MEET THE TEAM
When I started to work with pregnant women back in 2011, it soon became clear to me that the key to women having positive birth experiences lay in how well-supported they felt during their pregnancy, birth and beyond. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some incredible practitioners and therapists during my career to date, and I have brought together here a team of people who I know will support you in the nurturing and woman-centred way I talk about during my classes.
Often in Western society, when we are suffering we seek remedies to our symptons, rather than addressing the root cause of our discomfort. Alternative therapies have given me an eye-opening view into a more empowered way to manage our wellbeing, and this is never more important than when a woman is navigating the demands of pregnancy.
Take a look around to find out more about these wonderful women, and how their therapies can help and support you during this amazing time.
HYPNOBIRTHING TEACHERS
All of our hypnobirthing teachers hold a full hypnobirthing diploma, group and private teaching experience, as well as specific training in delivering our renowned YMBP (the yesmum® birth project) syllabus and ongoing personal development. This syllabus and style of teaching is unique to us, and we pride ourselves on finding the best practitioners to deliver our informative, empowering, nurturing and bespoke form of childbirth education.
When you join a course with us, you will be invited into an online student hub too, meaning you can connect with other expectant parents and benefit from the support and wisdom of experienced practitioners around the country.
Scroll down and use the search function below, and enter your postcode to find a YMBP teacher near you.
I discovered hypnobirthing whilst pregnant with my second baby, after a stressful labour with my first. After attending Hollie’s course, something clicked and I realised that not only would it impact my birth, but also my future. Rory’s birth was an incredible experience, and I felt like superwoman by the time he arrived! I knew I needed to help other women feel this way.
I absolutely adore teaching women and empowering them with the information they need to have a calm and positive birth experience. I love the Yes Mum Birth Project syllabus because it is so well suited to support any kind of birth, from a home-birth to an elective abdominal birth and everything in between.
I came to hypnobirthing when I was pregnant with my first baby in 2017. Driven by the desire for more information to prepare me and my husband for our baby’s birth… we travelled to London to do Hollie de Cruz aka The YesMum® hypnobirthing course. The information, skills and techniques that my husband and I gained from Hollie’s course were invaluable in our birth story which although wasn’t straightforward, was still a totally amazing and positive experience.
I then went on to train as a hypnobirhting teacher and set up @bumpbirthbody so that I could spread the same birth knowledge and positivity that Hollie had taught me to the women in my local area. I love Hollie’s attitude to all things birth and her approach to teaching so it was a dream come true to become a the yesmum® birth project affiliate teacher in March 2019.
I believe every birth story deserves time, knowledge and preparation for the best outcome possible. The skills and information you will receive from hypnobirthing will help ensure however your birth story unfolds that all your decisions along the way are informed ones.
Hello, I’m Kate and I teach hypnobirthing and antenatal courses in South East London. I have three young daughters and used hypnobirthing to prepare for each of their births, and went on to have three wonderful experiences. Inspired by this I trained as a hypnobirthing teacher in 2016. I have lots of teaching experience and lovely feedback from the couples I have taught. I also have hands on experience working in maternity units and with pregnant Mums as part of my role as an NHS doctor.
I am passionate about teaching hypnobirthing and preparing mums and birth partners for a positive birth, it is such a privilege to be involved in their lives at this very special time. My hypnobirthing classes are modern and practical and designed to fully equip you for a happy pregnancy and a calm and positive birth. I offer both group and private classes, including lots of on going support and a reunion session once your baby has arrived. I would love for you to get in touch with any questions!
I’m Laura, and I’m based in sunny Brighton! I’m mum to Joshua, 9, and Martha, 2 and I’ve been teaching Hypnobirthing for three years.
I love seeing the shift in women as they start to feel empowered about being front and centre of their birth; when the glimpses of actually being excited about giving birth emerge! My mind is continually blown by the physiology of birth and I love using scientific and creative visual ways to make it really come to life. It’s such a privilege to witness those lightbulb moments where a mum and her birth partner begin to believe the incredible power of the mind body connection, and how the very logical Hypnobirthing techniques help them start to regain control, trust their bodies and make informed choices.
I run Private and Group courses in Brighton & Hove and around Sussex, ranging from an express course (for refreshers or those super short on time!) to full bespoke courses. My own personal history of recurrent miscarriage means I also have a deep empathy of those suffering with pregnancy and birth anxiety, dealing with past trauma and looking for support in preparing for a positive birth experience.
