By Dr Gowri Motha & Karen Swan MacLeod
In her book, Dr Motha suggests following a programme of recommended nutrition, herbal supplements and Ayurvedic principles, as well as having regular treatments including craniosacral therapy, reiki, Bowen technique, creative healing and reflexology.
“I was approached by two reflexologists, Mary Martin and Helen Chittick, who volunteered their services to the antenatal clinic on a Friday afternoon. The benefits of reflexology in helping certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, were already well documented, so I was willing to refer mothers with high blood pressure to be treated with reflexology. In every single one of these cases, the mother’s blood pressure went down. Word quickly spread through the clinic and I started getting mothers presenting with different problems. I remember one mother in particular, who had developed severe Diastasis Symphysis Pubis in her pregnancy (DSP causes severe pubic pain and instability as the pubic joint begins to separate under pressure from the pregnancy and the influence of pregnancy hormones). Her condition was so painful that she couldn’t walk and had to use a wheelchair. However, after just three reflexology treatments, she was able to get out of her wheelchair and walk again. I was very impressed.
Along with this clinical antenatal success, we made another startling discovery – those mothers who had received reflexology treatments delivered their babies in much shorter times. Some mothers were delivering in 5-6 hours, as opposed to the commonly observed 18-hour labours. One 46-year-old woman delivered within a few hours of being in labour, which made me realise that it’s not your chronological age that determines your birth experience, but your biological age. A toxic lifestyle – ie smoking, alcohol, junk food and a lack of exercise – can make the tissues of a woman in her twenties function rather poorly; conversely an older mum can function amazingly well physiologically if she commits to a healthy lifestyle with optimum nutrition and a physical fitness programme.”
How Gentle Birth Method figures compare to national averages:
