Reflexology is a form of foot massage in which work on pressure points in your feet is meant to have a positive effect, through energy zones, on corresponding areas of your body. This type of massage is particularly appropriate for pregnant women, because, as pregnancies progress, different areas of the body become unable to tolerate traditional massage therapy. Reflexology enables the therapist to perform, in effect, a full-body massage while working only on your feet.
Relaxation
Even if you don’t put much stock in the idea that work on your foot can affect other areas of your body, it's hard to argue that reflexology is not relaxing. A 30- or 60-minute treatment can greatly help with the stresses of pregnancy. The therapy is usually performed in a relaxing, quiet environment, letting the pregnant woman shut out the stresses of everyday life during the reflexology session.
Foot Muscle Benefits
Carrying around all of that extra weight during the latter stages of pregnancy can put extra stress on your lower extremities. The deep work performed on your foot during reflexology can relax these muscles, increase blood flow to the area and help relieve any swelling in the ankles. Again, you don’t have to buy into the theory of energy zones to enjoy the benefits of reflexology. Just look at it as a great foot massage.
Labor Pain Management
Reflexology can become a strategy to manage labor pain. Although it is a non-traditional labor pain treatment and will not reduce the force of contractions, it can help the woman in labor be more relaxed and better equip her to work through the process. There is no need to bring a reflexologist to the hospital with you. Just ask one beforehand to show you a few techniques that you or your partner can administer at different stages of labor.
Increased Health in Contraindicated Areas
Since reflexology is meant to benefit different areas of your body through work on pressure points in your feet, it enables your therapist to work on areas that your pregnancy renders unavailable for traditional massage work. For example, deep work on the legs is not advised during pregnancy due to an increased risk of blood clots. Reflexology lets the therapist address these areas without touching them, eliminating that threat.
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