Colorful hand-painted mural at the Loyola Beach Art Wall in Chicago, featuring vibrant flowers, butterflies, and the words “Know Your Neighbors” against a bright yellow background.

I've really been enjoying autumn in Evanston this year.

I've been revisiting some of my old haunts around Jarvis Square, catching up with old friends, and stopping by Charmer's Café, where I always love seeing Carrie and Annie, the owners and my former neighbors.

I've also been enjoying my reformer Pilates classes and simply being out and about in the neighborhood.

Last Saturday, walking back from Pilates, I came across all the little trick-or-treaters along Main Street. Local businesses were handing out treats, families were enjoying themselves, and there was such a wonderful sense of community.

It was one of those moments when I felt especially grateful to live here.

And it got me thinking about what autumn can teach us about change, expectations, and appreciating the life that's happening right now.

What Autumn Teaches Us About Letting Go

In Five Element Chinese medicine, autumn is associated with the Metal element, which is connected with discernment, boundaries, grief, and letting go.

We often think of autumn as a season of release. The trees lose their leaves, the days grow shorter, and nature begins turning inward.

But I've been thinking that autumn isn't only about what we're losing.

It's also about appreciating what's here.

The familiar faces. The friendships that have lasted through different chapters of our lives. The unexpected pleasure of walking through a neighborhood on a beautiful fall afternoon.

Perhaps that's part of discernment, too: recognizing what matters enough to hold onto.

One of the things years of treating patients has taught me is that life rarely unfolds according to the timeline we imagined.

We make plans. We have expectations. We picture where we'll be at a certain age or stage of life.

And then life surprises us.

Sometimes those surprises are wonderful. Sometimes they're heartbreaking. And sometimes they're a complicated mixture of both.

Maybe letting go doesn't mean giving up on what we hoped for. Maybe it means making room to appreciate the life that's happening while we're still figuring out what comes next.

I see this particularly clearly in my work with patients navigating infertility and pregnancy.

Serene Autumn Maternity Portrait

Pregnancy After Infertility: When Joy and Anxiety Coexist

One of the things I've observed in my fertility acupuncture practice in Evanston is that becoming pregnant after a long period of trying to conceive doesn't necessarily make all the anxiety disappear.

For someone who has experienced infertility, pregnancy loss, unsuccessful IVF cycles, or years of uncertainty, a positive pregnancy test can bring an extraordinary mixture of emotions.

There may be joy and excitement, of course.

But there may also be fear, disbelief, vigilance, or a reluctance to become too hopeful.

Some people feel as though they should be happy every moment because they've worked so hard to get here.

Others may find themselves worrying before every ultrasound or feeling hesitant to share their pregnancy news.

Pregnancy after infertility doesn't always feel the way someone imagined it would.

And that's okay.

There's no single correct way to experience pregnancy, especially when the journey to get there has been difficult.

How Acupuncture Can Support Patients During Pregnancy

Some of my fertility patients choose to continue acupuncture after becoming pregnant.

Our work together changes as their needs change.

During fertility treatment, appointments may have focused on helping patients manage stress, navigate treatment schedules, and receive supportive care alongside IVF or IUI.

Once pregnancy begins, the focus may shift toward concerns such as:

Nausea and digestive discomfort
Stress and anxiety
Sleep difficulties
Back pain and other physical discomfort
General well-being during pregnancy

Acupuncture may be used as part of supportive prenatal care, although research findings vary depending on the condition being treated. It isn't a replacement for obstetric care, and treatment should be adapted to the individual pregnancy and coordinated with the patient's prenatal healthcare team.

But beyond addressing particular symptoms, I think there's something valuable about continuity of care.

For patients who have spent months or years navigating infertility, having a familiar practitioner can offer a sense of connection during a period when so much still feels uncertain.

Someone who understands the journey that came before the pregnancy.

Someone who doesn't expect them to feel a particular way.

Someone who can acknowledge that gratitude and anxiety can exist at the same time.

Making Room for the Unexpected

There's a connection here to what I've been thinking about this autumn.

We spend so much of our lives imagining how things are supposed to unfold.

We expect certain milestones to happen at certain times. We picture what those experiences will feel like when they finally arrive.

But sometimes the reality is more complicated.

Pregnancy after infertility is one example, but I see this in many areas of life.

Healing from an injury may take longer than expected. A stressful period may change our priorities. A life transition may bring both relief and sadness.

Chinese medicine encourages us to pay attention to change and to the relationship between our bodies, emotions, and the seasons.

For me, autumn offers a reminder that letting go doesn't necessarily mean abandoning our hopes.

Sometimes it means releasing the expectation that life must unfold in one particular way.

And sometimes it means noticing the good things that are already here, even when the future still feels uncertain.

Fertility and Prenatal Acupuncture in Evanston

At Lisa Meyerson Acupuncture, I provide individualized fertility and prenatal acupuncture, including supportive care for patients navigating IVF, IUI, and pregnancy after infertility.

I also work with patients seeking acupuncture for chronic pain, headaches, stress, sleep difficulties, and other health concerns.

Whether you're preparing for pregnancy, navigating a new stage of life, or simply looking for support with your health, my goal is to provide thoughtful, compassionate care that meets you where you are.

Learn more about prenatal acupuncture

Schedule an acupuncture appointment

Lisa Meyerson, L.Ac.
Lisa Meyerson Acupuncture
Evanston, Illinois