There’s always love, kindness and lots of laughter, both during my courses and very much beyond (hypno-baby cuddles are an amazing perk of the job!).
Hi, I’m Harriet and I live in East Devon with my husband, my three year old son, Beau, and our yellow labrador. I became passionate about hypnobirthing after it helped me to overcome some pretty major anxiety during my pregnancy, and go on to have a wonderfully positive birth experience, something I didn’t even realise was possible before I discovered hypnobirthing. My aim as a teacher is to provide a safe, relaxing and friendly environment to learn in, along with the tools and support to enable you to feel empowered, confident and excited about birth and the parenting journey ahead. I teach the full YMBP course, along with refresher classes, across Devon and Somerset.
During the birth of my son William, I felt this amazing empowerment and connection with my body, my partner and my child. My birth experience was intense and powerful and I found the pain manageable and natural. I soon became obsessed with the power of hypnobirthing and felt the overwhelming need to share my experience and knowledge to help as many parents as possible.
I was made redundant when my son was only 6 months old, after going through quite a grey time, I decided to train as a Hypnobirthing teacher and it really was a life changing decision! I now have the best “job” in the world! I feel so honoured being involved in one the most important moments in a person’s life. I get such pride, joy and fulfilment helping people through their journey into parenthood. A recent client said, “Carys was more than just a teacher, she felt like a close friend who only wanted the best for us…”
I qualified as a Hypnobirthing teacher in 2018, trained by KGHypnobirthing, which is Royal College of Midwives accredited, and in 2019 I became a yesmum® birth project affiliate teacher with the wonderful Hollie de Cruz. I currently live and work in Harpenden, Hertfordshire and work with families across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and also in my home town Aberystwyth in West Wales.
I strongly believe that everyone should have access to a good birth education and sadly, so many parents do not have access to hypnobirthing for reasons such as location or cost. In many areas, it is seen as an expensive luxury. With that in mind I have created courses which are flexible and affordable. My private session can take place in the comfort of your own home or over Skype if you’re on the other side of the world!
Bea is a mummy of 3 ‘hypnobirthed’ babies and incredibly passionate about empowering women and their birth team to achieve the most positive birth experience. She supports women throughout their pregnancies, births and beyond as both a hypnobirthing practitioner and yoga teacher who very much focuses on women, women’s health, self care and self love. Originally an actress her biggest passion is the breath and its power! She very much believes in ‘Your Baby, Your Birth’ hence furthering her training with Hollie and the YMBP.
Bea’s littlest bubba Vivi has just turned 6 months and she is very much looking forward to getting back into the swing of things in the New Year. She runs both group and hypnobirthing courses in and around the Basingstoke area as well as birthing and yoga workshops for pregnancy and Self Care Sundays’ which lots of women attend postnatally.
I’m Katy Baker, Mum to Maggie (3), Jasper (2) and 3 month old Delphi. We also have a fur baby, called Bear who is 10! Nowadays our most frequently asked question is ‘what’s the age gap?’ Our hands and hearts are certainly full…
I’m a qualified KGHypnobirthing teacher, founder of The Birth Thing and love sharing knowledge of pregnancy, birth and parenthood with parents-to-be in and around Tunbridge Wells. I proudly teach The Yesmum Birth Project, which is a modern take on Hypnobirthing, for every birth. I teach group, private and refresher courses so there’s something for every one, at whatever stage of pregnancy.
I believe all birth matters and all birthing people matter. Which is why I do what I do.
I’m an Empath and an over-thinker and believe in the power of human connection.
Motherhood is amazing, but can feel bit lonely at times, which is why I created the Pregnancy Supper Clubs; a chance for all mums-to-be to connect and enjoy a night out – it’s so amazing to see friendships made in pregnancy blossom into motherhood.
I love being pregnant and being around pregnant people so co-facilitate the Tunbridge Wells Positive Birth Movement with a local Doula – these are free antenatal gatherings that take place monthly and all parents to be are welcome.
Things I am looking forward to over the next few months: sleeping for longer than 2 hours, bonding with my beautiful new addition & working with some new parents-to-be as they prepare for the births of their babies.
Feel free to message me if you want to know more about birth, babies, motherhood or just fancy a chat. It’s good to talk.
