Pregnancy is a time of momentuous change! It can be a time of great happiness and contentment, but also one where your body is placed under increased strain. Furthermore, you may also experience anxiety over how your life is changing and how you will adapt when baby is born.
As a mum of six, I know well the pleasures, but also the pains that pregnancy can bring. I, myself, have struggled with Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) and perinatal and postpartum depression. It is this personal experience that is a drive behind my passion for supporting pregnancy and postpartum, and my belief that it should be accessible to everyone.
Carrying a baby (or more!) leads to an increased weight load on your body. This places all kinds of strain on your muscles, ligaments and tendons. Pregnancy massage, in particular, is probably best known for being able to help ease the tightness; reducing levels of pain and discomfort.
Pregnancy also places an additional demand on your circulatory system, leading to swelling and general ‘sluggishness’. Massage is particularly helpful at reducing swelling and helping improve the circulation of oxygen and nutrients around the body.
Improving circulation supports your skin as it is called to stretch and is affected by changing levels of hormones. It helps to bring welcome additional nourishment and pliability through carefully chosen oils and gentle manipulation.
Pregnancy reflexology (maternity reflexology) is another popular choice. Studies have shown that:
- 6 weekly treatments of reflexology prior to giving birth for women who experienced low back and/or pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy significantly reduced the second stage of labour by 44.3 minutes. (McCullough J et al. 2017)
- Two studies have shown that reflexology in pregnancy significantly reduced pain during labour (Valiani M et al. 2010 & M Dolatian et al. 2011) and reduced the length of the first stage of labour (Valiani M et al. 2010)
Both can help to increase dopamine and serotonin, and lower cortisol and norepinephrine levels. This helps to reduce tension that can lead to headaches; tiredness and fatigue; stress and anxiety.
I recommend regular appointments throughout your pregnancy – please don’t wait to really struggle with something! I offer packages to support this.
(Booking is via the Fresha website/app or text 07706 952510)
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