Welcome! I’m very excited to talk to with today about reflexology and how it can support with maternity. When I talk about that maternity period, I am talking about conception to birth and beyond. I am also talking about any birthing person and their partner(s). To begin with, I have seen some clients sail through pregnancy, I have also seen clients who aren’t so lucky. The same goes for birth and early parenthood, the range of experiences is vast.
Just as with reflexology for supporting fertility, there are a number of lifestyle factors and tips that a reflexologist can support you in adopting over time, if needed. A good example, would be around diet and exercise. There is so much misinformation out there and so talking to a reflexologist can be supportive in this way, too. To ensure you have some basic knowledge about this topic, please read all about fertility and the reproductive system, which can be found in previous blogs. Partners can get the most support with what has already been mentioned, along with treatments to help manage any stress or flare ups in their own conditions.
In terms of reflexology treatments, they will be adapted to the stage of pregnancy, birth or if the individual is post-natal. Treatments can be to treat a specific difficulty (such as constipation and heart burn) or simply be a de-stress aid. There is also specific treatment that I was taught to help clients prepare for labour. It’s not the most comfortable of treatments but it certainly is memorable. In terms of research, there is limited good quality research to inform practice. There are a number of small studies that can help reflexologists though. A couple of small study shows that reflexology reduces labour pain intensity, duration of labour and anxiety. Following birth, post natal depression, lactation and more can be supported with reflexology. As with anything, pregnancy, labour and parenthood is filled with uncertainty and unpredictability. Reflexology is a tool to support you through these times, rather than directly change what is happening in the present. Remember that people find reflexology useful, not magical.
Safety wise, reflexology is super safe during this time. However, some reflexologists won’t treat clients during the first trimester due to risk of miscarriage - not from the reflexology, but due to the risk of miscarriage being higher in the first trimester generally. There may be a fear on the part of the therapist, that they would get blamed if they gave a treatment and around the same time, a miscarriage occurred. If we think sensibly, we wouldn’t need abortion clinics if reflexology was actually dangerous to foetus’…
You are not able to have a reflexology treatment if you are pregnant and have a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pre-eclampsia, vaginal bleeding, sudden pain, pre-term labour, placenta previa, polyhydramnios, oligohydramnios, or placental abruption. All other difficulties can either be targeted in treatment or avoided, depending on what the issue is! No matter what, the reflexologist has the right to refuse to treat an individual if they do not feel competent to do so, for example, if there are multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets) or other physical health conditions that make the pregnancy less stable.
Reach out if you have any questions by using the details on my contact page. Let me know if reflexology has or hasn’t helped you during maternity.
References - The information above comes from a mix of learning from a reflexology for maternity course completed with Calming Influences, and also the Association of Reflexologists.