If you’ve had a tiring pregnancy, and feeling uncomfortable and particularly nauseous towards then end, have a go at Reflexology. This ancient form of healing is said to help treat many of the strains of pregnancy and even help you during labour.
Reflexology is the technique of applying gentle pressure to the pressure points on the feet or hands to clear the vital energy pathways that can become blocked due to the stresses and strains of life. The secret to it’s success in pregnant women, is it can help release the hormones that helps you contract whilst in labour. Maggie Smith, 64, a Southampton midwife and trained reflexologist said:
“Personally I feel it is very effective, it can help replace pain relief or control the pain whilst in labour and help people avoid being induced. I have had people sniggering with the whole idea of reflexology but a few hours later the woman have gone into labour. We have had an extremly good success rate.”
One of the many success stories that Mrs Smith has come across in her practice is Shelagh Hamilton, who has recently appeared in the Channel Four programme ‘One born every minute’ which was filmed at Southampton Princess Anne’s hospital. Maggie Mason who also appeared in the programme, performed the therapy for her and just hours later her waters broke. (follow on story) (Quotes)- ask maggie tomorrow
Sarah Shave, 39, from Itchen comments on her experience of reflexology whilst preganant:
“I was feeling particularly uncomfortable towards the end of my pregnancy so I received some sessions of reflexology. I heard that it helps relaxes your body and mind but also to induce labour. I wanted to avoid being induced.”
Mrs Smith said: “Despite our success rate we can’t really measure if it actually helps people into labour but it defiantly makes woman feel less anxious and relaxes them in later pregancy and labour.”
Midwifes advice that reflexology is like an exercise and should be done gradually and within your comfort range. That there are some conditions where it should be avoided, the main one is at any point before 37 weeks gestation.
Midwifes also advice that reflexology should be performed by professionals but under careful instructions it can be performed by a partner or somone the woman trusts.
Mrs Smith said: “It’s nice for the partners because they can feel they can help out by performing a few exercises that I have taught them. To know that they are helping their partner to relax and to ease pain can only be a good thing.”
Mrs Smith who aims to start up her own Reflexology practise when she retires believes there isn’t enough support from this alternative medicine:
“It’s a shame it’s not funded, the survival of the profession relies solely on people like me who advocate it in our spare time. I defiantly recommend it to all preganant women who are finding it tough in later pregnancy.”
By Ewen O’Brien for The Southern Daily Echo
