Feet, hands, ears…Putting pressure on specific body parts can relieve pregnancy aches and pains all over. But, is it safe to be used during pregnancy?
Let’s find out!
How is reflexology helpful to women trying for a baby?
Reflexology is a natural, non-invasive healing art that uses pressure points on the feet and hands to balance out other parts of the body. It aims to alleviate tensions and promote relaxation and can be beneficial for pregnancy or indeed, couples trying for a baby.
The Association of Reflexologists gathers feedback from their members, and it indicates that over 50% of clients seeking reflexology in connection with conception find themselves pregnant within six months. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule and very difficult to quantify, but many benefits have been reported and my own experience is good. The advantage of a reflexology treatment is that fertility issues won’t be treated in isolation.
Instead, the overall health of the whole person is addressed during the treatment, which allows for hormones to be balanced and stress levels to be tackled too. For maximum effect, a reflexologist might recommend that the dad-to-be receive treatment too – after all, there are two people involved with making a baby!
Does it have any other particular benefits for women?
Yes, there’s very little that can’t be addressed in a reflexology treatment, as the aim is to bring about balance and wellness in the whole person. For this reason, practitioners might find that clients report improvements in areas that they didn’t come to be treated for.
Is reflexology advisable for pregnant women in the first trimester?
Reflexology is wonderful in pregnancy, not least because you get a two for one treatment as your growing baby can be felt and even seen on the foot too. You and your practitioner will decide whether you wish to receive treatments in the first three tentative months of pregnancy. At this stage, most women worry about the risk of miscarriage. Even though the aim of reflexology is simply to bring about balance and harmony in the body, it would be all too easy for a mum to feel that the treatment may have contributed in some way should the pregnancy end during this time.
To avoid doubt, many practitioners invite mums-to-be to get back in touch once the pregnancy is established. However, there are reflexologists who are experienced or who specialise in maternity reflexology who may be willing to treat at this time, so do talk to them. After three months, you can confidently enjoy putting your (perhaps swollen) feet up for a wonderful time of relaxation.
Can you really ‘see pregnancy’ by studying the feet?
The therapist may be able to feel the baby growing – first as a little tadpole, and then you yourself may be able to see a growing bulge on the inner side of your foot, just above the heel, maybe larger on one foot than the other. The feet really do reflect what’s going on in the body, and it’s hard to dispute when you get to the nine-month mark!
Mums might start asking at this time if reflexology can bring on the labour for them – but in line with the aims of balancing the body, if it’s not time for the baby to budge then it will stay put! However, having received reflexology will make sure that your body is in the best possible state to deal with the labour.
Does it help post-natally?
Continued treatment after the birth will encourage a speedy recovery from the birth and most importantly, some much-needed time out for new mums!
Maternity reflexology has been effective in treating the following common ailments many women face during various stages of pregnancy:
- Morning sickness
- Lack of energy
- Pain and discomfort
- Digestive disorders
- Heartburn/indigestion
- Fatigue
- Swollen extremities
- Sore swollen breasts
- Cramps
- Incontinence
- Inducing labour
- Aiding in infertility
- Constipation
- Odema/Water Retention
- Sciatica, SPD and Back Ache
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Sinusitis, Head Colds and Headaches
- Leads to better Sleep and more Energy Levels
- Decreases Stress Levels and Anxiety