Hello! I’m Claire, founder of Tutum Birthing. I live in Barnet, in North London with my husband, Dominic and our two girls, Flora and Rosie.
I decided to become a hypnobirthing teacher after discovering hypnobirthing with my eldest daughter 7 years ago. I loved the logic and quickly became obsessed with it. It all made sense to me. I went into labour feeling strong, positive and excited to give birth. It was an incredibly empowering experience and I shared it with anyone who would listen. Hypnobirthing was definitely the reason I felt so positive, it changed my whole perception around birth.
After having our second daughter, Rosie, I decided I needed to spread the word more formally and I set up my own company. My mission to is provide expectant parents with information, support and techniques to enable them to have a positive birth and to help them enter into parenthood feeling excited and ready.
I am a Marie Mongan certified hypnobirthing teacher and now teach the @yesmumbirthproject course which I absolutely love! I am a trained birth doula and offer this alongside hypnobirthing as a package to expectant local parents.
Hi! I’m Steff and I’m based in Chichester covering West Sussex and Hampshire. I have a beautiful 9 year old daughter, Evie, and her birth inspired me to train as both a Hypnobirthing teacher and a midwife.
Currently in the final year of my degree, I am lucky enough to have cared for many women and their partners throughout their pregnancy and birth journeys. With the knowledge I have gained, I am able to provide a comprehensive course teaching couples hypnobirthing techniques as well as antenatal, labour and birth education to provide all the tools needed to feel confident and informed. An additional postnatal session is on my ever-growing to-do list!
I am truly passionate about empowering women to have a positive birth experience- whichever road their journey takes then down.
I run private sessions in couple’s homes offering a full bespoke course or a refresher to those who have previously hypnobirthed. I like to maintain a good balance of relaxation and fun in my sessions and love to stay in touch and meet the beautiful babies!
Hi, I’m Olivia and I live in Bristol with my two daughters and partner. I have been a hypnobirthing teacher since 2017 and have also been supporting pregnant people as a doula since 2018. I am absolutely thrilled to now be a part of the YMBP team, spreading the word of Hollie’s logical and empowering birth preparation.
I love teaching the YMBP syllabus as I find it refreshingly current and easy to digest and it’s also really flexible so I can adapt it to fit most circumstances. The course is grounded in science and logic and is explained in a comprehensive way teaching you how to tap into your mammalian instinct for birth. It uses hypnotherapy techniques (relaxation, guided visualisations, touch, smell) to address and release fears, reframing them into positive associations so that the body and your birthing hormones can work harmoniously.
My aim as a teacher is to guide you through pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, providing you with knowledge and information so that you are in control of your pathway to birth and parenthood. I will always bring a warm smile and a listening ear to our classes.
Please get in touch if you’d like to hear more about what I offer or if you have any questions at all – I’m here to support you.
Hi, I’m Nav – a hypnobirthing teacher at Baby Bloom Company
I’m based in Leicester and a mummy to my very own hypno bubba, Ari.
I listened to the “Your Baby, Your Birth” audiobook with my husband when I was expecting and immediately loved it. The content felt logical, modern, and empowering! Yes, I was in latent labour for 3 days. Yes, I was knackered, but it was so magical, I felt like superwoman and I get to keep those wonderful memories for the rest of my life!
I could not stop talking about my birth story and how amazing hypnobirthing is…this is where my passion for becoming a YMBP affiliated teacher began. I really want to support women in not fearing birth and to have their own positive experiences to share! The course gives women confidence in themselves, their body and choices, it also helps the birth partner feel like an active participant in this life changing process.
The course will provide you with the tools to use however your birth unfolds, including techniques for relaxation, understanding of the body’s physiological function and informative birth education to make choices that are right for you. I offer Zoom and private courses for all births from homebirth to elective C-section. Hypnobirthing really is for everyone!
Hello, I’m Steph! I’m the founder of Birth Nerd, mum to three boys and married to my wonderful and very patient husband Rory. We live in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
Throughout my time as a midwife, I learnt and witnessed that women who had a solid understanding of their birthing body during pregnancy and labour, who knew their choices, who had learnt techniques for how labour usually works and consolidated it all, went onto have a powerful positive birthing experience.
I’m an experienced hypnobirthing practitioner and YMBP affiliated teacher. This, combined with the experience and skills acquired during my time as a midwife, has given me a solid understanding of the birthing process and the maternity system. I know exactly what it takes to help you on your own positive birth journey.
