Clare Minter
Reflexology & Wellbeing Saffron Walden, Essex
Clare Minter
Reflexology & Wellbeing Saffron Walden, Essex
Maternity Reflexology
Supporting you through pregnancy
Expecting a baby?
I've been a Maternity Reflexologist for over 2 decades and I've supported hundreds of expectant mums as they've prepared for labour. I'm passionate about ensuring that every mum-to-be has the best possible pregnancy and birthing experience!
Reflexology sessions provide nurturing time away from your busy life to truly relax and connect with your little one.
Treatments may help to relieve common pregnancy discomforts including nausea, morning sickness, constipation, mood swings, anxiety and sleep disturbance.
Research has shown that regular reflexology treatments as you approach birth, may result in an easier labour.
Postnatal treatments may help to ease common issues, such as breastfeeding discomfort - and may help to restore natural balance following childbirth.
Reflexology and It's Impact on Labour
A research study found that reflexology treatments during pregnancy, significantly reduced pain during labour and reduced the length of the first stage. (1)
Feeling anxious about giving birth?
Putting time aside for regular reflexology treatments in the lead-up to your baby’s arrival, not only ensures you invest in the new little life growing within you, but could also affect your labour outcome!
Research has found that first time mums who received 10 reflexology treatments leading up to birth, had average labour times of 5 to 6 hours - the textbook average is 24-48 hours! It was also noted that the group treated with reflexology needed far less pain relief during labour. (2)
As I work in a complementary way alongside your skilled midwife team, you'll need to confirm that they've been made aware that you'll be having a reflexology treatment, before your first appointment.
Pregnancy discomfort
It's likely that you'll experience some discomfort during your pregnancy. Common problems include:
Morning Sickness
Constipation
Extreme fatigue
Heartburn/Acid reflux
Anxiety
Mood swings
Insomnia
Fluid retention
Back pain
Hip/Pelvic pain
Sciatica
Read more
Reflexology sessions may help to ease discomforts and any anxiety you may be feeling.
With dramatic changes going on within your body, now could be the perfect time to schedule a calming and restorative reflexology session.
Pregnancy-related health conditions
Sometimes a more complex health condition may develop during pregnancy...
Hyperemesis Gravidarum is thought to affect up to as many as 1 in 50 pregnant women and in extreme cases may cause dehydration due to constant vomiting. If you are one of the unlucky sufferers, you may have nausea and sickness throughout the day and have no appetite. The calming effects of Reflexology may be particularly beneficial and specific techniques can be used to help you cope with this condition.
Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP), also known as Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)), is a potentially debilitating complaint that may last throughout pregnancy.
Read more
In more severe cases, crutches may be needed as pregnancy progresses, to help take pressure off the affected area. Reflexology sessions encourage relaxation and specific techniques may help in the treatment of this condition.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can affect some expectant mums - usually in the later stages of pregnancy. Pressure on the median nerve and tendons in the carpal tunnel of the wrist can cause pain/tingling in the hands, which travels up the arms and into the back. Reflexology lymphatic drainage techniques will encourage the elimination of excess fluid build-up, which seems to be a primary cause of the condition.
Reflexology after your due date
Only around 4% of women will give birth on their due date and many more won't deliver their babies until a few days later. Your midwife may have mentioned induction, but perhaps you'd like to try a natural treatment to help you relax and relieve any anxiety, as you get close to term.
Reflexology is a deeply calming treatment that helps to release muscle tension, which in the later stages of pregnancy may help you to ‘let go’ - sometimes with the desired effect! Acupressure techniques can also be used that may encourage the birthing process to start, but please remember that babies only arrive when they are ready!
Feedback from clients has shown that they've felt calmer, more confident and better prepared for labour after just one post-term reflexology session.
Reflexology and labour
I’ve worked on a voluntary basis within a hospital birthing unit, offering reflexology to women during labour. I was delighted to see how the techniques I used seemed to have such a positive effect and helped to:
- Calm body and mind
- Regulate and relieve the intensity of contractions
- Provide natural pain relief
If you are in the later stages of pregnancy, I’ll provide some simple hand reflexology techniques for you to use during labour.
These should help you to stay calm and focused and may alleviate pain - to enhance your entire birthing experience.
Postnatal reflexology
A research study has found that reflexology treatments can help improve the quality of sleep in postnatal women. (3)
Reflexology is a gentle way to help you recover from childbirth. Huge physical and emotional changes have taken place in the space of almost ten months and it will take a while for your body to return to normal...
A sudden drop in hormone levels in the days following birth can leave you feeling overwhelmed - and sleepless nights in the early weeks may lead to feelings of sheer exhaustion.
Postnatal reflexology sessions provide restorative relaxation and may help relieve common discomforts (such as breastfeeding issues or constipation). They’ll promote your body's own natural healing processes, to aid recovery. Reflexology may also help to boost low mood and enhance feelings of wellbeing.
What my clients say
If you’d like support during pregnancy and want to prepare for an easier labour, I’d love to help!
1 Valiani M et al - 2010 "Reviewing the effect of reflexology on pain and outcomes of the labour of primiparous women" Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research. 15(Dec) p302-310.
2 G. Motha and J. McGrath - 1992 "The effects of reflexology on labour outcome".
3 Li C-Y et al - 2011 "Randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of using foot reflexology to improve quality of sleep amongst post partum women" Midwifery. 27. p181-186
© Clare Minter
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