We love alternative therapies here at About BIrth, especially those that reduce stress and support healthy function in a woman's body. One such modality is reflexology! If you've never experienced it or don't know much about it, keep on reading as the benefits are plenty and it is also the most blissful relaxing hour you can spend. One of our great friends, Zoe Baranowski from The Reflexology Studio shares some great insights about what reflexology is and how it can assist you with fertility, pregnancy, birth and postnatally.

Reflexology is a unique form of massage that focuses on reflex points in the feet, where each area of the body is represented in miniature. Our feet carry our history, our journey and the imprint of our efforts in daily life, yet we often ignore them. Through specific massaging of these reflexes, we can help restore our body’s balance, functionality and increase general well-being.

Pregnancy and Postnatal

Reflexology can work with women at all stages of their pregnancy from preconception through the first trimester until birth and then postpartum. Studies have shown that women who have regular reflexology treatments during their pregnancy have shorter labours than those that don’t*. Reflexology is a safe and supportive therapy there to assist you along your pregnancy journey. It can support you with :

• Nausea/morning sickness
• Fatigue, particularly in the first trimester, which can return later in the pregnancy
• Reflux and constipation
• Cramping, backache, aching hips, Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and sciatica
• Fluid retention resulting in swollen legs and feet
• Trouble sleeping
• Stress and anxiety due to the future changes in their lives

Postnatal Reflexology can help balance the body back to a non-pregnant state. It is helpful in many areas, assisting with lactation, re-establishing the hormonal balance and with engorgement and mastitis problems. It is particularly helpful with postnatal depression and can be very beneficial in dealing with fatigue, stress and anxiety issues.

Pre-conception Reflexology

Trying to get pregnant can be an emotional rollercoaster.

Pre-conception Reflexology is a natural, non-intrusive way to help prepare your body, mind and soul for pregnancy. For pregnancy to occur both you and your partner’s body needs to be pregnancy-fit.

Reflexology helps with this by physically by resetting and rebalancing your body. It encourages the endocrine system (hormones) to function as it should and helps detoxify the body.

Emotionally, Reflexology helps reduce stress, a major factor affecting conception. Stress can physically change the pH (acidity) of your of your body and impact your hormones. Anything you can do to reduce stress will help your journey.

Reflexology is one of the options that can be used before assisted ovulation is brought into play and can be used in conjunction with all types of IVF, at specific times within the IVF cycle.

It’s a gentle session full of emotional support, focusing on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, balancing the endocrine systems, energetic and emotional release bringing the body into balance. It is a beautiful nurturing session giving you ‘time out’ so you can re-ground. 

 *“The Effects of Reflexology on Labour Outcome”, Dr Gowri Motha and Dr Jane McGrath, Forest Gate, London, England, Nursing Times, Oct. 11, 1989