I teach monthly group courses online (due to covid) which have proven very popular. They are very engaging, relaxed and great supportive friendships have been formed. I also teach 1:1 in person around Shropshire. You can find out more or give me a follow on Instagram over at @birthnerduk
The first thing that many people notice when they meet me in my clinic, is that I am passionate about osteopathy. I was raised by a mother who placed high value on natural healthcare and from a very young age I knew I wanted to work in this field. My experience has taught me the value of osteopathy as a whole system of healthcare for patients of all ages. Through my teaching and practise, I willingly share my enthusiasm for using osteopathy to maximize the health and development of each member of the family, especially children, pregnant women and new mothers.
Osteopathy can be used as a therapy in isolation during pregnancy, but many use it in conjunction with other practices as I did in my own pregnancy where, alongside osteopathy, I used acupuncture, reflexology and homeopathy. Hypnobirthing was also an important part of my preparation for birth, enabling me to navigate unexpected medical decisions with calm confidence.
What do I do?
Osteopathy is a form of manual medicine which means that I treat using my hands. My aim is to correct imbalances in the structure of the body in order to improve the way it works. Osteopathy is founded on the understanding that the body has an intrinsic ability to self-heal and self-regulate. By using osteopathy to correct strains within tissues, as well as helping you to feel more comfortable, we enable the body to maintain a better state of general health. I believe that health is much more than the absence of disease, and ease within the structure of the body is essential for both physical, physiological and emotional wellbeing.
The structure of a mother’s pregnant body has been shown to have an influence over both the position of her baby and her comfort as her posture changes. A consultation with me will assess your whole body and help to provide an understanding of your general health and the impact of previous injuries and any health conditions. Some mothers come with specific symptoms related to their pregnancy such as pelvic pain, back pain, fatigue etc and others come wishing to maximise their body’s potential to adapt to the postural changes of pregnancy and the anticipated requirements of birth.
From my own experience and that of my patients, I also emphasise the role osteopaths have in helping the body’s natural process of recovery after birth as the mother’s body also nurtures her new baby in the fourth trimester and beyond. I am also passionate about the role that osteopaths play in the new and developing body of her baby and I am often referred babies by midwifes, lactation consultants and other paediatric healthcare professionals who understand the unique role that specialist paediatric osteopaths play in the health of babies and children.
The practise of osteopathy uses a wide range of treatment approaches and whilst I am proficient in osteopathic techniques which involve massage and joint manipulation, I am specialised in treating patients of any age using the gentle therapeutic approach sometimes referred to as ‘cranial osteopathy’ (which can actually be applied to any part of the body).
Treatment would take place in my Nunhead clinic. Hospital visits (with the consent of the relevant Consultant) can be arranged on request and I have experience treating babies in neonatal intensive care and special care units.
Who am I?
I feel fortunate to be working in a profession which I both love and thrive on. It satisfies my perpetual thirst for both learning and sharing my knowledge with others. I have undergone significant training in paediatric osteopathy, cranial osteopathy and osteopathy for mothers during pregnancy and after birth.
Together with my husband, I co-manage a purpose-built fully accessible clinic in Nunhead, treating patients of all ages. We have created and nurture a team of like-minded osteopaths who all specialise in the treatment of mothers and children. I am also the Consultant-in-Charge at the Osteopathic Centre for Children’s Shoreditch charity clinic, supervising the treatment of mothers and children by postgraduate osteopaths who are training to specialise in paediatrics.
As an expert in the field of paediatric, peri-natal osteopathy and cranial osteopathic techniques, I teach postgraduate osteopaths in the UK and abroad and have published chapters within a textbook on osteopathic diagnosis.
When I’m not working, my hours are amply filled by my very active daughter.
Prices:
Adults: £60 (Consultation), £48 for any follow up appointments
Babies/Children: £60 (Consultation), £45 for any follow up appointments
Most first appointments last for 60-70 minutes, depending on need and follow up appointments are around 30 to 40 minutes.
Mother and Baby post natal checkup consultation: £110 (allow approx 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on needs)
As an acupuncturist specialising in fertility and pregnancy I see woman at various stages of their pregnancy and my goal is always the same; how can I help them enjoy a comfortable, healthy pregnancy and therefore make it more likely they will enjoy a comfortable, calm birth?
