Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is the umbrella term that describes pain anywhere between your belly button and your pubic bone and sometimes in your thighs, during and after pregnancy.
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PGP is a musculoskeletal condition that affects 20 per cent of pregnant women. More specifically, 14-22 per cent of all pregnant women have serious PGP with 5-8 per cent of these having problems with severe pain and disability.
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Reflexology is used for various pregnancy related complaints. A three-armed, pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted to test changes in physiological and biochemical stress parameters. Ninety primiparous volunteers experiencing low back and/or pelvic girdle pain (LBPGP) were recruited to receive either six reflexology or footbath treatments or usual care.
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Primary outcome data included pain intensity and frequency measured on a visual analog scale (VAS), and salivary beta-endorphin (pain relievers) and cortisol (stress hormone) levels.
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61 (68%) women completed the intervention.
• A clinically important reduction of 1.63 cm occurred for VAS pain frequency following reflexology
• Beta-endorphin levels decreased by 15.18% for the reflexology group as opposed to increasing by 8.8% and 10.10% in the footbath and usual care groups respectively.
• Cortisol increased by 18.82% in the reflexology group as opposed to 31.78% for footbath participants, 31.42% in usual care.
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Layman’s terms: pain down, pain relievers up, stress hormone lower
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Reflexology during pregnancy may help reduce LBPGP, and associated stress. However, antenatal reflexology is under researched and requires further investigation.
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Sources: pubmed 29705485 & netdoctor(dot)co(dot)uk
Category: Doula
Hypotension & Maternity Reflexology
Hypotension is low blood pressure, especially in the arteries of the left sided systemic circulation.[1] Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. A systolic blood pressure of less than 90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or diastolic of less than 60 mm Hg is generally considered to be hypotension.[2][3] However, in practice, blood pressure is considered too low only if noticeable symptoms are present.[4]
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Hypotension is the opposite of hypertension, which is high blood pressure. It is best understood as a physiological state rather than a disease. Severely low blood pressure can deprive the brain and other vital organs of oxygen and nutrients, leading to a life-threatening condition called shock.
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Advanced Maternity Reflexology protocols allow us to address Hypotension by encouraging blood production and stimulating the circulatory system. If you’ve been diagnosed with Hypotension in Pregnancy, or you’re feeling faint and dizzy, Adv Maternity Reflexology can help 💞
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Source: Wikepedia/Hypotension, Susanne Enzer Advanced Maternity Reflexology Manual
Hypertension & Maternity Reflexology
Gestational hypertension or pregnancy-induced hypertension is the development of new hypertension in a pregnant woman after 20 weeks’ gestation without the presence of protein in the urine or other signs of pre-eclampsia. Gestational Hypertension is defined as having a blood pressure greater than 140/90 on two separate occasions at least 6 hours apart.
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No single diagnostic test currently exists to predict the likelihood of developing gestational hypertension. High blood pressure is the major sign in diagnosing gestational hypertension. Some women with gestational hypertension may present asymptomatic, but a number of symptoms are associated with the condition.
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Symptoms:
Edema
Sudden weight gain
Blurred vision or sensitivity to light
Nausea and vomiting
Persistent headaches
Increased blood pressure
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There is no specific [allopathic] treatment, but is monitored closely to rapidly identify pre-eclampsia and its life-threatening complications (HELLP syndrome and eclampsia).
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Receiving regular Advanced Maternity Reflexology protocols developed by Susanne Enzer, former Midwife and Reflexology Therapist, helps maintain stable blood pressure during pregnancy and deal with symptoms of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension.
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Sources: Wikipedia, Maternity Reflexology Consortium