Dear Natural Fertility Wonder Subscribers

Thank you to everyone who responded to our previous newsletter and helped us expand our database. We gained nearly 200 new e-mail addresses and hope that through this newsletter we are able to help potential mothers, mothers and women in general and thus experience a healthier winter.

The month of May is also a month in which we celebrate motherhood and I want to congratulate all the mothers for being what they are: magnificent.

The last few months our patients and potential patients most frequently asked about the length of the treatment and how long it stays effective. The treatment is conducted over a three-month period and results can still be seen up to one year after treatment has been stopped. The reason for this is that the homeopathic medicine we use assists the body to heal itself. You can definitely not go wrong with homeopathic medicine for any ailment whatsoever, so come and see us regardless if you want to become pregnant or not.

In our prior newsletter we had a story about a lady from Upington, Mrs Kriel, who after a thorough consultation over the phone received medicine through the post. We would like to help all our patients who live too far away to gain access to the treatment in person. However, after a recent development we will need to change the approach a little. I have gained knowledge about a group of individuals who have printed pages off our website and are marketing our services in townships claiming to be the clinic’s “agents”. These individuals trick innocent women into filling out medical forms and paying money to order medicine but then these “agents” disappear. The clinic does not work with any agents and for the safety of women across the country I will only be able to post medication after an initial face-to-face consultation. I do apologize to anyone who will be inconvenienced by this policy, but we are adamant in marketing ourselves as a clinic where a face-to-face consultation is absolutely the only way of becoming a patient and receiving further treatment.

On a more pleasant note, a great number of ladies who underwent our treatment were blessed with becoming pregnant during the last five months. Some of them shared their stories and photos with permission to pass on to you.

Enjoy our newsletter and have a tremendously cosy winter!

Regards,

Dr Pieter Johannes Venter

Success Stories

Samantha du Toit (34) from Germiston: “I was on the pill for 13 years and people said it would take years before I would fall pregnant. After being off the pill for nine months I fell pregnant but unfortunately I had a miscarriage on 8 weeks. I then battled for eight months to fall pregnant again and went to visit Natural Fertility Wonder. After only two months on the treatment I fell pregnant. I am now 8 weeks pregnant and cann’t wait for the little one….it will be a Christmas baby.”

Tina Schoombee (30) from Bonaero Park: “My husband Andre and I experienced two premature labours, one on 20 weeks and the other during week 22. The reason for the premature labours was a direct result of a hormonal imbalance. Middle November 2009, Andre and I decided to visit Natural Fertility Wonder Venter to start treatment and I fell pregnant at the end of December 2009. We are taking it extremely easy at the moment but so far we haven’t experienced any of our previous problems.”


Annimieke Degenaar (31) from Glen Erasmia: “I had a problem with cysts on my ovaries which caused ovulation problems. After my first pregnancy I had to get the cysts removed and struggled for several months to become pregnant again. I went on the Natural Fertility treatment at the end of October 2006 and fell pregnant in January 2007. Mia will be turning three later this year and is a real busy bee. I am currently on the treatment again and holding thumbs for a little boy.”


Corne Fivaz (30) from Mossel Bay : “My husband Anthony (36) and I have tried for a baby for five years without success. We visited a number of different doctors and tried all kinds of medicine but nothing helped. One of the reasons for our struggle according to some of these doctors was my husband’s low sperm count. When we saw the Natural Fertility advertisement in the Huisgenoot, we knew we had to give it a try. My husband and I both went on the treatment and I found out I was pregnant after using it for two months. I would recommend Dr Venter’s treatment to anybody struggling to get pregnant. After five years we nearly gave up on having children. Thanks so much for your help Dr Venter.”


Portia Chuene (31) from Norkem Park struggled to fall pregnant for 11 years before going on the Natural Fertility Wonder treatment in March 2008. She fell pregnant in February 2009.


Mr and Mrs Laganya from Tembisa battled to conceive children for seven years. Mrs Laganya struggled with blocked tubes but after two months on the Natural Fertility Wonder treatment found out that she was pregnant. Their son was born on 18 May 2008.


