Dear Foresight … Briefly: I have had unexplained infertility for approximately 4 years. I started to read about infertility and the name "Foresight" started to crop up. I wasn't quite sure what you were but decided to cut out all refined sugar, cake, aspartame, chocolate and caffeine. Before we had a chance to blink, we were on an IVF programme which was TERRIBLE, but we were determined to try anything to have our longed for baby. Anyway, some 3 years later, 2 failed IVF cycles, and one tragic miscarriage after conceiving naturally, I at long last followed the advice given by Foresight and had hair analysis and embarked on the full supplement programme. I had already changed our diet, filtered our water and tried our best to buy organic. Anyway, we now have two wonderful baby boys, conceived naturally! We couldn't be happier.

I do think it was down to Foresight and all their advice. Your programme makes perfect sense. It is simple common sense! Now, when I see people giving their children bright green drinks, coca cola, red and blue sweets, etc, etc, it seems crazy!! (I'm an infant teacher).

I have told everyone I can think of about Foresight and what you have done. I even showed my midwife my cupboard full of Foresight supplements (I think she thought I was mad!). But anyone who has suffered the prospect of childlessness would understand.

Our babies are beautiful and very healthy. They are not identical although everyone I meet keeps telling me they are!

I am determined to carry on with our healthy diet, we drink Red Bush tea, filter our water and buy organic. I take three Foresight multi-minerals and two multi-vitamins every morning. I wasn't sure if I should be taking anything else?

Anyway, a huge THANKYOU to you all. You have made our dream come true.
 

My story probably begins over fifteen years ago when I was working in the pharmacology labs at Liverpool University. A lot of work was done on contraception; ovulation testing etc As a result of this I became concerned about my irregular periods and saw my doctor. She performed blood tests and informed me that there was nothing really wrong, but when I wanted to get pregnant they would give me something to stimulate my body to ovulate normally (Clomid).

So, when we wanted children I duly went to the doctor; got referred to the local hospital and was given Clomid after another set of blood tests. I took it for one month and got pregnant (this is after not using any form of contraception for a few years and not getting pregnant). My son (now 14) was born four weeks early weighing 6lbs and perfectly healthy.

Eighteen months or so later we decided we wanted another baby. It had been so easy last time I was sure I could manage without the Clomid, but after a number months I went back to the hospital for more tests and more Clomid. This time it took longer, but after a few months I was pregnant again. This time things did not go so well. At 12 weeks and 3 days I suddenly felt unwell with discomfort down on the left side of my abdomen. The next day I started bleeding and was admitted to hospital. For a while the bleeding stopped and I even saw my baby on a scan. But later that day it began again with cramps, so I knew it was all over. 1 saw my baby; he was about five inches long and perfectly formed.

It was soon after this that I first heard about Foresight. I joined up and my husband and I were fully checked out. I was low in zinc and was given supplements. I was also checked out for food intolerances (as they can stress your immune system and therefore affect zinc levels) and it was discovered that yeast was my problem. Unfortunately, at this point my marriage started breaking down, so it was to be a few years before there was any further interest in babies.

A few years later, with my new partner, I contacted Foresight again. We did not have a practitioner in our area, so Mrs Barnes looked at the hair analysis and recommend supplements for us. My zinc levels were also low again despite regular supplementation and we both had a number of problems with heavy metals this time. In particular lead levels were high (we had bought a Victorian house that still had it's original lead piped water mains and we have soft water). It took a long time to bring the lead levels down to normal, through supplementation and the use of a water filter. But, since then the water filter on its own has kept lead levels low. We spent about a year getting the lead levels normal, and being impatient, when we could start trying for a baby I also went to the hospital for another round of tests, and finally Clomid again. This time it took even longer, but in the summer of 1995 I was finally pregnant again.

