Acupuncture ends British couple's three-year wait for baby

A woman in Britain has revealed how after waiting for three years to conceive and considering IVF (in-vitro fertilisation), she finally became pregnant with the help of acupuncture.

Dawn Paddock, 31, a nurse in gynaecology, had relied on Western medicine to help treat a blocked fallopian tube and other problems, but when it did not help she considered IVF.

But one of her friends suggested acupuncture, and after three sessions of the ancient Chinese practice she conceived their long-awaited son, Shay.

Paddock, of Wrexham in North Wales, who described the treatment as 'the best £60 she has ever spent', revealed that she had been doubtful at first.

"I was sceptical. As a nurse you rely heavily on Western medicine rather than alternative methods. But I thought if nothing else it would help me to relax and distress," The Daily Mail quoted her as saying.

"My husband and I just stared at Shay for what felt like hours after he was born.

"We couldn't believe he was really there. People are sceptical about treatments they cannot explain, but I think of the months we tried to conceive and nothing else worked.

"We would love to have more children and I would try acupuncture again. But, if I'm not lucky enough to get pregnant again, it won't be the end of the world now as we have Shay," she added.

Mike Cummings, of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, said the needle treatment could stimulate nerves around the ovaries and uterus to increase blood flow.