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Pregnancy

reflexology

13 replies

Bell2 · 09/02/2005 20:32

Hello all
okay I'm getting fed up now - am 40+2 (okay so DD was a week late but......)

am considering reflexology but does it really work?

Jo x

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kolakube · 09/02/2005 20:48

No personal experience but my SIL delivered the day after a reflexology session when she was 3 days overdue. A midwife who does reflexology near us (Surrey) has a good success rate. I've got her datails if you are near enough.

If nothing else, think of it as a nice foot massage!

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oatcake · 09/02/2005 20:49

some people it does, some it doesn't. Out of the 4 pregant women I've treated, I've had no joy.

Recommend accupuncture though...

(if you live in the surrey area, I'd treat you for free just to see if I can actually get one success story!)

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karma · 09/02/2005 21:00

Hi Bell 2,
Am 40+1 today, and have booked in for some reflexology on Friday - will let you know what happens!!

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karma · 09/02/2005 21:02

Hi Bell 2,
Am 40+1 today, and have booked in for some reflexology on Friday - will let you know what happens!!

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karma · 09/02/2005 21:02

Hi Bell 2,
Am 40+1 today, and have booked in for some reflexology on Friday - will let you know what happens!!

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Eva3 · 09/02/2005 21:12

I am 40+3 today and had reflexology today - it was unbelievably painful in some ways (had no pain relief in labour so am no wimp) - she focused on big toe (petuitary gland) and uterus/ovaries point- side of heal. I am having lots of backpain... not sure..we shall see, trying not to get hopes up.

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rosies · 10/02/2005 12:26

if you can find a therapist who has gone on to study maternity reflexology (like wot i have!), its probably more successful.... simply because the 2 points mentioned are not the only ones used to energise and stimulate labour and baby.

acu points are also incorporated to bring the energy in and down.(as in gravity).

i can say i have had a few successes, but i would also say, if baby aint ready, he aint gonna come... whatever you do. even medical inducement is not guaranteed if baby is reluctant.

be positive in your thoughts regarding labour and birth... sometimes our anxiety over things holds it back.

reflexology shouldnt really be painful although for inducement one or 2 areas can be tender and sensitive.

best wishes!

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bakedpotato · 10/02/2005 12:32

could be coincidence but baby, which was posterior and had been for weeks, turned anterior about 3 hrs after the first session of my last pregnancy (which took place at 38 wks). could feel baby corkscrewing around. practitioner wasn't a pg specialist incidentally.
had a few other sessions, nothing rivalling this happened after any of them.
however, i have had reflexology sessions booked on both of the days i went into labour... DH rings and cancels as we head for labour ward, it's a rite of passage

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rosies · 10/02/2005 15:36

because reflexology is natural and balancing, there is no reason to think that the turning was coincidence.

the reflexologist, by working the feet, is bringing in energy to the corresponding area of the body and baby is responding to it.

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karma · 13/02/2005 20:17

Had reflexology on Friday and nothing has happened as yet. Will be 41 weeks on Tuesday. Really fed up!! Have been eating the old pineapple by the gallon-full this weekend, and even resorted to sex, thats how desperate I am!!
So in my experience, reflexology doesn't work. Hope others have more joy.

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Bell2 · 14/02/2005 14:04

Hello all
Had a session on Friday at 40+4 and nothing happened - am now 41 weeks Midwife also said that I'm only 3/5 engaged when I was fully engaged - so no idea as to what's happening now I'm getting really upset.....

I'm in Surrey by the way...
Jo x

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rosies · 15/02/2005 10:04

karma,

i'm sorry you havent had any luck yet. was your reflexologist trained and experienced in natural induction? i doubt whether a medical inducement would have worked either, if baby isnt ready.

the beneficial effects of reflexology, however, is that one should be able to relax and focus on the upcoming event. your body systems would have had a good boost to.

bell2,

are you near south croydon?

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karma · 15/02/2005 13:51

Rosies, don't think this particular reflexologist was trained in natural induction, and I have to say she seemed very gentle (I've had reflexology many times before and it's always been alot firmer). Wasn't convinced after the treatment that anything would happen. Just off to the hospital now for a post dates check - I'm 41 weeks.
Any news yet Bell2?

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