I did not enjoy the heatwave we had that summer the heat made me feel ill for the first three months of that pregnancy. By September I felt better and really enjoyed the rest of the pregnancy. I ate like a horse and put on 3 stone. At 36 weeks I had a scan and they told me the baby already weighed around 8lb! (what would it weigh in another four weeks?). At the end of that week, on the Saturday, I had mild contractions all day. so I got my husband to take me for a walk round the park to try to start things off properly. It seemed to work as later that evening the proper contractions started. J. was born exactly three hours after arriving at hospital, a relatively easy birth (apart from the fight with midwife when I wanted to push in an upright position). J. was three weeks early and weighed 71b 5oz. He was the perfect baby, very easy to look after; he slept and ate well and had a happy disposition. He is also a very beautiful child (probably down to good bone structure due to the good diet and supplements I took both preconceptually and during pregnancy). I was asked many times why I didn't get him signed up as a child model. However, his beauty is now marred by the chicken pox scar on the end of his nose (he picked at the spot when I was in hospital having his sister).

Two children were going to be enough; but after a baby like J. I started thinking about having another. I became pregnant accidentally when J. was one, but unfortunately miscarried at just over six weeks. This made me realise that I really did want another baby; so a few months later we contacted Foresight again and had more hair analysis. Again I had low zinc levels, and we had an unexplained problem with high Cadmium. Supplementation eventually sorted these problems out. I also went to see a nutritional therapist (who has since become a Foresight nutritional advisor) as I was having problems with recurring thrush. After an exclusion diet I finally found I was suffering intolerance to dairy products. Excluding dairy products from my diet (not easy, it is amazing how many pre-packed foods contain them - even cold meats!) eventually sorted out all my problems including the continuous low zinc levels.

I finally became pregnant again in November 1999 (it took three years this time, and I finally got pregnant one month before my deadline to give up trying). I seemed to have flu for most of the first few months of pregnancy so I got a lot of bedrest. I was concerned for the baby but it doesn't seem to have done her any harm. This was a very enjoyable pregnancy. I knew it would be the last, so I made the most of it. I discovered I was having a girl this time, so I was over the moon. Four weeks before she was due I swapped all: my boy baby clothes for girl ones with a friend who was expecting a boy after a girl. Immediately the friend left the house I went into labour. The contractions were quite intense from the start, totally unlike previous labours. After a relatively short but painful labour, A. was born with just one push weighing 6 lb 3oz.

At three days old, the paediatrician discovered that A. had a heart murmur. We went for a couple of check ups to the hospital; and at 8 months we were told her heart murmur had gone. Now she is fourteen months, she is a lovely chatty affectionate little girl, so she more than makes up for being rather demanding. And I can buy all those pretty girls clothes that I never could before.

During my pregnancies with both J. and A. I refused any tests for possible problems with the babies. My reasoning was that I could not risk any invasive tests in case I miscarried and I therefore did not want to be told if I had a high risk of having a downs / spina bifida baby or I would spend the rest of the pregnancy worrying. I also felt that I had looked after my diet and taken supplements for such a long time preconceptually, that I should not have a high risk of having any problems. Luckily, both children were fine.

It is of interest to note that both my Foresight children seem to be musical (I am not musical at all, but my husband's family are). J. started asking for a piano from the age of two, he can pick up a tune after only hearing it once (he will make up his own words to go with it) and he can sing in tune (I can't). He also loves all music, but particularly classical music. A. is only 14 months, but she loves to "play" the piano at her Grandma's and she has just discovered singing herself. She also loves listening to music.

Because of the problems I have had conceiving, I appreciate just how lucky I am to have three children. The pain caused by being unable to conceive is enormous, only forgotten once you have become pregnant. Fully embracing the healthy living regime recommended by Foresight (and husbands must do it too!) is the one thing you can do for yourselves that will help. I spent years trying to get pregnant with my second and third children; I drank no alcohol for around six years and I religiously counted my portions of fruit and veg (organic when possible) every day. In other words, I did everything I could. But my husband would not give up alcohol (not that he drank very much). Each time I finally persuaded him to give up for a little while and I was pregnant three months later!
 