One thing I hear time and again is that they have been told whatever they are going through is normal in pregnancy. But weeks of being uncomfortable, anxious, exhausted or in pain is not ideal – and in my experience completely unnecessary, no matter how ‘normal’ the symptom.
Some of the conditions I regularly treat in the clinic include morning sickness, heartburn, fatigue, musculoskeletal issues, from sciatica and backache to symphsis pubis pain (also called PGP or PGD), insomnia, headaches and anxiety.
Pre-birth acupuncture, undertaken from 36 weeks specifically prepares the body for birth while also addressing the other niggles that can appear at this time of pregnancy (heartburn, carpal tunnel syndrome, insomnia, backache and odema).
A series of points are gently needled that are known to support efficient labour, with an emphasis on affecting the cervix and pelvis and promoting the optimal position of the baby. Left in position for around 20 minutes, this is a great time to practice hypnobirthing, deep breathing, or visualization techniques that are going to help you through labour.
Still not convinced? Research undertaken in Germany, where midwives routinely administer acupuncture to their patients, showed that the mean duration of labour in a group of women giving birth for the first time was reduced from 8 hours and 2 minutes to 6 hours and 36 minutes.
Breech babies
Only 3-4% of babies are breech and helping get the baby into the optimum position for birth is a very gentle treatment that doesn’t have to involve any needles whatsoever, but is nonetheless highly effective. Started by me in the treatment room, you are given instructions on how to continue the treatment at home for 10 days. This treatment is most effective when carried out as near to 34 weeks as possible, but we can still try to help as late as 38 weeks. It is completely safe for both mother and baby, and I can also share some additional tips for helping nature along.
The Fourth Trimester
Postpartum care is often overlooked but a one-off mother roasting treatment of moxibustion can help restore and nourish a new mum and can be self-administered at home. This ritual is said to support milk production and address depletion post birth. I offer Mother Roasting Kits (which also make a great baby shower gift) via my website.
Acupuncture can also be considered to support breast milk production, address breastfeeding issues (e.g. mastitis), treat night sweats, severe afterpains, and postnatal depression.
I have practices in Brixton, Crystal Palace and Holborn, am a member of the Acupuncture Childbirth Team London, and a fully accredited member of the British Acupuncture Council.
Pregnancy Acupuncture Treatments (45–60 minutes) £70 per session
Birth Well Package £250 (weekly sessions from 36 weeks until birth, also includes a Mother Roasting Kit, plus a free guide to acupressure in labour)
Pregnancy and birth has fascinated me since I was a little girl. When I was 14 and in high school, the father of one of my friends was a chiropractor. What he showed me about chiropractic inspired me and ignited an enormous mission to follow my dream to become a pediatric and pregnancy chiropractor.
I know I was lucky: very few people know at the age of 14 what they want to do with their life. I grew up in America, studied at the University of Minnesota to get my undergraduate degree, and then went to and graduated from Life Chiropractic University from Georgia in 1997. My favourite subjects were about paediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care. Now, nearly all of my post-graduate studies focus on the special interest of chiropractic care and techniques for babies, children, and pregnant women.
My personal experience
I’ve had three healthy pregnancies, three natural drug-free vaginal births (my third at home), and have three healthy children. Also, my first was in the breech position and she turned at the last minute (after all the hard work I did to help her turn!). So I know first-hand how pregnant women with a breech baby feel!
All three births were done with Hypnobirthing. It is because of chiropractic care, Hypnobirthing training and trust in my body that each of my labours and births unfolded with no inductions, no interventions, no epidurals or any drugs. I had been adjusted soon before labour started; all three children were adjusted soon after birth. I can give you the same care.
What is chiropractic?
One of my biggest passions is to educate and help women on pregnancy, to show them how to have a healthy body before, during, and after pregnancy. Today, pregnant women are given many different options about pregnancy, labour, and birth. In my view, we focus too much on outside interventions to help you be healthy. We often forget that health comes from within, and we must utilise our innate self-healing wisdom.
How is your body able to grow a new beautiful human being? That is the innate intelligence that we all have. Chiropractic helps upgrade this intelligence in your pregnant body to give you and your baby the opportunity for optimum health and balance in your system.
Every pregnant woman should get their spines and pelvises checked and adjusted throughout their entire pregnancy. Keeping your pelvis aligned and your nervous system balanced is essential to experiencing a comfortable and healthy pregnancy as well as ease and preparation for labour and birth. It will help labour and it will help post-labour recovery.
