WOMEN'S HEALTH

Using Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Herbal Medicine, Hypnosis and NLP to help women with issues around reproductive health and wellbeing

Margaret has an interest in Women's Reproductive Health and Wellbeing, ranging from menstrual difficulties through fertility problems to childbirth and on to menopause. Her holistic approach enables her to combine many therapies to provide an optimal outcome.

MENSTRUAL PROBLEMS

For many women their monthly periods mean monthly discomfort.
Pre Menstrual Syndrome is a cluster of symptoms, comprising physical and emotional changes, associated with the second part of the menstrual cycle. Symptoms begin about one week before and remit within a few days of the onset of menstruation and may include bloating, breast tenderness, water retention, constipation, food craving, irritation, forgetfulness, insomnia, lack of energy. Pain and heavy bleeding may be associated with PMS.
Margaret can help by the use of herbs, Aromatherapy massage, Reflexology and hypnosis.

INFERTILITY

About 85% of couples conceive naturally after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse, so if you have not conceived after one year, you should visit your GP. If you are worried about your fertility, or you are a woman over the age of 35, then you should visit your GP sooner, after 6 months.
Fertility testing and investigation can be a lengthy process, and female fertility decreases with age, so it is best to make an appointment early on. Your GP will be able to give you advice about what to do next, and will also carry out an initial assessment to look for factors that may be causing your fertility problems.
It is estimated that one in seven couples in the UK have difficulty conceiving; about 20 –25% of all fertility issues are said to have an unknown cause.
So what affects fertility?
Stress ……
The hormonal response to stress is antagonistic to fertility:

Stress causes changes in the body’s biochemistry and rhythms. It upsets the body’s natural balance and over time can lead to chronic health problems. The hypothalamus regulates both the stress hormones and the sex hormones. Excessive stress may lead to complete suppression of the menstrual cycle and in less severe cases will lead to anovulation or irregular menstrual cycles.
Adrenaline is released by the adrenal glands during conditions of stress. Adrenaline helps us to escape from danger but it also inhibits the production of progesterone, thus impeding fertility.
Prolactin, usually released by the pituitary gland to stimulate lactation in preparation for nursing, inhibits a woman's fertility so she won't conceive during nursing. During times of stress the pituitary emits high levels of prolactin.
After prolonged stress the Sympathetic Nervous system can become hyperstimulated. A hyperstimulated nervous system sends less blood to the uterus thereby impairing their optimal functioning.
The immune system is weakened by depression, which will affect fertility.
Depression may be associated with abnormal regulation of lutenising hormone, which plays a major role in conception.
If a woman is clinically depressed she is unable to care for herself, let alone a baby. Infertility may be nature’s way of postponing pregnancy until the mother is psychologically capable of raising a child.

Diet and lifestyle can also affect fertility.

Margaret can help with problems of infertility with Aromatherapy Massage, Reflexology, Herbal Medicine, Hypnosis and NLP:

Aromatherapy can be beneficial in two ways when trying to get pregnant. Firstly, aromatherapy assists in regulating the menstrual cycle and promoting a healthy reproductive system. And secondly, aromatherapy helps you relax, reducing levels of stress and depression, and can even function as an aphrodisiac for you and your partner.

Herbs may be used to enhance fertility, to tone the uterus, to increase blood flow to the reproductive system and to relax.

Hypnosis and NLP may be used to relax and reduce stress, to change limiting beliefs and use visualisation to allow the mind to positively influence the body.

Margaret can also assist in a positive outcome to assisted reproductive treatment (IUI, IVF, GIFT, ICSI). Once again, stress levels can mitigate against a successful outcome and studies have shown that the use of hypnosis during embryo transfer increases the IVF outcome in terms of increased implantation and pregnancy rates. Margaret trained with Sjanie Hugo at The Fertile Body

Typically, an initial session will allow an exploration of the difficulties you are experiencing, we can identify an outcome and plan the treatment sessions.

COST: £35.00 for an initial 1 hour apppointment

Cash and cheques only please

PREGNANCY

Once you are pregnant, Margaret is able to help you have a more comfortable and relaxing pregnancy and labour.

There are herbal remedies which can ease “morning” sickness, constipation, cystitis, heartburn and many other discomforts of pregnancy. Raspberry leaf tea taking during the later stages of pregnancy will help your body prepare for the birth of your baby.