Struggled for six years after loosing twins


Pamela (26) and John (36) van Heerden, a lovely couple from Germiston South struggled to fall pregnant for six years after loosing twins. The couple met eight years ago and even though Pamela had a young baby from a previous marriage, the two fell madly in love. John raised Donovan as his own and the couple decided to try for a brother or a sister for him. In 2004 Pamela fell pregnant with twins and the Van Heerden’s were ecstatic. Not only will Donovan gain one sibling but two and both Pamela and John’s dream of having a large family would be realised.


Unfortunately, 20-year-old Pamela lost their precious twins and the pair decided to try again but with no success. They visited eight different doctors, went on several hormone enhancing drugs but Pamela remained infertile for six years.


In March this year the Van Heerden’s came across the Natural Fertility Wonder advertisement in their local newspaper and they immediately made an appointment. It was soon made apparent that Pamela had endometrioses and suffered from a hormonal imbalance that prevented her from ovulating. She started the three-month treatment program on March 26 and found out she was pregnant on the 23rd of April. “I went to the pharmacy to buy a test and when the result was positive I couldn’t believe my eyes,” an over the moon Pamela commented.


“I had to buy two more test just to be sure. John, Donovan and I are so happy about the news.”


After six years of waiting, hoping and praying the Van Heerden’s are well on their way to building the large family they have wanted from the beginning. Natural Fertility Wonder wishes them the best of luck with the pregnancy and their future.

Keeping The Weight Off This Winter

As soon as the sun sets at half past six and you fall into the winter wardrobe, the guilt of not going to gym starts to vanish as well. Suddenly eating pizza or pasta on a Tuesday night sounds like a great idea and treating yourself to a hot chocolaty drink afterwards, even better. You soon forget how hard you worked to get rid of last winter’s bread rolls and instead visualise eating freshly baked and buttered ones everyday. In all fairness, nobody is in the mood for rigid diets or going to the gym during the winter.

So, how about doing things differently this cold season? How about tricking yourself into doing small things everyday that could lessen your hate for the scale come September?


Before things get out of hand, make an active decision now not to yield, not completely anyway…


Here’s how:


1. Take the stairs: Whenever there is the option to take the stairs, do it. You will burn an immense amount of calories and work the muscles in your bum and upper legs.


2. Park far away: Instead of trying to park as close to the entrance of the shopping centre, office or a building of a client, park 100 metres or further away. Then walk briskly from and to your car and you will have burnt another set of calories without really even thinking about it.


3. Clean the house: You need to do it anyway at some point. You might as well make it fun. Put on some sweats, get the music on and whatever you do, do it vigorously.


4. Work in the garden: Working in the garden is another task that needs to happen at some point during the week. Rake all the dead leaves lying around, get busy in your beddings and if you have dogs, play with them or take them for a walk. You will get a lot done, burn calories and show love to the pets that adore you so much.


5. Go shopping: Shopping is a fun activity even if you don’t have money to buy things. While you are pushing a trolley or walking from one side of a mall to another a lot of calorie burning is taking place. Drink water while you are at it and if you have been good most of the week treat yourself to a nice hot drink and a slice of cake. If not, rather drink a cup of Rooibos tea and settle for a bran muffin.


6. Replace: Hot chocolate drinks with warmed-up milk and honey.


7. Soup-up: Instead of eating warm starchy meals, eat yummy soups and Low GI toasted bread two nights of the week.


8. Snacks: Take healthy snacks like Provitas, low-fat cheese, nuts, raisins and fruit to work to munch on at 11am and again at 3pm. This way you won’t be so famished during regular mealtimes and will be able to make a healthier decision about lunch and dinner options. Plus, it is healthier to eat six smaller meals than three large ones.


9. Mental trick: Keep a photo of yourself handy where you felt happy about your weight and looked great.


10. Remember the 80/20 rule: Eat healthily and exercise 80% of the time and give yourself some slack the other 20%.


Tip: Struggling to get your two litres of water in during winter? Drink 3-4 large cups of unsweetened Rooibos tea without any milk daily. It is rich in antioxidants and can count as part of your two litre water intake.

