Antenatal and postnatal care Reflexology, Reiki and Massage can be used during this time.

Before conception, these therapies may help to regulate hormones and the menstrual cycle, improve your health and strengthen your constitution, reduce anxiety around conception and, if you are receiving fertility treatment, they can support you (and your partner) at this time.

If you are already pregnant, holistic treatment provides a space to enjoy being pregnant. At the beginning of your pregnancy you may find physical and emotional changes leave you feeling uncomfortable or tired. Treatment may help to provide balance and support for these changes.

Antenatal treatments provide a space for you and the baby to relax and rebalance. These holistic approaches will allow you to be in the moment, taking the emphasis off labour and what might be. Learning to relax is excellent preparation for natural or assisted labour and parenthood. As pregnancy progresses, you may want relief from muscle imbalances which can lead to sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, general aches and pains or restless legs. Some relief may be gained for symphysis pubis syndrome.

A reflexology study by Motha and McGrather (1995) into labour experience of 37 women following ten reflexology treatments during pregnancy report the following findings:

• Average length of first stage labour was only five hours compared to a norm of 16 to 24 hours
• Second stage labour lasted 16 minutes, compared to a norm of one to 2 hours
• One woman required an epidural (2.5% compared to average 20%)
• Two women needed and emergency caesarean (5.4% compared to average 13%).

Post-natal treatments help the body to recover from labour, encourage lactation, ease mastitis, aches and pains and help hormones to rebalance. Having a relaxing treatment gives something back to parents who give their new-born unconditional love, time and protection. Babies can be treated too, with parents learning simple reflexology techniques to soothe their baby.