Because of my specialist maternity focus, unlike many other practitioners, I am able to support you through every stage of your pregnancy. So if you are looking for continuity of care from your fertility journey, or you are wanting to prepare for your birth, and anything in between, I am here to help you.

Through a blend of reflexology, bodywork, Shiatsu, craniosacral therapy, posture and exercises, informed through the integration of pre and perinatal somatic sciences, I can offer you tailored natural and holistic treatments in response to your changing needs as your pregnancy progresses.

I have supported hundreds of wonderful women to overcome their pregnancy challenges and to prepare themselves for an empowering birth experience.

So whatever problems you are facing, take comfort in knowing that my unique approach to working with you, and my ability to adapt your treatments each time you visit, means that you will be able to have a more positive pregnancy experience, something that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

What to expect from your appointments

For your first pregnancy appointment, we will have a detailed discussion about your pregnancy  journey so far and any previous pregnancy experiences, and we will explore your own experience as a baby. We will discuss any known issues including underlying health concerns, any medical treatment you have received and what you are hoping to achieve so that I can understand your current situation and how I can help.

Then while you receive your first treatment we will discuss a treatment plan that takes into account your individual circumstances and goals.

Each subsequent appointment will evolve to meet your needs at that time so that you always receive treatments that are tailored for you.

So if you want to have a positive pregnancy experience, I’m here for you.

Background

Sara’s first pregnancy and birth had not been a pleasant experience.  She had suffered with leg cramps, severe heartburn, backache and Symphysis Pubis Diastasis (SPD).  She had a long labour, having reached 6 cm and then did not progress any further for several hours.  Her baby was back to back and born after an epidural, ventouse delivery, an episiotomy and stitches.  Following the birth Sara had severe constipation and suffered a haemorrhage.

The whole experience was traumatic for Sara, and in the months following the birth she was very hard on herself and did not cherish her time with her new baby.

Treatments

Sara came to see me during her second pregnancy at 13.5 weeks.  She was experiencing lumber pain, her bowel movements had slowed down, she had tender breasts and was feeling very tired.

Sara visited me regularly during her pregnancy, having 15 treatments in total, using a combination of reflexology, massage and Shiatsu.

During the early sessions I concentrated on easing her lower back pain and in helping her sleep patterns.

At around 20 weeks Sara started to suffer with SPD, I was able to offer relief through bodywork and reflexology, she found that the pain was reduced for a few days after each treatment.

In order for Sara to benefit from some of the basic techniques in between her treatments I provided some training for her husband in basic massage and reflexology techniques, both Sara and her husband responded very well to the training and they found it beneficial.

By 26 weeks the SPD was not getting any worse, and by 30 weeks the pain had virtually disappeared, which was obviously a great relief to Sara.

At 36 weeks Sara and her husband attended the mumabuba ’empowered birth’ workshop, where we covered the techniques that can be used during labour to ease pain and provide comfort.

During the last couple of weeks of her pregnancy I concentrated on treatments that would help Sara prepare for the birth, and with particular focus on optimal fetal positioning.

Outcome

Sara gave birth to her daughter at her local birthing centre, a normal vaginal delivery, on all-fours with no pain relief or interventions, and a short labour of only 5 hours.

Background

Victoria came to see me when she was 18 weeks pregnant with her first baby.  She suffers from Spastic Cerebral Palsy, which mostly affects her legs, where she has very high muscle tone.  She walks with the aid of a walking stick and has to use a wheelchair for any long distances.

During the consultation Victoria also admitted that she was scared about her ability to give birth naturally and that due to her condition she would not be able to lie on her back with her legs wide apart in stirrups, which is how she perceived the labour process.  

Victoria was suffering with pelvic pain; due to her condition she was unable to rock her pelvis to alleviate the pain.  She was also suffering from backache in the lumber region and was suffering from headaches originating from her neck.  She has always suffered with these headaches, but the pregnancy was affecting her posture which made the problem worse.