Dear Foresight …. I enclose hair samples for analysis. I recently sent you a birth announcement and photo of our wonderful baby son, who seems to be growing very quickly! I thought that a bit of information might help with my future programme.

Firstly, thank you so much for helping us to get pregnant. We thought it would never happen, but it only took two months of trying once my 'levels' were correct. I had a wonderful pregnancy with the main problem being worrying! However, the birth was a bit of a nightmare. I was induced 11 days late, and ended up being given lots of drugs that I had not wanted. Baby's head hadn't engaged before labour, and I ended up having forceps (which, despite pulling me 2 foot down the theatre table using baby's head failed to move baby inside me!) followed by an emergency Caesarean. R. arrived 13 days late, screaming, but fit and well and a good 81b l0oz. This was followed by a stay in hospital during which time I was given antibiotics (for risk of infection) and painkillers, both of which I reacted badly to. As a result of the antibiotics, both myself and R. developed thrush. I only recently managed to clear this from my nipples by eating lots of Bio yoghurt, as well as using the prescribed Canesten cream.

R. spent the first few days crying almost constantly, he lost more than the 10% expected weight loss, but despite being pushed towards formula feeds. we resisted and he started to settle after my milk came in when he was 6 days old. I have struggled at times to feed him with the pain caused by the Thrush, but feel proud to say that I kept going and at 8 weeks old he was a good l2lb, and long rather than 'podgy'! He has always been very alert and active and (touch wood) has always slept well (now at 10 weeks sleeping 8-8 1/2 hours at night).

I feel quite good in myself, though my moods are very up and down. I have not lost any weight despite breast feeding, but I am not prepared to 'diet' whilst breastfeeding so am trying to just eat healthily. I think the problem is I feel hungry almost constantly. I appear to have had a couple of very light one day periods. I am also losing a lot of hair from my head.

Finally, another good thing to have come from pregnancy is that when I had a scan to check for retained products, I was told that my ovaries were fine and had no cysts!! Hopefully they will stay that way and my PCOS symptoms reduce - fingers crossed!

Thanks again ... [name omitted]
 

Our story is long, but hopefully it may give readers who have experienced the pain of infertility and miscarriage hope.

We had been a couple for 10 years when, in 1994 our infertility was confirmed as being due to my endometriosis. While waiting for a laproscopy we were encouraged to try Clomid and timed intercourse. Of course it did not work. Once my endometriosis was confirmed and after suffering Danazol and Zoladex, putting me through the menopause for 6 months, we tried double dose Clomid with Profasi and timed intercourse from December 1994 to March 1995. We then hit a major stumbling block. A 'mass' was discovered during a scan, and it appeared to be a fibroid attached to my bladder (seemingly medically impossible). After much debate, I had a cystoscopy and further laproscopy. It was confirmed to be a fibroid. It needed removing if I was to achieve a pregnancy, but as it was giving me no problems, I refused to let them operate. (It didn't help when they wouldn't operate at Stirling and wanted to refer me to a cancer specialist in Glasgow, ARGH!!)

I insisted that I be put forward for the next stage of my fertility treatment and was referred to Falkirk. The gynae there made me feel as if I had a contagious disease and would not entertain giving me fertility treatment (I presume IUI) and I was referred to Dundee for IVF. My first appointment was in August 1995, and the consultant there persuaded me to let him remove the fibroid and any endometriomata found while I was waiting for my first NHS IVF cycle. We were to monitor ovulation in-between times, and hope we got lucky. We didn't. So, in 1995 I had a laporotomy to remove my fibroid. It was a difficult operation, but I recovered in four months, and in May 1996, we embarked on our first NHS IVF cycle.

Unfortunately, I did not respond to the drugs to stimulate ovulation, and the treatment was abandoned. I was told that, quote, "it was difficult for the consultant to be too reassuring about the likelihood of success!". So, at this very early stage they want me to give up! Not on your life!

