PUTTING your feet up is always a treat. And never more so than when pregnant, especially if your tootsies are being expertly massaged by a specially trained therapist.

Maternity reflexology can be a little slice of pampering heaven — or so say expectant mothers-to-be.

What makes it even better is that this therapy is endorsed by maternity hospitals including the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin’s Holles St as the evidence mounts of its benefits, especially in labour.

It is said to encourage the body’s innate ability to restore a healthy balance during this challenging and changing time for your body.

For those unfamiliar with reflexology, it is an ancient treatment based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet, hands and ears corresponding to every organ and part of the body, and that by applying pressure to these reflexes, specific bodily functions and organs are stimulated.

Ethna McQuillan is a Clontarf-based therapist with 16 years experience. In latter years, the mother-of three has offered a variety of maternity-related therapies in which she ‘mothers the mother’ before and after a birth. Ethna is open to giving a reflexology treatment during labour itself with homebirth mothers.

The difference between maternity and conventional reflexology is the areas of the foot (and by extension the body) that are left untouched. These include the uterus, ovaries and the pituitary gland — the body’s master gland which plays a role in naturally inducing labour if required.

“When it comes to what is safe and what isn’t in pregnancy, opinion is constantly changing. Ten years ago, it would have been unheard of to do reflexology during pregnancy but now, based on feedback from mothers, a huge amount of nurses, midwives and doulas have been trained in it and use it on patients,” says Ethna.

“Reflexology prepares the body for labour by rebalancing all the body systems and organs that have been thrown out of whack. The hormones are all over the place, the body is carrying excess blood and the liver and kidneys are working on behalf of the baby as well as the mother, so the reflexology tries to restore balance.

“Not only can regular treatments in the six to eight weeks prior to a woman’s due date reduce the length of their labour, but reflexology can also be used to help induce labour naturally and avoid being chemically induced in hospital. Several clients say the reflexology pressed their ‘eject’ button!”

One mother-in-waiting who hopes not to need the button-pressing services of Ethna is Denise from Blackrock, Co Dublin. At 35, she has two little boys — Daniel (4) and Matthew (3) — and is five-and-a-half months pregnant with her third child.

For the first time, Denise is trying maternity reflexology and is enjoying the relaxation and reassurance offered in a half-hour massage session.

“It’s tough juggling working full-time with two small kids and another one on the way. After hearing so many good reports about reflexology, I decided to give it a try and so far I’ve found it great, especially when it comes to getting a more restful night’s sleep.

“Not only do I reap the rewards afterwards, I like the space for myself in the session which I don’t get otherwise, and as soon as she touches my big toe — which is connected to the head — I conk out.”

Verdict from Denise: “I’d recommend it on several counts: it allows you time to chill out; it is a reassuring regular check-up with a practitioner experienced in dealing with pregnant women; it works; and all you have to do it take your socks off.”

Source: The Irish Independent – Niamh Hooper 31st March 2008

Over the past 10 years I have had the honour of being a facilitator in the healing of many, many clients with a diverse array of diagnosed and even undiagnosed conditions and diseases. In some cases, the clients are nearing the end of their journey. This article is about one of the wonderful experiences where the journey ended and a new and exciting journey began.

Four years ago a lady in her late 30s called for a session based on a referral from two of my other clients. She stated she was depressed as she presented with secondary lymphatic cancer diagnosed three months earlier as a metastasis of originally diagnosed breast cancer. Her several surgeries included removal of breast four years before followed by two surgeries to remove metastasis in reproductive organs and very recent surgery to remove lymphatic tissues. Client refused any radiation and chemotherapy. She advised me that her prognosis was extremely grim.

Other presenting symptoms were recent numbness in extremities; skin rash and swelling under arms; itching in upper torso; pain in hips; cold hands and feet; pain in reproductive areas; PMS; difficulty urinating; poor sleeping patterns; occasional indigestion with reflux prior to breast cancer; occasional bloating; constipation; and emotional distress with depression.

Despite all of the above, this client was proud to point out that she has been extremely pro-active in her health by leading a healthy lifestyle in terms of nutrition, supplementation and exercise. This was certainly good to hear.

A series of four therapeutic reflexology sessions began, each session one week apart. I combined advanced therapeutic techniques from European Reflexology including a very important piriformis muscle adjustment, Clinical Reflexology communication techniques and Reiki.

Since that initial series of Reflexology treatments, the Client has returned annually over the past four years for Reflexology maintenance sessions.

She happily states she is currently in excellent health and leads a busy lifestyle as a wife, mother and health enthusiast.

Presented by Jack Marriott, CMR CSM