reflexology and pregnancy

Reflexology is an ancient healing modality based on the idea that every organ in the body corresponds to a pressure point on the feet, hands, ears as well as the tongue. A trained practitioner's hands can detect tiny deposits and blockages and can work on these to restore balance in the person being worked on. Tensions in the body are eased, and circulation and elimination are improved.

For many pregnant women, changes in body shape, and weight gain from the baby can affect the lower extremities. Tired, sore and swollen feet and ankles are common and respond well to reflexology. It can also encourage relaxation and relieve stress and other complaints such as morning sickness and constipation.

During labor, practitioners have found that applying pressure to points on the feet and hands they stimulate the pituitary gland to produce hormones known to speed labor and ease pains.

Reflexology is good both prenatally to help with sore feet, constipation, heartburn, morning sickness and many other common ailments. Also it has been shown to bring on a late labor, ease the pain during as well as speed it. Postnatally it has benefits for expelling the placenta, aid in milk flow and soreness associated with breastfeeding in the first few days. During a session the woman is eased into a comfortable chair, her feet are than given a witch hazel rub and the session begins. The session usually lasts 45 min to an hour. If the woman has a reflexologist come during labor the session would usually consist of 15 minutes intervals every hour and worked around what is best suited for mom at that time. Husbands and partners can also be taught some simple techniques to help woman during labor, and even later to help with postpartum.

" A 1988 study conducted by the Association of Reflexologists in London, England showed that continual reflexology treatments during pregnancy were instrumental in treating conditions like heartburn, hypertension, irritable uterus, edema and immunological stress. Reflexology was used during labor as an alternative to drugs to stimulate labor and reduce pain. In Women ages 20-25 they had an average first-time labor of five to six hours, with some labors lasting only two to three hours. Second time mothers between the ages of 26 and 30 appeared to have the longest labors, while several 40 year-old first time mothers experienced only two to three hour labors."

The study also showed that reflexology also reduced pain levels during labor and a high proportion of women receiving reflexology did not need anesthesia or other interventions. In addition, reflexology accelerated the release of the placenta in 70 percent of the women receiving treatments.

As a Doula, wife, and mother, reflexology has added to my life and that of my family's in so many ways. During my first pregnancy my partner and I were not having an easy time in our relationship, and my sexual desire had dropped from "I cant get enough" to "don't touch me". During this time reflexology was amazing for us. My partner would give me reflexology with my instruction, and later I would do his feet. It never took long to forget what we were disagreeing about when touch was a part of the equation.

After the birth of our son we were so caught up in parenting that reflexology seemed a thing of the past. However one night after an especially hard time getting my son down to sleep, I rubbed his little feet. I put pressure on his Solar Plexus point and his spine points to release tension and balance his nervous system. To my amazement he had dozed off to sleep within minutes! This started my interest in working with children. I have since given him reflexology during his nap time and bed times. My little one is very busy so I really can only get at him when he is feeling down, is sick or ready for bed. This seems to be the key when working with children. You really have to meet them where they are, give them the space they need, and your touch will go a long way. My hope is that he will still let me at his feet when he is older!

I feel touch can help bridge the gap when parenting teens as well. There need be no talk but touch speaks a thousand words.

I have had the privilege to have worked as a Doula with women in their birthing time. I have used reflexology over and over at births and the result is always positive, a free flowing birth with the placenta coming out easily.

Now four years later I am expecting our second child. During our birthing process our plan is to have my husband use the Reflexology that I have shown him. The points are easy to learn and with a bit of practice your hands will get used to putting the right amount of pressure on the foot.

by Nikiah Seeds

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Raeghan Siemens is a registered acupuncturist in Vancouver BC.
Her practice at Acubalance Wellness Centre focuses primarily on pre & post-natal care.
For more information on Raeghan click here.