REFLEXOLOGY DURING PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH

Many people have heard of Reflexology and know of it's many successes, and it's ability to restore balance when this has been undermined by disorders and ill health, but did you know that it can also be of benefit to the healthy mother-to-be during pregnancy and childbirth?

Reflexology treatment trials carried out on pregnant mothers to help control high blood pressure not only reduced the amount of hospital admissions for the patients but it was also discovered that these women had really easy births. This work was pioneered by Dr. Gowri Motha, a gynaecologist, who trains many reflexologists and midwives in the care and treatment of mothers-to-be during pregnancy and childbirth.

As well as helping with all the normal effects of pregnancy like nausea and vomiting, reflexology treatment encourages the uterus to become a very healthy muscle. The pelvis may flare more easily and the cervix may dilate more rapidly. As yet, we do not know exactly what initiate’s labour, but a pacemaker area within the uterus opens up the cervix. This coupled with pressure from the baby's head co-ordinate uterine action.

It is normally recommended that where the mother-to-be has not received reflexology previously, that she wait for week 18 before commencing treatment. If previous treatment has been given, then it should be safe to have treatment from conception. It is helpful if treatment is performed fortnightly up until week 38. This can be stepped up if specific problems like backache or high blood pressure arise.

Perhaps no mother-to-be needs reminding to eat well and exercise during pregnancy but ballet, aerobics. bellydancing and horse riding are not good to do as the muscles become hard and may delay the birth.

Reflexology will aid pregnancy by stimulating the liver, endocrine (hormone releasing) glands and lymphatic drainage. Attention is of course paid to the pelvic and reproductive areas. Apparently, pregnancies do tend to go to term with reflexology.

Quite importantly, reflexology can be performed prior to conception, particularly where there is a history of miscarriage. It has also been noted that babies whose mothers have received pre-conceptual treatment are seldom bad tempered.

When medical conditions such as septicaemia are present then treatment is contra-indicated and any unusual effects like vaginal bleeding must be referred for medical attention. Having said this, there does seem to be less need for medical intervention when reflexology has been performed.

If all is going well, it is quite in order to have treatment during the early stages of labour and currently more hospitals have a policy of allowing access to complementary practitioners. This would of course need discussing with your medical team during pregnancy.

Remember that visualisation can be of extraordinary help and visualising a fast and easy delivery can work wonders.

Lindsey Cole - Reflexologist

 Dr Gowri Motha has produced a video titled - How to prepare for a safe and easy waterbirth - and an audio tape titled - Prepare for a natural birth with self-hypnosis and visualisation - Telephone orders:01708 737119.

To contact a fully qualified Reflexologist call The British Reflexology Association
Telephone: 01886-821207