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Reflexology foot massage start labor?

Is it true that a reflexology foot massage actually starts labor? I am 39 weeks.

Public Comments

1. There are pressure points within the foot that can increase your chances of going into labor. 9w with Twins!
2. It can sometimes start contractions, but honestly it very rarely brings about labor. I'm a massage therapist and have reflexology training and many of my pregnant friends have had me do this on them, it's never made them go into active labor though. I've heard people have more luck with acupuncture, but I'd be skeptical about that too. I don't think it works unless the baby is ready to come out.
3. Not sure about the foot it's self but there is a pressure point on the calf that can induce labor.
4. One of my friends is a reflexologist (if that's the correct term!) She said it will usually only work if the mother is overdue and VERY close to labour anyway. But it does have great success rates in those cases.
5. I don't know if it really starts labor but look! were twins !
6. There is a routine called "priming for labor" that some Reflexologists are trained in. When a client comes to me looking for this type of session I take into account the following: - is she past her estimated due date? - is this her first pregnancy? - are there other signs of pending labor? - what are the pros and cons if she goes into labor in the next 24-48 hours? Typically I don't offer this type of session until the client is postdates with a first pregnancy or past 38 weeks for subsequent pregnancies. Even a natural intervention is still an intervention and so I really discuss what the pros and cons are: pros - may help avoid further health issues in cases of pre-eclampsia, a pending induction, etc... versus cons - if baby isn't ready a premature birth can lead to infant health problems, if mom isn't ready she may be uncomfortable with pre-labor contractions for some hours after a session. Will a foot massage start labor? Probably not. Will a specific foot Reflexology session to prime for labor help? Probably. Just make sure you find someone qualified to offer the techniques because loads of people advertise Reflexology but have very little training.
7. There are pressure point through the body that can induce labor. There are also certain scents that can induce labor.