Pregnancy reflexology

Reflexology can provide effective and safe relief from many of the discomforts of pregnancy. It is important that the therapist receives specialised training in pregnancy reflexology before practicing in this field.

Treatment is possible at all stages of pregnancy, including first trimester, as long as the mother is happy to have treatment and there are no contraindications presented. Reflexology can be very helpful in reducing morning sickness and providing relief for fluid retention, heartburn, constipation, sleeplessness and fatigue.

Some studies have indicated that regular reflexology treatments during pregnancy can help make labour times shorter as well as reducing the need for medical interventions.

Research

A study at the Gentofte Hospital in Copenhagen revealed that reflexology is beneficial to women during labour. 58 out of 60 women giving birth experienced "outstanding pain relief using reflexology treatment", and 11 out of 14 women were able to avoid surgery under general anaesthesia. Dr Carsten Lenstrup was so impressed by the results that he said: "Taken as a whole, the results are so good that am not in any doubt that reflexology can give many women a better, easier and less painful delivery than they would have had otherwise."

Source: "Easier Births Using Reflexology." By Gabriella Bering Liisberg, "Tidsskrift for Jordemodre", No. 3, 1989.

The findings of the Gentofte study were supported by a further study carried out by Dr Gowri Motha at the Jeyrani Birth Centre on the effects of reflexology on pregnant women. 37 pregnant women completed a course of 10 reflexology treatments with remarkable effect. The average length of the first stage of labour was 5 hours whereas the text book average is 16 - 24 hours; the second stage of labour lasted an average of 16 minutes compared to the text book expectancy of 1 - 2 hours, and only 5.4% of the women who had reflexology treatment required emergency caesarian section compared to an average of 13% in the Newham district which was the district where the study was conducted.

Source: "The Effects of Reflexology on Labour Outcome," Dr. Gowri Motha and Dr. Jane McGrath, Forest Gate, London, England