The Effects Of Smoking On Pre - And Post Pregnancy

One in every three adults in South Africa smokes. Nearly 52% of the country’s male and 17% of our female population inhale between 10 and 20 cigarettes daily and according to the Medical Research Council (MRC) one in every ten deaths nationally is related to tobacco use. In a society where smoking has been banned from public places because of its harm to others, it is almost hard to believe that there are between these smoking statistics expectant mothers and fathers.

Although you might know of several friends who became pregnant while she or her partner smoked, it doesn’t change the fact that it reduces your chances dramatically. If you or your partner smokes, fertility levels are immediately lower. Nicotine affects a women’s hormone production and also obstructs the normal transportation of the egg through the fallopian tubes towards the womb. Sperm count in men who smoke are 15% less than non-smokers and smoking can also affect their sperm’s shape and mobility. Cigarettes can also cause erectile problems due to the influence nicotine has on blood vessels within the penis.

When you smoke, some of the oxygen in your blood is replaced with carbon monoxide. A mother who smokes while being pregnant deprives her baby of nutrients and oxygen vital for growth. A mother shouldn’t forget that her unborn baby is totally dependent on her for everything.

A smoking mother enhances the risk of her baby being born prematurely and underweight. The baby’s organs can be smaller than normal, lung capacity poor and the chances of a cot death doubled. Children born to smoking mothers are more often ill, catch painful diseases and are more likely to become smokers themselves later on.

If a mother quits smoking before she is halfway through pregnancy, some of the damage can be reversed because her body will start to recuperate and provide the baby with the necessary oxygen and nutrients. However, smoking mothers shouldn’t see this as a “get out of jail for free card”. A baby’s life and health isn’t a gamble or game. Although there are many lucky cases where a child is born perfectly, you might not be as lucky!

Stop smoking today! Here are seven tips to help you:

1. Make a list: Draw up a document with 10 reasons why you want to quit and what the benefits of stopping will be. You could even let a loved one who is backing your process write something motivational on the piece of paper as well. Keep this list close to you and whenever you feel the urge to smoke, read it again, and again, and again. And then, eat a sugar-free sweet or fruit instead.

2. Set a date: Schedule a date when you want to stop smoking. Quitting cold turkey has been proven to provide better results than limiting yourself to fewer and fewer cigarettes everyday. Ultimately the decision lies with you but if this is not the first time you’ve tried stopping, chances are that previous times failed because you only tried smoking less.

3. Make a noise: Tell everyone about your mission. Get your friends, family and close work colleagues involved to motivate you and keep you on track.

4. Spring-clean: Throw away everything that you associate with your smoking life. Dispose of all the cigarettes and empty packets, ashtrays and lighters you have in your house, car and office. If you had a particular spot you used to smoke in, move the house or garden furniture around and if you use to smoke in your car, take your vehicle for a valet.

5. Prepare: You know the cravings will come. Prepare for them. Carry sugar-free gum, sweets or fruit with you at all times. Keep painkillers handy if you should experience any headaches during the first two weeks and most importantly ¬– know your weaknesses. Giving up smoking is the hardest over weekends, while you’re having a drink with friends or after a lovely meal. Plan ahead. Sit next to the non-smokers and remember why you are doing this in the first place.

6. Medical help: There are plenty of medical products on the market to help you kick the habit. Consult your doctor about assistance if you are already pregnant.

7. Take it one day at a time and stay positive.

Special Pregnancy Dietary Needs

If you eat healthily, you could ensure your baby’s wellbeing as well. During pregnancy your normal healthy eating plan still applies but there are specific nutrients that you need more of. You can get some of them through supplements but it is good to eat more of specific foods to assist your health, the natural way.


Take in more Calcium, about 700-800mg daily will assist with your baby’s bone and teeth development and also protect your own. Drink a large glass of skimmed milk; eat a pot of yogurt or a matchbox-sized piece of cheese. Calcium is also found in sources such as oranges, beans and spinach.


