29 weeks and blooming beautiful!

I arrive to find Eve looking pretty fed up with pregnancy. Yes she is overwhelmingly happy to be pregnant...But... also tired of feeling fat and frumpy. Feeling like you are on an emotional roller coaster can be part of many woman's pregnancies and your own well being should be addressed on this issue as well as the physical ones. It me be cliche but the happier and content the mother is then most people agree that makes a happy and content baby.. easier said then done when you have almost constant heart burn, plantar fasciitis, and a weighty baby to carry around!!

The reflexology session began after the precaution check list was completed. Eve wanted to feel relaxed and less miserable in general! A great reason to have reflexology for anyone pregnant or not. I concentrated on stress relief techniques including solar plexus hold and rotation and calm firm hold of second toe to encourage Eve's sense of self to strengthen during the pregnancy. Endocrine balance was also incorporated to steady and balance Eve and her pregnant bump. For eves indigestion I ensured she was seated comfortably without lowering her head too much. I also paid attention to the digestive system. Throughout being aware of Eve's painful plantar facsiitis.

And how were the feet looking? the bump on Eve's uterus reflex is growing steadily and moving further along the inside of her feet. Photos will follow, technology has got the best of me today.. but watch this space.

Pregnant Feet at 24 weeks

Its a girl!
Eve arrives excited to show me her growing bump.... on her feet! The roundness of Eve's pregnant belly is reflected in the swollen fullness of the inner arches of her feet. I know it sounds bizarre but Eve was sceptical and now she is showing everyone her pregnant feet! She feels the bump is bigger on her right foot and her instinct tells her this reflects how she feels the baby more on the right side of her belly.

Today Eve has a painful heel and has been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis This condition is painful and unpleasant but not related directly to the pregnancy and no risk to the baby. The maternity reflexology treatment helps to relax Eve and the massage can to some extent relieve the painful condition although other treatment may be needed. Despite this Eve remains positive about her pregnancy and excited about the new baby girl. She feels reflexology is helping her to remain calm and loves the relaxed, chilled feeling it gives her.

Pregnant Feet at week 21.

At 21 weeks pregnant Eve arrives for her treatment feeling tired and really looking forward to some time to lie back and relax, for both herself and her growing baby. Maternity reflexology can help Eve to do just that. I think the photo of both feet does not show any great changes, but it also didn't really show her feet off in all their glory, so I going to take individual foot photographs now.

The right foot is on the right and the left on the left, obvious i guess!




I think the photos show how Eve's feet appear full in the womb area, but not notably different from last time. The feet are generally pinker with more bounding blood vessels especially on the arch of the foot. After her reflexology session Eve is more relaxed and feels like having a long leisurely nap... Go for it.. was my reply!

Eve's pregnancy is progressing well, and with a scan booked this week the baby will be revealing their sex very soon. Boy or girl? Some believe reflexology practitioners can predict the gender of a baby by judging which foot shows the pregnancy more. I was trained that this is not the case, and as the gender does not effect the lie of the baby then I agree with this opinion.

At 21 weeks the baby now has fully developed eyelids and eyebrows, and their fingernails have grown to the ends of her fingers. Their skin still looks pink and wrinkly, but is no longer translucent, because fat is being laid down underneath.

The babies heartbeat is getting stronger every day, now beating at around 120 to 140 beats per minute. The lungs are still developing and practising breathing movement.

The mum-to-be's uterus will now have passed the top of their belly button, this is definitely true for Eve who has a glorious bump. With the amazing bump blossoming, various aches and twinges around hips, pelvis, abdomen and lower back are common. Eve may well have a suggestion of that famous pregnancy waddle, thanks to her changing posture. Maternity Reflexology can help alleviate some of the ailments associated with pregnancy. But as Eve so rightly says, she is not ill but pregnant and doesn't want to feel like a list of pregnancy symptoms and problems.

Pregnant Feet at Week 18.

As a reflexologist with a special interest and training in maternity reflexology I was keen to follow a pair of feet throughout pregnancy to see how the amazing changes taking place in the mom-to-be's body were truly reflected in the feet. My wonderful client, who I shall call Eve, has allowed me to photograph her feet at around three week intervals when she enjoys a reflexology session.

According to the theory of reflexology the areas of the body are reflected in specific areas of the feet. The reflex position for the growing uterus is below the ankle towards the arch of the foot. At 16 weeks the pregnancy is positioned around the arch of the foot nearest to the heel. At week 18 this area is full and notably rounded. This area would be expected to develop more as the pregnancy progresses, with the whole arch and centre of the foot becoming full and bounding as the baby grows. Most women report their shoe size changes, and their feet alter shape and size as their bodies change so dramatically. Hopefully this blog will enable us to see the specific changes more clearly. Thank you Eve!

Between 16 and 20 weeks the mum-to-be will usually feel the baby move, known historically as Quickening. This point for some represents the time that the baby begins to develop as an individual human being, but this opinion is fiercely debated and many beliefs exist as to when this change takes place. The foetus wriggles and can suck their thumb, hiccup and pass urine as they swallow some of the amniotic fluid which surrounds them. The baby can hear their mum talking, breathing, digestive noises and of course heart beat. The foetus is also starting to explore their body and surroundings through touch. They can also respond to the mothers emotions, and usually enjoy the feelings of relaxation during a reflexology session.