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EmpowerNatal
Holistic Maternity Support
Therapies
The power of touch
body & mind
Complementary therapies look at an individual as a whole, addressing physical, emotional and spiritual needs. They are not alternative medicine that replaces conventional medical care.
It should be looked at to complement, add value and enhance your care.
Women are seeking more childbirth options! Around 70% of women use complementary therapies during pregnancy, but often without guidance on their safest use.
What might be safe for the general population may have different implications for pregnant women. This is why it’s essential to get support with a professional who understands how to safely adapt these therapies for maternity care, ensuring both you and your baby are supported in the best possible way.
Aromatherapy & massage
Massage during pregnancy is excellent for easing muscle tension and alleviating discomforts like back pain, pelvic girdle pain and swelling. Regular massage during pregnancy also provides relaxation, which supports your body to start labour naturally and increases the chances of a physiological vaginal birth. The massage can be performed with or without essential oils. When essential oils are used, a blend is tailored to you by carefully selecting the oils based on your needs and preferences. Essential oils add another dimension to the massage due to their proven properties, such as emotional support, aiding sleep, reducing anxiety by decreasing stress hormones, and increasing oxytocin (the love and birth hormone). Massage is the best method to administer essential oils, but they can also be used as a compress or in water, such as during a bath or foot bath at home. Aromatherapy massage can also be beneficial in the postnatal period as recovery after birth.
aroma & massage
reflex
Reflexology
Reflexology views the feet as a map of the body. Specific points on the feet can be manipulated by pressure to treat specific pregnancy ailments, such as, pelvic girdle pain, constipation and sickness or simply as a general relaxation. You will be provided with reflex zone therapy (RZT), a type of reflexology that focuses on realigning the musculoskeletal system to restore balance. It aims primarily to alleviate pregnancy discomforts, prevent further complications, and support the body’s natural healing processes. Reflexology can also support you after you had your baby to restore balance. You will be seated on a comfortable chair and the treatment is done without any oil. as is not a foot massage. However you can finish the treatment with a foot and lower leg massage with essential oils.
hypnosis
Hypnotherapy
You are offered clinical hypnosis. A therapy that combines different techniques to help you feel deeply relaxed in mind and body. It works by guiding you into a focused mental state, allowing your conscious and unconscious mind to embrace positive suggestions that support the changes you want to make in your life. Unlike general relaxation, this treatment is uniquely tailored to you. I use your own words and memories to maximise the effects, making the experience more powerful and effective. Because of this, you will be more receptive to the suggestions given during the session. Your level of relaxation is entirely up to you, the more you allow yourself to ‘let go,’ the deeper the experience is. However, a common misconception is that hypnosis takes away control. This is not the case, you will always remain fully aware and in charge of your experience. It can help with labour and birth preparation, fears and phobias, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep and build trust and confidence. A pre-discussion is included on the first session, where we explore what you would like to achieve. You will be provided with reflex zone therapy (RZT), a type of reflexology that focuses on realigning the musculoskeletal system to restore balance. It aims primarily to alleviate pregnancy discomforts, prevent further complications, and support the body’s natural healing processes. Reflexology can also support you after you had your baby to restore balance. You will be seated on a comfortable chair and the treatment is done without any oil. as is not a foot massage. However you can finish the treatment with a foot and lower leg massage with essential oils.
acupressure
Acupressure
Acupressure is a modality of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that works by stimulating specific points along energy channels (meridians) in the body, each connected to different organs. The goal is to move vital energy, known as “Qi” (Chi) in Chinese medicine, and restore balance to the body. Since acupoints can sometimes feel tender or sensitive, they are stimulated according to your comfort level to ensure a beneficial and relaxing experience. It can support you with labour promotion, pain relief, to reduce sickness and induce calmness and relaxation. One of the great benefits of acupressure is that it can be practiced at home! You and your birthing partner can learn these simple yet effective techniques during pregnancy, so you have these 'tools' to use throughout labour.
body
Body movement
Many pregnancy discomforts can be linked to an imbalanced body, which is often a result of our modern lifestyles. Your baby adapts to the space available in your bump and always finds the best position to be. There is no 'wrong' position! A relaxed and balanced body may create space for baby to move more freely, which may, in turn, ease discomfort in your pregnancy and support you when preparing for labour. Through movement and balance, certain common pregnancy symptoms can be relieved, such as constipation, back pain and hip pain. These exercises are not a prescription or generalised, as I tailor them to your specific needs, providing you with comfort and confidence throughout your pregnancy.
remedies
Natural remedies
Many women turn to natural remedies during pregnancy, but they are not always used in the safest way or with the best advice. While these remedies are derived from natural substances, they still have powerful effects and should be used with care. As part of your session, I can provide you with information on the safe use of herbal remedies such as ginger and raspberry leaf tea. If you’re interested in homoeopathy (for sickness), I can offer general advice and signpost you to trustworthy resources for further exploration. However, they should not be used alongside prescribed medications without professional guidance. Natural remedies should never replace medical treatment, especially in emergencies. It is essential to share with me if you are using any as they can also interact with medications and treatments.
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