As your intake of Calcium increases, you should also increase your intake of Vitamin D that carries sources to assist with its (Calcuim?) absorption. Vitamin D can be found in oily fish, eggs and butter.


To help your baby create a healthy blood supply, you need to make sure you take in enough Iron. Iron isn’t just limited to red meat or fish but can be found in green vegetables, dried fruit and some breakfast cereals as well.


Increase your intake of Vitamin C because it will help with the absorption of Iron from sources that aren’t meat. Remember: Don’t drink tea (apart from Rooibos) or caffeine during pregnancy; it hinders the body’s natural uptake of Iron.


Eating plenty of green leafy vegetables such as spinach and including broccoli and cereals rich with folic acid into your diet can reduce your baby’s risk of getting spina bifida. Spina bifida is a birth defect caused by the incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube.


Make sure you eat at least two servings of oily fish such as salmon, sardines or pilchards per week? They contain long chain omega 3 fatty acids that ensure the best brain development. Linseeds and flaxseed oil is also fantastic sources.

Immune Boosters

With winter around the corner and the unstable climate of autumn still in the air, many of us might catch a cold.


If you would like to skip your turn this year, you can opt for a flu shot. However, if injecting yourself with a virus seems a bit daunting, why not start eating your way towards a stronger immune system? A diet containing healthy portions of foods with Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Folate (or Folic Acid), Phytochemicals and Zinc could safeguard you from gross bugs floating around your office, street or house.


Here are some familiar foods that contain these nutrients:

• Vitamin B6 - Fish, poultry, lean red meat, whole grains, potatoes, avocados, cauliflower etc
•  Vitamin C - Blackcurrants, broccoli, red peppers, parsley, guavas, citrus etc
• Folate (Folic Acid) - Asparagus, spinach, dried beans, fortified grain products, whole grains peas, broccoli etc
• Phytochemicals - Carrots, sweet potatoes, blueberries, spinach etc
• Zinc - Poultry, nuts, seafood, dried beans, whole grains, yogurt etc

DID YOU KNOW?
There is almost triple the amount of Vitamin C in one red pepper than there is in an orange. Luckily oranges are easier to eat regularly but don’t hesitate to add a red pepper to your salad, stir-fry or roasted veggie wrap.


Here is a healthy immune boosting soup recipe:
Poultry and barley soup (serves 6)


You will need:


- Water: 10 cups
- Chicken: 3 drumsticks and 1 whole chicken breast (skins removed)
- Onion: 1 medium onion (quartered)
- Garlic: 8 garlic cloves, peeled (cut 4 in thin slices, leave 4 whole)
- Bay leaves: 2
- Thyme: 6 sprigs (fresh)
- Parsley: 12 sprigs flat-leaf (fresh) and 2 teaspoons coarsely chopped
- Peppercorns: 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- Carrots: 2 medium (thickly cut)
- Celery: 2 stalks (thickly cut)
- Barley: 1 cup (pearl)
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon (coarse)
- Lemon zest: 2 teaspoons (grated)
- Olive oil: 2 teaspoons


Method:

1. Bring the water, chicken, onion, whole garlic cloves, bay leaves, thyme and parsley sprigs, peppercorns, carrots, and celery to a boil in a large pot. Reduce heat, and gently simmer until the mixture turns deep gold after about 1 1/2 hours. Let it cool. Skim fat from the surface.
2. Meanwhile, cook barley according to the instructions on the package.
3. Strain stock, reserving chicken breasts and discarding all other solids. Remove the meat from its bone and slice them into 1cm pieces.
4. Reheat the stock and chicken in a saucepan and stir in the salt.
5. Just before serving, finely chop remaining parsley with the lemon zest until combined. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced garlic, and cook, stirring, until fragrant but not browned for about 30 seconds.
6. Divide barley, stock, and chicken among 6 bowls. Garnish with sliced garlic and parsley-lemon mixture.