What if your baby is breech?
Many pregnant women are unaware of the importance of the position of their baby until their midwife tells them, matter-of-factly, “Your baby is breech.” What this means is that for an unknown reason, your baby prefers to be head-up, with either their feet down in the pelvis, or one foot in and one foot up, or bum in the pelvis with their legs and feet cradled up. This usually makes an expectant mum nervous, scared, and worried about the possibility of not having a natural vaginal birth. What is first important to understand is your baby has the ultimate wisdom to position herself in the best possible alignment, given the space in your uterus. The notion that something is ‘wrong’ doesn’t apply here. Tension and misalignment in the spine, pelvis, as well as areas in your head (cranium) and neck can all alter the balance of your uterus. The uterus is a muscle and if there is torsion and tension on one side, the baby will move into their own ideal position to allow for maximum growth and fetal development. When you come to my practice, I will be able to assess your whole system – cranium, upper spine, lower spine, pelvis, and pelvic muscles – to find out why your baby might be choosing the breech position.
Memberships and Associations
I am an active member of the United Chiropractic Association (UCA), the International Chiropractic Association (ICA), and the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association (ICPA). I am also Webster Technique Certified by the ICPA. I am also fully certified in Network Spinal Analysis. I have also attended Spinning Babies classes to learn about different exercises and positions to help pregnant women with the positioning of their babies for ideal birthing positions. I’ve also studied with Dr. Karen Gardner who has developed the Gardner-Bagnell Technique, which is another chiropractic technique that focuses attention on the spinal and pelvic alignment of the mother-to-be.
Please note: I’m not registered with the UK General Chiropractic Council, so in the UK I cannot describe myself as a Chiropractor. Since 1998 and presently, I am an active board-certified and fully licensed chiropractor in the state of New York, and I often travel to see pediatric and pregnant clients in New York, as well as France.
Chiropractic Services
Initial Assessment (adults, babies, and children of all ages) | Includes consultation, spinal nervous system exam, and adjustment: £90 (up to 1.5hrs)
Pregnancy Chiropractic Adjustment: £60
Pregnancy Wellness Package: £500
Wellness Package: (non-pregnant adults, babies, and children of all ages) | Includes 12 adjustments: £400
Family Wellness Program of 3 months | Unlimited adjustments for all family members: £1100
I have have always felt strongly about the importance of women being supported & informed on their journey into motherhood. It’s because of this that I became a Lactation Consultant. I am passionate about breastfeeding, but more importantly I am passionate about mothers being supported to make informed choices about how they feed their baby.
Over the past 18 years I have worked alongside many families, providing breastfeeding support & education in Neonatal Intensive Care units in the UK & Australia. I also work in private practice facilitating workshops and providing 1:1 support in the home. I have many years experience supporting mothers of premature babies transition to exclusive breastfeeding, supporting mothers of multiples reach their breastfeeding goals & supporting mothers with low supply.
A highlight in my own maternal journey was the birth of my two children and I am grateful that I was able to breastfeed them both. I strongly believe that it was the support and guidance I was given during this time that enabled and enhanced my experience.
I believe that great preparation and support can make a huge difference to your feeding journey. I offer a range of services for mothers and couples, both before and after the birth of your baby. My intention is to leave you feeling positive & informed, trusting that you will make the best choices for you, your baby and your family.
Single bookings
Antenatal home visit: from £90
Initial postnatal home visit (1–1.5hrs): £120
Follow-up visit (1hr): £90
Packages
Package One: £260
One antenatal visit (1hr)
One initial postnatal visit (1–1.5hrs)
One follow-up postnatal visit (1hr)
Package Two: £260
One initial postnatal visit (1–1.5hrs)
Two follow-up postnatal visits (2 x 1hr)
Additional Information
*Saturday visits: £130
**Sunday & Bank Holiday visits: £150
***Package prices includes Monday–Friday consults only. Weekend visits will be at an additional charge of £10 for every Saturday & £20 for every Sunday & Bank Holiday
As a Maternity and Women’s Wellbeing Reflexologist I work with women throughout all stages of their reproductive life. I have specialised in Pregnancy and Postnatal Reflexology for the past 9 years, treating hundreds of women with diverse needs. I am also experienced and passionate about using Reflexology to support menstrual cycle irregularities, infertility and peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms.