Treatments

During her treatments, as well as the techniques I would normally use for pregnancy, I also provided passive movement techniques and massaged her legs and spine to increase elasticity of her muscles, which would reduce her spasms and improve motor skills by stimulating nerve messages to the brain.

Victoria found that the treatments reduced the discomfort in her lumbar and pubic areas, and the headaches had almost entirely gone.

Victoria and her husband attended the mumabuba ’empowered birth’ workshop, where they were taught massage, Shiatsu, reflexology and exercise techniques to help them through the birth experience and we also explored different positions to find out what she found most comfortable.

Outcome

Victoria gave birth to her daughter at 39 weeks, via a normal vaginal delivery and a 9.5hr labour, with no pain relief or medical intervention.

7 months later Victoria came back to see me after she was advised that her disability would get worse; and she really wanted to have another baby as soon as possible.  Her periods had been irregular since having her first baby, so we focused on preconception treatments.  After 2 months Victoria fell pregnant. She continued to see me during her second pregnancy and once again had a wonderful, natural birth.

Background

Tracy suffers with spina bifida occulta, with a fusion of the last two vertebrae in the spine.  Common symptoms can include back pain, leg weakness, bladder and bowel control problems.

Tracy had a traumatic and upsetting first pregnancy, having developed bleeding at the start of the pregnancy, which continued for 18 weeks, obviously this was a very stressful time, with a constant fear of miscarriage.  The bleeding stopped, but then she began suffering with bad backaches, made worse by the spina bifida.

Her baby was born naturally, but face to pubes and her placenta split during the birth leading to massive blood loss (known as postpartum haemorrhage). Tracy had six hours of surgery to repair damaged arteries in the uterus and remove the placenta.  As a result Tracy didn’t see her new baby for two days.

To make matters worse, Tracy’s bowel collapsed and she also suffered trauma to her bladder, leading to incontinence.  All this emotional and physical stress led to Tracy suffering with postnatal depression.

When Tracy fell pregnant again she came to see me when she was 6 weeks pregnant, after having a small bleed, she was obviously very anxious that her second pregnancy would be a repeat of her first, and was determined to do all she could to prevent that from happening.

Treatments

Tracy came to see me every week, and as her pregnancy progressed I varied the treatments to suit her needs.  Initially I focused on stabilising her hormones to reduce the risk of miscarriage and to reduce morning sickness.  We also spent a lot of time working on balancing her emotions and reducing her anxiety levels.

The combination of spina bifida and the previous collapse of her bowels meant that constipation was a key problem for Tracy. I was able to use a combination of reflexology, Shiatsu and bodywork to help and also provided her with techniques to use at home in between the treatments.

At times Tracy found that she was having difficulty sleeping and was feeling fatigued, so I varied her treatments to provide relaxation.  From 14 weeks I worked on treatments to prevent the backache she had experienced with her first pregnancy.

Towards the end of her pregnancy Tracy started to fear the thought of giving birth again, and was genuinely worried that either she or her baby would not survive (This level of fear is also known as Tokophobia).  To help Tracy and her husband prepare for the birth, they attended the  mumabuba ‘empowered birth’ workshop, which included lots of techniques to help with the usual labour challenges, plus I added some specific ways of helping Tracy with her anxieties and physical issues.

During her pregnancy Tracy had 39 treatments, I constantly adapted the treatments to suit her needs as her pregnancy progressed.

Outcome

Tracy’s baby was born via a natural birth at the local birth centre, with no issues at all – not even a tear.

I provided Tracy with her first postnatal treatment within 24hrs of the birth, whilst still in the birth centre.  I focused on rebalancing her body, helping with bowel movements and providing breastfeeding support.  Tracy had 20 postnatal treatments, with a specific focus on maintaining good bladder and bowel control, breastfeeding support (Tracy had inverted nipples which made breastfeeding a challenge), and also to balance her hormones and emotional wellbeing to prevent a repeat of her postnatal depression.

Tracy cherished this positive birth experience, which was a complete contrast to her first birth.