Reflexology & TTC

[greenpixie]

we're ttc again after I had mmc in June and I'm seeing a reflexologist tomorrow to see if she can help as my SIL swore that going to see one helped her after her mc.

Was wondering if anyone had any experience of this? I don't know if it will help, as personally I think we're both really stressed out as dh has just tragically lost his brother a month again and I think the stress of that isn't helping us. DH really wants to ttc again and I feel ready too.

Any advice, greatfully recieved, GP

hi, sorry about your mmc.

i am studying holistic therapie (and have some experience re ttc ) there are definately benefits, it balances everything and relaxes you (and that can only be a good thing) but i will say that some reflexologists are reluctant to treat a ttc woman, so you really really need to see a specialist in that field. and if you cant then tell the reflexologist that you are ttc.

good luck

We are ttc our first at the moment and not having much luck so i too am off to see a reflexologist (on thursday) would be very interested to hear how you get on.

The only thing i heard was not to have reflexology after ovulation if ttc, or in the first 3 months of pregnancy as it could cause miscarriage. I am not an expert so apologies if this is completely wrong

oh, you've got me worried about the ovulation thing as I'm meant to be ovulating now (according to chart, but it doesn't feel like it, iyswim, sorry tmi!)

I'll let you know how I get on. Am a bit nervous but I could do with being relaxed as it has been a v stressful 5 weeks with loss of bil etc

Sorry, didn't mean to worry you

I'm sure the reflexologist will explain it all properly tomorrow, i am probably just spreading scary unfounded rumours

good luck

Meant to say, so sorry to hear about your Bil that must be very hard for you all

x

hi gp
i have reflexology to help concieve.
ive had 2 sessions so far (in 1 month). it is so relaxing- if that is all it does then great. my reflexologist specialises in ttc and i would definatly reccomend seeing one that does.
i have not heard about the ovulation thing.
during my last session she said my thyroid was a bit sluggish and so she did her bit and also 'balanced my hormones' and since then my boobs have been so sore and i have had much more ewcm (tmi-sorry) than normal.
im going back this weekend for another session and i will be cd20 then.
i suppose the proof whether it works is yet to come, will keep you updated....
where are you? i can fully recommend my lady who is in cobham, surrey.
good luck to all.
xx wp

I'm doing this too!!
So far I've had 5 sessions. I am currently CD28 so I am waiting with baited breath to see if AF arrives as my cylces are 28/29 days long. Irrespective of whether it produces a BFP, I have enjoyed my sessions hugely. The first few were very relaxing and sent me to sleep. My therapist concentrates on the relevant areas - sometimes its quite painful ( but actually almost pleasurable! Weird!)
Keep us posted on how you get on. Good luck and enjoy it!

Hello!! Sorry about your awful experience.

I had 2 mc and then stopped having periods. Had accupuncture and reflexology and got pregnant just before my appointment with specialist so that saved us a few quid!!!
dd is now 15months and very sparkly like a cheeky fairy!

GOOD LUCK!!!xxxxxxxx

the session was lovely and incredibly relaxing. She highlighted that I suffer from back ache and something to do with my thyroid, but I'm not going to worry too much, as it is something to with inbalance (???) and considering my state of mind at the moment it isn't really suprising. But if she mentions it again, maybe I'll get worried - was unsure whether she meant under or over active thyroid.....

next session, is going to be looking at my hormonal balance and you never know.

But I am now trying to give up coffee/caffine as she said it might be a good idea and drink more water. Got a banging headache from the withdrawl though

Anyway fingers crossed that this all works out in our favour.

wow gp are you me?
my one picked up my sore shoulder! it is so relaxing, just nice having someone tickle your feet.
with my thyroid being sluggish as she said, i put 2 and 2 together and came up with 10. i went to my gp as i have had some other thyroid symptoms ( hair loss, dry patchy skin, poor weight loss) and also i have an skin disorder that is linked to thyroid issues. so my gp did my thyroid function which of course came back as ok. however i have been on pregnacare for 6 months and it has 93% RDA of iodine. are you taking this? im sure it can only help.
im off the caffiene too and had headaches. also my one sugessted a low gi/gl diet as blood sugar can affect conception. i have stuck to it for 3 weeks and feel great. no bloating at all and i have lost weight.gald you enjoyed it, i cant wait until saturday for my session.
good luck again!
wp xx

gp, whatr you are experiencing is a "healing crisis" it will get better and its fascinating. my tutor was able to tell which tube was missing and that im having probs conceiving (thinks it is ovarian)

how freaky, WP is that!
I've been on Pregnacare for about 2 months, and it has made me a calmer person. Before all the stuff kicked off with my dear BIL I was in a bit of a state over the the mmc, but tbh all the bil situation kind of puts everything into perspective and my priority is looking after DH who is taking things pretty bad at the moment but the encouraging thing is thathe wants to try again and start a new life. Which is a great project for him to do, iyswim!!

Am looking forward to next reflexology session and I must book that soon.

I'll see how long I give up coffe, as i tried to give up drinking and that didn't work, though I've cut down considerably! After the mmc I was drinking far too much! but now I've calmed down a bit.

I am convinced it is all onwards an upwards and roll on 2008 as it's been a cr*[ year

Hello, I had my first session today and absolutely loved it, It was so relaxing. I was also told to drink more water - she said my kidneys were depressed! I must admit i am a bit hopeless about drinking water, just seem to forget and never get thirsty.