I truly love treating pregnant women and holding therapeutic space during perhaps one of the most exciting times in their lives. I will never tire of witnessing the amazing physiological process that growing a human entails, or the way that women move through the ebb and flow of their pregnancies: I am constantly inspired and motivated by my clients. But I understand that the journey can be an anxious and painful time for women who have experienced loss or a previously traumatic birth and are navigating pregnancy and birth from a different perspective. Know that I am here for you also.
Why Have Reflexology During Pregnancy?
Reflexology is a safe, non-invasive touch therapy. Reflex points and areas mapped out on the feet, lower limbs and hands are believed to relate to corresponding organs and systems within the body. Practitioners apply pressure to reflex points on the soles, surfaces and sides of the feet (using the fingers, thumbs and in some cases knuckles) with the aim of creating a sense of wellbeing and balance. Reflexology engages the parasympathetic nervous system, the ‘rest and digest’ branch of the autonomic nervous system that slows heart rate, lowers blood pressure, aids digestion and calms the body facilitating self-healing.
Reflexology supports the normal physiological processes of pregnancy and the emotional highs and lows of all trimesters working towards preparation for birth. Common reasons women may seek Reflexology include morning sickness, back and hip pain, digestive issues and insomnia. Reflexology can be received at any stage of pregnancy (from conception onwards), though some women may prefer to wait until after their 12-week scan.
Because the benefits are cumulative, it is suggested that sessions commence as early as possible in pregnancy. After 37 weeks we can begin Preparation For Birth Sessions. These treatments blend deep relaxation, key for creating the optimum calm state for natural labour to begin, with reflex areas and points thought to be beneficial for priming the body for birth. It is recommended that at least two well-being treatments have been received before a Preparation For Birth session.
How My Reflexology Differs
All of my Reflexology treatments are underpinned by Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. I am trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine Pregnancy Reflexology and Five Element Reflexology. This allows me to apply my classical Reflexology knowledge and techniques within the framework of TCM. For example, in pregnancy it is common for the kidney reflexes to feel depleted as the body is constantly regulating fluid balance and renal blood flow. With classical Reflexology we would work to support the kidneys and bladder but with the addition of TCM thinking we can also strengthen vital kidney energy by working specific acupressure points that support physical and emotional function on the feet and legs and linking them with synergistic reflex areas and points.
What Research Says
Two studies have shown that reflexology in pregnancy significantly reduced pain during labour and reduced the length of the first stage of labour. One study showed that 6 weekly treatments of reflexology prior to giving birth for women who experienced low back pain and/or pelvic girdle pain during their pregnancy significantly reduced the second stage of labour by 44.3 minutes.
Pregnancy Treatments
Pregnancy Reflexology & Preparation For Birth sessions at The Goose Green Clinic, East Dulwich – £55/hour.
Mobile Pregnancy Reflexology – Fridays and some Sunday availability – £75/hour. (Allow around 1 hour and 45 mins to include consultation, setting up and packing away.)
Reflexology & Moxibustion for Breech Babies – £70/75 minutes at The Goose Green Clinic. Appointment time includes consultation, 20 minutes of Moxa, 30 minutes of Reflexology plus homecare instruction.
Postnatal Reflexology Treatments
All available at The Goose Green Clinic, East Dulwich.
Restorative Postnatal Reflexology with heat or moxa (where indicated following consultation) – £70/75 minutes.
Dien Chan Zone Facial Reflexology – £70/75 minutes including personalized face map, tool and instruction to use at home for self-care.
Vibrant Ageing Facial Treatments
New for 2020 I am excited and proud to bring Gua Sha Facial Fusion and Thai Herbal Poultice facial treatments to my practice. I trained with New York-based Cecily Braden, a highly respected teacher and pioneer of facial Gua Sha.
Focusing on moving stagnant energy in the neck, jaw and face these treatments have an incredible skin rejuvenating, draining and sculpting effect working with the lymph system, connective tissue, fascia and muscles.
Recommended for non-pregnant or postnatal clients due to the necessity to lie flat for the duration of the treatment.
Gua Sha Facial Fusion with Thai Herbal Poultice – £120 for 90 minutes.
Thai Herbal Poultice Facial Massage & Lymphatic Drainage – £70 for 75 minutes.