In August 1996 we started our first cycle with increased dosage of drugs, but only achieved 5 eggs, none were mature, and none fertilised. We were devastated. We were encouraged to give up on IVF as the consultant could not be confident that we would have a better chance of success in the future!

I was extremely unhappy with his attempt to "fob me off', so I demanded a face to face meeting after writing him a very strong letter. (I discovered that a neighbour was getting NHS treatment quicker than me and I had other grievances). After our "clear the air" meeting I was told my first NHS cycle would now be August 1997, but if I paid I would start up in January 1997.

I discussed my treatment with my GP (who has been absolutely fantastic), and he encouraged me to get a second opinion as to further IVF treatment. So, in November 1996 we attended a private hospital in Glasgow. Their attitude was completely different with no false promises but lots of clear advice.

Eventually, in September 1997, we embarked on our first NHS ICSI. Sadly, just as I was about to do a pregnancy test, I started to bleed, but I was actually pregnant! However, I continued to bleed and a scan revealed that I had had a miscarriage.

In September 1988, after another failed IVF attempt, I had my second miscarriage. We were devastated. Why us? I was told that the only thing left to try was HCG injections after the ICSI instead of progesterone pessaries. I made contact with the Miscarriage Association at this point, which gave me hope.

Again, in March 1999, after ICSI with "assisted hatching", I achieved pregnancy, but yet again I was to miscarry. We were at our lowest ebb. I was off work, stressed out, and I finally went to a Miscarriage Association meeting in Stirling and met Mary Wallace - my saviour! She introduced me to Foresight and, thank God she did.

We had our hair analysed, and found we had low zinc and high lead readings. We started on our vitamins in July 1999, filtered our water and tried eating organic produce. We had our second hair analysis in November 1999, and our results had improved, but were still not good enough to try and get pregnant. Of course we were impatient, so we tried ICSI, assisted hatching and HCG injections plus 75mg aspirin. Two embryos were implanted and although I did not bleed, a scan revealed a sac but no heartbeat. One step closer again. I had a D&C in January 2000. In March of that year I visited a Foresight Nutritionist and also went organic as much as possible in the lead up to our final ICSI. The £40 was money well spent! Midi [Foresight Nutritionist] advised me of "dos and don'ts", and lent me the Foresight video. I even persuaded R. to try more organic produce, no deodorants, air fresheners, no coffee and R. also drastically reduced his alcohol and cigarette intake.

We started our ICSI as our hair analysis in April showed that I was ready. We had a scan in May and our prayers were answered! A heartbeat we had done it!! The whole world heard our good news! I stayed off work, stress free and continued with HCG injections, aspirin and Foresight vitamins. But, 8 weeks into the pregnancy, I started to bleed. My lovely neighbour took me to hospital, where to my relief, a scan showed that all was fine. I was advised to stay in hospital for some TLC, so my neighbour went home to get me my Foresight vitamins! The nurses faces were a picture!

After a couple of days I was sent home for bedrest. R. nursed me for weeks. I had weekly scans up to 18 weeks, when the bleeding stopped. My GP, midwife, consultant at Stirling Hospital were all wonderful. C. was due on January 13th 2001, and I was induced on January 15th. I wanted a natural birth! I had hired a birthing pool and it was ready in the hospital for me. I had bought a homeopathic kit and hired a tens machine. I laboured well but by 3am I used my tens machine and painkillers. My waters were broken at 8am, and I was in the birthing pool from 10am to midday with gas and air. I needed drugs! By 4.30pm I was ready to push. Our daughter, C. got stuck by her shoulders, and she had meconium, so when she finally arrived after an episiotomy she was whipped away for resuscitation. The five minute wait was the longest five minutes of our lives. C. was brought back to us and weighed. The midwife had to weigh her twice - she was 10lb 15oz! Unfortunately she had Gestational Diabetes but after a fraught few days I finally got home and we had to learn to breastfeed after the hospital made her have bottles! She lost weight and at 91b 2oz I nearly gave up, but she turned the corner and started taking to the breast.

C. thrived, and is still breastfeeding at 1 year of age. She is a joy. C. loves music, books, the camera and :camcorder and the weather forecast. She is the love of our lives, and well worth the wait.

[f only we had heard of Foresight sooner. I'm convinced we wouldn't have had the miscarriages. I think the IVF would have been needed due to the endometriosis and poor ovulation, but the Foresight programme definitely tipped the balance.

We are now going back on the Foresight programme and are going to try the natural approach for a few months before considering another ICSI. Much more pleasurab1e.

Yours sincerely, and with thanks to Foresight ... [names omitted]

Follow-up letter from D. printed in Foresight Summer 2002 Newsletter:

Dear Foresight …. Thank you for including C.s story in your last newsletter (Spring 2002).

As our story spans 9 years, you had to précis it and I just wanted to point out that we had 10 IVF attempts in total. I would strongly advise any reader contemplating IVF that they should follow the Foresight programme before starting any treatment. I believe both partners' bodies should be prepared for pregnancy and the Foresight programme prepares you for the IVF regime and helps to optimise your chances of success.

I believe that Foresight and acupuncture "tipped the balance" for me as my eggs had previously been of poor quality and low in number, but when I conceived Cara, Foresight predicted that I was fit for pregnancy, and they were right!

I also believe that having a supportive GP, consultant and midwife is also important especially if you have a history of miscarriage. If I had heard of Foresight earlier, I am convince I would not have had to endure 4 miscarriages. It is important that the "men" take the vitamins and eat organically as well as cutting out the cigarettes and alcohol (or drastically reducing them) even if the woman has been diagnosed as infertile. It needs to be a joint effort. Believe me, it is well worth it!

Everyone comments on C.'s lovely smile and nature, and I believe Foresight are partly responsible for that too! I am contemplating having another Foresight baby (hopefully without IVF this time) but if IVF is necessary I know that the Foresight programme will have us well prepared! I hope our story inspires any fellow sufferers of endometriosis/infertility/miscarriage to give Foresight a try.
 

Letter, first printed in the Foresight Spring 1999 newsletter:

My story starts in August 1994 when my husband and I decided to try for a baby. After many years on the pill I expected it may take time. When 12 months later nothing had occurred, I sought help. After an unsuccessful course of Clomid, a laproscopy in November 1996 revealed ovarian cysts. Shortly after this I became aware of Foresight and with the assistance of Charlotte Bridge, had hair analysis completed for my husband and I. This revealed a number of mineral inadequacies. We commenced supplements and at the same time I had follicular tracing scans to check the progress of my cycle. It was clear I was failing to ovulate and was again prescribed Clomid. I became pregnant at the first attempt. My pregnancy went very well and I gave birth to a 6 lb girl on 21st March 1998. Thank you Foresight.
 

Letter, first printed in the Foresight Spring 1999 newsletter:

My husband and I joined Foresight about one year ago after 3 failed IVF attempts. I'm pleased to let you know that having followed the Foresight 'regime' every since, I'm now 12 weeks pregnant with twins! I'll let you know the fully story/outcome after November. I'd be grateful if you could send me some more of your pamphlets so that I can pass on the Foresight message to the doctors at the hospital (I've already passed my copies on to friends who have miscarried and urged them to join) ....... Many, many thanks.
 

Having been trying for a baby for over a year I decided to give Foresight a go so my husband and I had our hair samples sent off to the lab. Having been trying for so many months I decided to [stop] using contraception again once I'd started on the programme properly and was taking all my mineral and vitamin supplements. The results of the hair analysis showed me only slightly deficient in zinc.

In the meanwhile I became pregnant (in a spiritually significant way after a prayer session with friends!) I took the minerals and vitamins advised for me throughout the pregnancy and Gabriel was born by planned caesarean on 11th December. The baby's head would not engage and at week 37 it was discovered that I had a large fibroid partially blocking the baby's way out. It's been a tiring 6 months but it's been fun to have Gabriel around.

