Who has used reflexology to try to induce labour and did it work?

[FrannyandZooey]

All details welcome please

[butwhybutwhy]

Oooh me, I did!

With dd (first born).
A collegue of dh's did reflexology and gave dh some little tricks that he could do for me.
To cut a long story short, he started them one day and I had dd the next.

[FrannyandZooey]

'little tricks'
do you mean on your feet? I have had enough of people recommending other 'little tricks' dp can do to get things going

[belcantavinissima]

i did. it didnt work for me but it was jolly pleasant (unlike the accupunture i tried for the same reason which wasnt pleasant at all and also didnt work )

[Pruners]

Message withdrawn

[FrannyandZooey]

what was pleasant about it? was it relaxing?

[FrannyandZooey]

Pruni she does know hypnobirthing but I am not really into it
well tb 100% honest I don't believe ANY of this stuff
but people have recommended reflexology more than anything else and I am getting desperate to go into labour and try for a homebirth still
I don't even really know what it is - is it foot massage?

[Ewe]

I had four sessions and it didn't work (was induced in the end) but it was nice and relaxing so didn't feel it was a waste of money!

[Pruners]

Message withdrawn

[expatinscotland]

i didn't believe in hypnobirthing, either, but after using a hypno CD i can really see a difference and even my panic attacks are much more manageable.

[ilovemydog]

love having my feet rubbed

[butwhybutwhy]

lol, yes I did mean dh messing with my feet, not "other" tricks involving dh

The main ones were what I call the toe squealer.
Basically if your dh looks at the bottom of your big toe, he will see a print on it like what is on our fingers, where there is an arch in the middle, he has to press as hard as you can stand with his thumb for as long as you can bear it. This has to be done on both toes.

The second is just basically pushing upwards with his thumb on the inside fleshy part of the arch of your feet.

[dinny]

yes, with ds

midwife came when I was 41 + 1 and asked me if I wanted her to do some and start labour off. I said yes, she did the biz and had ds later that night

reflexology is amazing - the sole of foot has points which represent areas on your body

it feels lovely too

[dinny]

sorry, I was 40 +1

[GillianLovesMarmite]

I had reflexology at the hospital as I had been having regular sessions. The reflexologist said she would stimulate the bit that linked to my uterus as I happened to be one day over due on my appointment. I had the reflexology at 1pm on the friday and my waters broke at 2am on the sunday - I don't know if it was necessarily the reflexology that set me off, but I think it's worth a try with an appropriately qualified person as even if it doesn't do the trick it's very relaxing and worth a try!
Gillian.

p.s I used hypnobirthing cds as well as having the reflexology as I had a panic attack at 14 weeks - then didn't have any more - as I think all the relxation really helped!

[FrannyandZooey]

thanks all for replies
how does it not tickle then? I hate having my feet touched normally - could no way let dp do it!

[GillianLovesMarmite]

It doesn't tickle as it's firmer as they press and stroke firmly rather than tickle. I loved it!

[FrazzledFairyFay]

I had it and loved it but it didn't bring on labour for me (I was induced)

[FrannyandZooey]

thanks everyone, I am trying to decide whether to go for it or not, so all replies useful

anyone else want to comment?

[FrannyandZooey]

anyone else? it's really helpful to hear everyone's experiences

[FrannyandZooey]

[hopeful]

[dinny]

nothing to lose at all by having it - bet you really like it, it's lush

good luck!