Reflexology has become increasingly popular with the general public and with pregnant women in particular. It is developing into a profession in its own right and has a growing body of research evidence to support practice.

There are many different styles of reflexology around the world, with the majority being used primarily for relaxation, whilst a few have specific clinical applications and offer new tools for conventional healthcare practitioners to incorporate into their existing practice.

This book takes a reflex zone therapy approach, which is a variation on generic reflexology, used in orthodox healthcare, notably by midwives. It also introduces the concept of structural reflex zone therapy, an adaptation of reflex zone therapy devised by the author, in which the reflex zones of the feet act as a medium via which musculoskeletal misalignments of the body may be corrected.

Reflexology in Pregnancy and Childbirth Is aimed at qualified and student midwives and reflexologists, other maternity care providers such as doulas and antenatal educators, and complementary therapists from other disciplines with an interest in maternity care.

The book offers an introduction to the subject of reflexology and, specifically, to structural reflex zone therapy, Including a revision of the zones and points on the feet which are used in treatment and of its application to the care of pregnant, childbearing and newly delivered mothers.

The focus is essentially one of safety, professional accountability and evidence-based practice. It Is not intended as a “how-to-do-it” text, as it would be inappropriate to learn a manual therapy from a book, and a formulaic approach to treatment would undermine the individualised, holistic element which is so much a feature of both complementary therapies and midwifery care.

However, some suggestions for treating women with particular conditions in pregnancy, labour and the puerperlum are given in the context of structural reflex zone therapy and the relevant physiology. The range of conditions explored Is not exhaustive as it is hoped that this book will provide a model by which practitioners working at an advanced theoretical and practical level can rationalise for themselves the required techniques and precautions to the treatment of individual mothers.

Language: English
Format: PDF
Pages: 182
Reflexology in Pregnancy and Childbirth by Denise Tiran (pdf)