My advice to others would be to start using contraception again whilst waiting for the results of the hair analysis (see note); had my results showed a significant deficit in anything this would have been a worry during the pregnancy.

NOTE:- Foresight will always advise waiting at least until the results of hair analyses are received. Our recommended contraception is a barrier method and / or Natural Family Planning, but definitely NOT the contraceptive pill or IUD.
 

This time last year we finally knew we would never have our own children .... And we would never know why. After six years of trying to conceive, our second attempt at IVF had failed spectacularly. Day after day I had bared my bottom to be injected with ever-increasing doses of the drug designed to force several eggs from each ovary. In my case, one ovary went on strike and I failed to produce enough eggs to make the next stage worthwhile. The doctor's verdict? I had run out of eggs. As he sat at his desk drawing little diagrams of follicles and tubes and ovaries I found myself, once again, making huge efforts to stop weeping openly.

I felt one part of my life had ended and it was time to move on. I was devastated. I was grieving. But I had to do something to try and repair the damage done by years of tests and trying and failing. I felt contaminated by all those drugs. My reproductive system had been suppressed, stimulated, controlled by drugs sprayed up my nose and stuck in my bottom. I wanted to do my body a favour, to make amends, make myself whole again.

We turned to Foresight - not to prepare for pregnancy, but to "clean up" and "service" our bodies after the upheaval. It was part of our drive to turn our lives around, accept our situation and enjoy it. We took the tests and followed the regime suggested - not to the letter I might add. If we had been preparing for pregnancy our motivation would have been stronger. We may have had the odd drink but we religiously took our vitamin pills.

And two months later I was pregnant. Now we have an eight week old son who weighed 10lb 11oz at birth after a trouble-free pregnancy. An unexpected and overwhelming event.

Why was he suddenly conceived? There is no hard evidence which points to the Foresight regime, just a strong coincidence. Perhaps it was another case of a woman relaxing, forgetting and conceiving. But the truth was I hadn't quite relaxed, I hadn't quite given up. How could I break the habit of six years and ignore my body's cycle? I hadn't relaxed or forgotten at all.

Was it Foresight? Who knows? One thing I'm sure of is that I have a beautiful healthy baby who enjoys all the benefits of a high birthweight. I have Foresight to thank for his, and my, well-being.
 

Article about one couple's success, first printed in the Foresight Autumn 1997 newsletter:

In the spring of 1992 the couple started trying to conceive. In February 1994, the husband had an operation on his inguinal hernia and varicocele, following a test showing a sperm count of only 7 million, and poor motility. In June 1994 the couple were referred to an NHS specialist who discovered that the wife was not ovulating an prescribed Clomid. In the autumn of 1994 they found Foresight and had a hair analysis and went onto a programme of vitamin and mineral supplementation.

At this time ovulation was "still problematic". Post coital tests revealed "poor positive" chance of natural conception. Further tests showed no blockages in the fallopian tubes. A detailed sperm analysis was done, and the sperm were deemed unsuitable for IVF treatment, due to the poor quality and ICSI was discussed.

In January 1995 it was revealed that ovulation had now started. Eight cycles were achieved by January 1996, however a sperm test still revealed a count of only 7 million, still with poor motility. In March 1996 the couple began to eat organically cultivated vegetables, fruit, dairy and meat.

In April 1996 they were referred to the Nurture Clinic in Nottingham. The sperm count was found to be 11 million and there was good motility. In August 1996 the sperm count was found to be 34 million and with good motility. This level should have been viable for normal conception, however the coupled decided to proceed with IVF and 7 eggs were recovered. Four of these were mature and were fertilised. Three embryos were replaced and a single pregnancy was confirmed at the end of August 1996. In May 1997 a perfect little girl, weighing 7lb 14oz, was born.

[NOTE:- This is a case which says a lot for the powers of organic food. It is possible that conception might have been achieved naturally, however, after such a long wait, one can understand the couple's impatience.]