Reflexology for Pregnancy
Pregnancy should be a beautiful time filled with lots of excitement and joy. However, it can also be quite stressful, particularly as the body is going through many changes physically and emotionally. Reflexology is a powerful tool, providing numerous benefits throughout pregnancy.

Any non-pregnant person is already dealing with a heavy load to their bodily systems; and Reflexology has proven to be a very effective therapy for treating a lot of modern illnesses we encounter in our day-to-day life:

• Mental stress has become so common and is taxing on our nervous system.
• Digestive disorders like constipation or IBS triggering bloating, flatulence and lack of energy.
• A sedentary lifestyle, with desk-bound jobs, contributes to circulatory problems and other aches and pains.

Pregnancy Reflexology offers a response, perfectly adapted to this special and important time in your life. Since the major organs are mirrored through our feet, by stimulating or sedating specific points, the corresponding organ is nourished with fresh chi (energy). Imbalances or stagnated old chi in the body is released; balance and health are restored, energy level improved, relaxation and rejuvenation enjoyed. This is most useful as it feels like we are working directly on the organ, giving them a ‘real’ massage but without being directly in contact with them!

Let’s take morning sickness as an example. Through a reflexology session with a qualified practitioner, they can help you treat the symptoms by working on specific reflexes. In this case, the oesophagus/stomach/spleen/diaphragm reflexes, as these organs are inter-related to digestion. To be more effective Tracy also integrates working with meridians (energy lines according to Traditional Chinese Medicine); in this case the stomach meridian. You can imagine how powerful the effect can be, by combining both the reflexes of the feet and the meridians. Whether you are being treated for a condition or you just want to give yourself some ‘me’ time for relaxation reflexology will benefit you. Reflexology is great for promoting inner peace and generally supporting the body for what it is going through. Moreover, it is very grounding, inviting a sense of inner calm to your body and mind.

The following are some benefits reflexology can offer throughout pregnancy:

• Aiding digestion
• Easing nausea
• Eradicating headaches
• Great for encouraging labour if you are overdue
• Improving sleep quality
• Increase energy level
• Influencing breech babies to turn
• Preventing heartburn
• Promoting bowel movements
• Relaxing hips and tight joints
• Releasing back and groin pain
• Relieving oedema (water retention) from ankles/feet/legs
• Reducing and normalising high/low blood pressure

When pregnant, it is very important that we pay attention to our level of stress. We should watch where we tend to hold on and resist the energy flow of our emotions and body. Try not to overwork and get fatigued as we build our energy to pass on to our children. Particularly during early signs of pregnancy, the mother needs lots of rest, relaxation, to refrain from being too physically and mentally active, i.e. over-worrying, overworking or being exhausted. Maintaining a proper diet also helps support a healthy pregnancy. One should especially avoid eating cold, raw and frozen foods, including cold fluids.

Reflexology is extremely safe and effective in treating pregnant women. It does not do anything unnatural to the body. However, there are precautions and if you are experiencing any of the following, you must seek medical permission from your midwife before treatment.

• History of High Blood Pressure
• Deep Vein Thrombosis
• Pre-eclampsia
• Infection of the Urinary Tract if under anti-biotic

• Epilepsy
• Hydroamnios - if there is too much amniotic fluid around the baby after 32 weeks
• In the first term if you have a history of miscarriages
• Placenta Previa - if Grade II or III after 32 weeks
• Premature labour - at any time before 37 weeks
• Severe infection
• Vaginal bleeding

Tracy facilitates her work through working with the breath, visualisation, meditation and reiki where appropriate. The goal is to work with you on all levels, as well as sharing her knowledge of using food and its properties as medicine, combined with her listening skills, infusing her treatments with love and compassion. It is her strong belief this is all part of the healing process. Tracy practices meditation/yoga and tai chi in her daily life. One of her main interest is combining the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine with reflexology. She was trained by eminent Midwife/Reflexologist Suzanne Enzer and Reflexologist Educator/Doula Mauricio Kruchik. At a later date she will also be a qualified Doula, training with the renowned obstetrician Dr Michel Odent, who introduced home birth and birthing pools.

Reflexology during IVF
With IVF being such an emotional and expensive procedure why not prepare your body and mind to its optimal state through reflexology? This is a great way to make preparations for your body to be detoxified, removing any unwanted toxins and clearing up the bowel if you’re prone to constipation or have a sluggish bowel. It is also a great way for the body to re-balance, promoting general well-being and relaxation. Whether or not you should continue treatment during the IVF cycle is completely up to you. However, during the stimulating phase clients should not receive a normal reflexology session as this will not be useful. If you enjoy the treatment and wish to continue then I would recommend a very gentle foot massage instead, combined with some reiki which can help to make a difference in reducing stress, encouraging more relaxation and feeling more optimistic during your IVF cycle. For more information please contact Tracy.

Do you wish to have the most pleasant birth experience that you can?
Have you heard how thousands of women have been helped by doulas during the birthing process?

What is a doula?
A doula is usually a woman who provides you the physical and emotional support that you need before, during and after birth. Doulas work alongside the mother in helping her and her partner to create the birth experience that she wants. A doula will help ease your fears and support you in any way she can. She will support you for example with a back rub if you need help to ease the pain, or to ensure that the environment where you are giving birth is as comfortable as possible for you to feel relaxed. Feeling relaxed is one of the keys in giving birth as it helps to promote the flow of oxytocin, which is the hormone that helps bring on the contractions. The doula will ensure you get all the privacy that you require so you will be able to feel free to express what you need, and tap into your own instinct to manage any pain and discomforts.

What is the difference between a midwife and a doula?
The midwife’s role is to make sure that the mother and baby are safe throughout birth. Her job is to deliver the baby as well as monitoring the well-being of mother and baby. There was a time when a midwife used to give emotional and physical support to the mother exactly how a doula would today. However, due to staff shortages in hospitals coupled with the endless tasks they need to attend to make it impossible for them to do more than they currently do.

This is where a doula would come in handy, as their role is to just stay focused on the mother until she gives birth. Midwives, on the other hand, change shifts and chances are you might end up with someone that you’ve never met before. Besides, often due to staff shortages in hospitals, a lot of mothers will end up feeling alone in hospital. When a doula is present you are the centre of attention, and she will ensure that you get the best possible care available.

Benefits of a doula
Studies have shown that by having a doula the birthing process becomes easier and shorter with less interventions. During labour, the doula will try and suggest helpful positions for birth and delivery, giving emotional support and trying to empower the mother to use her own instinct through pain management. Moreover, she will be sensitive to whatever the mother’s needs are in order to make her feel as relaxed as much as possible. Since giving birth is so overwhelming and privacy is so crucial, it is extremely important for the mother to not feel being observed and encourage being herself as much as possible without feeling being judged. There are other numerous benefits, so feel free to contact me should you be interested.