My Journey to Maternity Reflexology

Maternity Reflexology can support ladies throughout their pregnancy and post natal journey. 

Deciding to train in Maternity Reflexology

I decided I wanted to learn more about how reflexology can support ladies during their conception and maternity shortly after I became a Reflexologist. I possible event knew many years before then!

The reason I was keen to learn about conception and maternity reflexology was it had supported my own journey.

I would like to share with you my conception and maternity journey, which was not an easy one.

My Conception and Maternity Journey

About 12 years ago we decided it was time to start a family and like most people we thought it would just happen. But after trying for 1 year we decided to seek medical assistance. Following a blood test and scan I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovaries. We had never heard of the condition before but on looking into the symptoms I soon released that I had a few and possible had it for a number of years. For those that don’t know Polycystic Ovaries effects the way that a ladies ovaries work and can mean that they may not be ovulating. You can gain more information and guidance on the NHS website. 

Following the diagnoses we got swept up in the NHS system of further investigation and treatment. I had to go for regular scans, blood tests and x rays just to find out what actually was happening and to rule out any other conditions.

The initial treatment was a medication and then a second medication was introduced. After another year of trying and further blood tests and scans and my husband being investigated I was offered an operation to try and encourage my body to start ovulating. So I had key hole surgery to see if it would help.

Around 4 months after the surgery I still was not pregnant so we started to discuss the possibility that we may not become parents. We went to a meeting about adoption but decided it wasn’t for us. 

It was around October and we agreed to stop trying at the end of the year.  So we started making other plans for example my husband applied to join the Royal Navy and we talked about going travelling. At the end of November my husband had received a date for an initial interview with the Royal Navy and then he was taken ill, and ended up in hospital with appendicitis. Shortly after he came out of hospital I decided to do a pregnancy test just because I just didn’t feel right and much to my surprise I was pregnant.

During the whole conception process I had received the odd reflexology treatment to see if it would assist with balancing my hormones and helped me to relax.  The reflexologist knew I was trained in massage and taught me the areas of the feet associated with the reproductive system. I would then be able to massage both mine and my husbands feet.

If I knew what I do now back then I would have looked at my lifestyle. I had a lot of stress, not a balanced diet and worried about body image which could have also been factored. I would have also looked into other therapies in more detail.

I’m also a firm believer of everything happens for a reason. During the years we were trying for a baby we visited more countries and went on more adventures such as skiing.

Qualifying in Maternity Reflexology 

In 2014 I qualified in Reflexology and started offering this treatment straight away. I love giving Reflexology treatments and have gained lots of experience in treating clients.

Once I started to promote reflexology through my Facebook page I received enquires from ladies trying to become pregnant and asking if reflexology could help. My response was ‘unfortunately I’m not conception reflexology trained’.

So after a couple of years it became clear that I needed to gain experience and knowledge in this area.

Firstly I  purchased a book produced by the AOR (association of Reflexologists) called ‘Reflexology: supporting your client through the conception and maternity journey’. This was very informative and gave me the confidence to explain that I had knowledge in the area of conception. I had learnt it was more about relaxation, stress relief and balancing the body when it came to supporting ladies on their conception journey. 

On reading the book I discovered it was important to go on a Maternity Reflexology course before treating pregnant ladies. There are certain parts of the foot that needed to be avoided at different stages of pregnancy. The book had details of different massage sequences which could be used. So I thought it was best to go on a course so I could see the sequences and get to practice them. But the biggest reason I booked onto maternity course was  one of my current clients had become pregnant and I was not confident in treating her.

Finding the course for me

When I first started looking at Maternity Reflexology courses their was quite a few around and it was hard to know which one to choose. Some were quite a few miles away, some not approved by the AOR and some that were quite expensive to go on.

I had found a course in London by Sally Earlam who was the co- author of the book I had read and also came highly recommended by other Reflexologists in the area but I wasn’t sure about travelling to London for 2 days.

I did approach Sally Earlam about her courses and the dates available but still did not enrol. Then in March 2018 I saw that Sally Earlam was speaking at my AOR area meeting about complications during pregnancy so I took myself along to the meeting and after listening to Sally and realising how knowledgeable and informative she was I became inspired to go on her course so a few days later I booked myself on to her next available date which was June 2018.

I then arranged for my parents to have the children for 2 nights and booked a hotel in London for me and my husband so while I was on the 2 day course he would be relaxing at the hotel and visiting London and then in the evenings we would go for a nice meal.

The course was very informative and supportive and we had lots of time to practice on one another. I don’t know if it was fate or coincidence but out of the 10 of us attending the course 6 of us were from Essex. One of the girls was pregnant and we have remained in contact.

On completion of the course I received a certificate of attendance and able to start treating ladies who were over 12 weeks pregnant.

During the course it was explained that if we wanted to gain a further certificate to show we were competent in the treatment we could complete 2 case studies. We needed to complete 3 treatments of 2 different pregnant or post natal ladies. Throughout July, August and September I completed my case studies and typed up all the extra paperwork to send to Sally.  In October I received feedback from Sally to say I had passed the case study and I shortly received the certificate.

Since completing the course I have supported  a number of ladies at different stages of the maternity journeys. If you have any questions about how Reflexology can help you please contact me via email, Facebook, and phone.