Am going again next week when i will be -hopefully- ovulating and she is going to work more on the fertility area. Can't afford to go every week though, it is bloody expensive!

Also i was completely wrong about it causing miscarriage - sorry. she just said they would be gentle in the fertility area during the first 3months of pregnancy.

greenpixie - I'm so sorry for your losses but pleased that you have found reflexology as a means to assist your healing. I'm sure you already have plenty of info from your reflexologist now but thought I'd add my twopenny's worth.
I'm a professional reflexologist and have treated many clients who were ttc (and through their pgs)to good effect. Since reflexology treats the whole person it can take time to get everything back into a state of balance whereby it's possible to concieve. Stress related problems, particularly, take a long time to build up and can't be just swept away by a couple of treatments. There has to be some evaluation of lifestyle and changes made for things to really improve.
FWIW I don't hold that reflexology can cause miscarriage and happily treat new ladies at any point in their cycle/pg. However, since the therapy promotes balance, if there is anything wrong with the pg then I do believe that reflexology could potentially cause the body to do what it would do naturally (ie miscarry) a little more quickly (if that makes any sense) though I've not had any personal experience of this happening. I'd also advise your DH to have treatments too (you could always sell it as a stress buster to him - men can be a bit freaked by what they see as "health and beauty girly crap" as my DH once lovingly called it!!) HTH, good luck and above all else enjoy.

frogmarsh - So glad you enjoyed your treatment. I have to remind all my clients to drink more water It really does make a difference and you can tell if someone's fibbing !! Good luck to you also.

welshprincess - who is your therapist I live close to Chobham so would be great if she is any good....Thanks

mine is a lovely lady called michele hillman in cobham. www.optima-health.com
01932 589564
i really like her, she has a lovely lilting scottish accent.
i see her fortnightly at the moment and then im going to monthly. she charges £38 for about 45 mins.
enjoy!
wp

Thanks for this greenpixie, I had reflexology weekly throughout my first pg and everything went really well. Sadly since then I've had 2 m/c (June & Sept), I hadn't thought of having reflexology, but I'll definitely look for a therapist (moved since last time) and give it a go. Fingers crossed for everyone it brings bfp's soon

hello all
just thought id update you! sadly no bfp this month, but after my 3 sessions of reflex im just about to have my period. whereas i used to spot from day 19 of 27, this month i spotted once on day 25. im so much sorer than usuall- infact previously af would come with no bother at all. boobs are painful and have constant lower abdo pain, might even take some painkillers, havent done that in ages.also whereas before i was emotional all month, i have only blubbed this week.
so bring on the next month, maybe just maybe my body is in sync with itself and bfp is coming my way!!
hope all is well,good luck and happy babydancing!
wp xx

Hello everyone,

I have also been TTC (for a year) after a MC and, having seen this post, I thought I might try reflexology as well.

I have looked in the Yellow Pages but have found the info very confusing. There seem to be some people belonging to the 'British Reflexology Association' and some belonging to the 'Association of Reflexologists', then others that don't list a specific affiliation but have letters such as 'MAR', 'MICHT', 'MBSR' or 'ART'. Could anyone explain about these?

Also, what should I expect to pay for a reflexology session?

Thank you so much, and good luck to everyone who is trying reflexology as we speak.

Hi Cordy,
GO for it. If nothing else, they are wonderfully relaxing sessions. I found my reflexologist through a centre that specialise in holistic and alternative therapy - they also do acupuncture, hypno therapy and so on. There are at least three of these centres within 5 mins walk of my house so I would hope they are springing up everywhere these days . For an hour long session I pay £35, but I've seen similar sessions at the other places and prices seem to range from £25 to £50. Maybe ring them first and see if they specialise in TTC or maternity reflexology or can point you in the direction of someone who does. I know nothing about letters after their names and such like but You have nothing at all to lose by giving it a go!

i'm thinking of having reflexology, to add to the arsenal of ttc weapons. Do you know what the best time of the month is to do it? I've got this romantic notion that all the therapist will have to do is touch my feet and my ovaries will pop out three eggs for me to go home and fertilise...

Cordy, i would definitely recommend reflexogly even though i have only had 2 sessions! It is really relaxing and it makes you feel go to do something proactively towards ttc - another weapon in the ttc arsenal as herbaceous says. I pay £30 for and hour long session and this seems about average. I found her on this website

www.embodyforyou.com/

herbaceous i think the best time of the month is before and around ovulation, ideally a series of treatments is probably best but i couldn't afford to go that much so she gave me some notes and instructions so that dh could massage my feet in the right areas - this caused much hilarity and giggling when we first tryed it but he turned out to be very good at it and i got so relaxed i fell asleep!!

Thank you so much for the info. I think I'll give it a try, particularly as last week my doctor told me that she can refer me to a fertility clinic but the wait is around 3-months... So another 'weapon' (well put!) is probably a very good thing at this stage!!!

Hope the foot-pummelling works for myself and everyone else here!

just come back from 2nd session - was v relaxed as knew what to expect this time! Had wierd sensations relating to hormone balance - seeing orange colours and swirling things - apparantly all positive and relating to the reproductive system. Some may be synical about all of this, but it makes me feel positive, which is what I need right now.

fingers crossed and all that! Good luck everyone else!