
Pregnancy is one of the most special and significant experiences you may ever have.
Prior to and during this time you need to prioritise your own health in order to sustain the health and development of the baby growing inside you. It is essential to nourish and nurture your body and soul for the duration of conception, the fetal stage and perinatal stage (just after birth) as this is when the foundation is laid for your mutual health and a strong bond between you and your baby.
Leading up to conception, reflexology assists in cleansing your body and reducing your toxic load by stimulating a detox and heightening the functioning of your lymphatic system.
Reflexology assists with correcting hormonal imbalances as well as blood sugar irregularities. Increased blood circulation ensures the organs receive more oxygen and nutrients in preparation for pregnancy. It also helps to eliminate emotional toxins by reducing stress and anxiety, while inducing relaxation.
Many changes take place in your body during pregnancy, on multiple levels; hormonal, emotional, physiological and metabolic. These ensure that you and your unborn baby receive adequate nutrition and oxygen, that the pregnancy is sustained by your body and that toxins are effectively eliminated.
These changes are often accompanied by a wide range of unwelcome symptoms. In addition to offering numerous benefits during pregnancy, reflexology can provide much relief from these symptoms.
Not only does reflexology during pregnancy provide relief from the above physical ailments but it also assists on an emotional level to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, creating a sense of wellbeing for you and your baby.
Reflexology may be enjoyed safely through-out your pregnancy.
To reap the full benefits, with results evident during labour and birth, it is advisable to begin treatments no later than week 36 of your pregnancy.
Although reflexology is considered completely safe during pregnancy there are few conditions where it is contra-indicated. If you are diagnosed with any of the following conditions, reflexology is not advisable:
Following the birth of your baby, reflexology is the ultimate nurturing tool to help you find yourself again. Tremendous changes have taken place, physically and emotionally, over the last 40 weeks and you may well feel overwhelmed and anxious. Together with little or no sleep, the extreme hormonal changes that take place in your body may lead to “baby blues” or even postnatal depression.
Reflexology provides that much needed time for relaxation, calmness, self-nurturing and gentle support to get you through those first few weeks of being a new mother, while assisting your body to rebalance. At this pivotal time, reflexology can help in the following ways:
The demands of a new baby, sleepless nights and hormonal imbalances may have a profound effect on your sex drive which may be detrimental to the health of your relationship with your partner. The relaxing, balancing effects of reflexology will assist in enhancing your libido, heightening your sex drive and strengthening that important bond once again.
As soon after the birth as you are able to drive, that is when you need to begin treatments again.
Reflexology is a wonderful, non-chemical therapy that induces labour or strengthens contractions naturally and gently. It stimulates your hormone producing glands as well as reproductive organs, encouraging activity in these areas of your body.
The stimulation is known to induce or “switch on” labour, after which this tends to progress effectively in a kind and gentle manner, as it would if you had gone into labour naturally. Besides stimulating the functional organs and glands, reflexology assists in relaxing and calming anxiety that may be delaying the onset of labour.
In other words “Reflexology switches on that which needs to be switched on, and eliminates that which may be holding you back, not allowing your body to go into labour.” Together with the Reflexology the following natural therapies are applied to stimulate uterine activities and relax the mother-to-be:
Reflexology is the perfect non-invasive tool to help you relax and remain calm during labour, allowing you to manage your energy and draw on it at crucial times. It is known to stimulate several helpful physiological processes, as follows:
As a touch therapy, reflexology is calming and soothing during labour, making you feel loved and nurtured.
For more information on the benefits of Reflexology please click here or to discuss how I can help you on your health and wellness journey, you’re welcome to call me on 082 871 0210 or complete my contact form and I will be in touch.
Get In Touch: For more information on the benefits of Reflexology or to discuss how I can help you on your health and wellness journey, you’re welcome to call me on 082 871 0210 or complete my contact form and I will be in touch.
Office Hours : Mon, Tues, Thu, Fri – 08h00 to 15h00 (Bryanston); Wed – 09h00 to 12h00 (Genesis Maternity Clinic)
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