs to be in this life.
To let you live.

I wonder if you know,
how much better you would be as a team.
I wonder.

Donna Ashworth
From ‘I wish I Knew’: https://amzn.to/3JVMJlZ

Art by The Ronald West Gallery

21/06/2022

Artemisia Argyii - “Moxa” - midsummer is the best time to harvest this womb warming plant spirit medicine and honour this plant who has worked alongside me for 2 decades.

17/05/2022

A first in my career as a fertility specialist acupuncturist and I am humbled and emotional. This evening I had a video call with a past client, 3 of her daughters joined the call and each said an unrehearsed and unprompted thank you to me for the part I played in helping their mum and dad to have them. I have my own thanks to this beautiful family - Thank you, you are the reason I specialised in fertility support, you were my first IVF baby, your story and your story and courageous trust opened my eyes and my heart to my calling, and paved the way for many more newborns
- For future generations

17/05/2022

A first in my career as a fertility specialist acupuncturist and I am humbled and emotional. This evening I had a video call with a past client, 3 of her daughters joined the call and each said an unrehearsed and unprompted thank you to me for the part I played in helping their mum and dad to have them. I have my own thanks to this beautiful family - Thank you, you are the reason I specialised in fertility support, you were my first IVF baby, your story and courageous trust opened my eyes and my heart to my calling.
-For future generations