Headaches are common during pregnancy, and may involve tension headaches or migraines. Tension headaches tend to feel like a dull ache on both sides of the head and around the neck area. They are often the result of stress, exhaustion, dehydration or allergies. Approximately twenty percent of pregnant women, however, will suffer from migraine headaches.
Indian Head Massage is very relaxing and can help with headaches and migraines.

Hypnosis and NLP can help with anxiety and any limiting beliefs you may have regarding childbirth, parenthood etc.

MASSAGE IN PREGNANCY

Massage in pregnancy is a wonderful experience. It helps a woman relax, supports her body during a period of physiological change and helps prepare the whole body for birth. Generally the more relaxed a mother feels during pregnancy, the more relaxed her pregnancy and birth are likely to be.

Pregnancy can put a strain on the body and massage can help to relieve aches and pains and other common health problems experienced during pregnancy.

Towards the end of pregnancy many women find that there is plenty to do preparing for baby's arrival but it is an important time for women to relax and enjoy the last weeks of carrying their baby. Massage provides a special time for the mother to be to unwind and helps her to focus on her body and her baby.

Massage is good for baby too. Research has shown that the unborn baby can be affected by the stress levels experienced by its mother. Massage has an indirect relaxing effect on the baby as the mother releases oxytoxcin and prolactin as a result of skin stimulation.

The massage is carried out with the woman in the comfortable side lying position, well supported by pillows. Aromatherapy oils will be used as desired.

COST: The massage takes an hour and costs £32.00 (£40.00 if using hot stones)
If you have 4 Pregnancy massages you have your first postpartum massage FREE

Cash and cheques only please

Also available is instruction on massage in labour - for the birth partner to learn and practise and so be able to more fully participate on the day!
Prices on application.

REFLEXOLOGY IN PREGNANCY

Benefits of Reflexology in Pregnancy
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* Provides a sense of well-being and helps prevent problems from starting.
* Reduces swelling in feet and ankles
* Relieves tired, aching feet
* Improves sleep quality
* Aids digestion
* Creates a sense of well-being for the foetus
* The mother feels supported mentally, physically and emotionally throughout pregnancy.
* Reflexology during labour can intensify contractions and shortens labour as a result.

COST: A reflexology treatment takes one hour and costs £32.00
A course of four weekly treatments costs £112.00

Cash and cheques only please

HYPNOSIS FOR CHILDBIRTH

Margaret Silander can facilitate a more natural childbirth, using hypnosis. Hypnotherapy gives a remarkable degree of control over the mind and body, enabling a reduction in pain, fear and anxiety while in labour, creating a calmer experience and a less stressed baby.
Hypnosis produces calmness and relaxation, physically and mentally, and therefore reduces pain, fluctuating blood pressure, anxiety, stress and nausea.

Only four sessions are required, including the initial consultation. The husband/partner is included in one session - to establish from both parents-to-be their needs and expectations during the birth and to give the partner the opportunity to experience hypnosis. Most of the hypnotherapy is continued by the mother-to-be with the use of CDs at home in her own time and way.

ADVANTAGES IN HYPNOSIS FOR CHILDBIRTH

It is well established that hypnosis reduces the first stage of labour.
Using hypnosis reduces pain during delivery and if analgesic is required, a reduced amount of the drug is effective. Glove anaesthesia is taught during the self-hypnosis sessions.
Due to relaxation during the final stages of labour, there is very little tearing as no hard anxious pushing has been necessary. If an episiotomy is required, suggestion of an anaesthesia is used for the perineal area by self hypnosis.
It is possible to convert a breech presentation to the vertex position using hypnosis.
With more control over the mind and body, the mother can participate in the natural birth process and is more able to enjoy the experience of giving birth. It is more likely the mother will be calmer and happier, she will feel less mentally and physically exhausted, and there may be a reduced possibility of post natal depression.
Babies have shown to cry less, sleep and feed better and generally are calmer. This is probably due to diminished trauma at birth.
Lactation can be stimulated, increasing the flow, by suggestion.

COST: The initial consultation, usually around 30 weeks if everything has been progressing normally, and the 3 sessions of hypnosis, normally at weekly intervals, together with CDs:
£170.00

A special package of the above, plus an aromatherapy massage or reflexology treatment for the mother-to-be, Raspberry Leaf Tea to be drunk during the last trimester to prepare the body for labour and an aromatherapy blend of oils to be used during labour:
£200.00

Cash and cheques only please

AFTER CHILDBIRTH

MASSAGE AFTER BIRTH

Postpartum massage is designed to help restore your body to its pre-pregnancy condition and to address the stress of carrying and caring for a newborn. In the postpartum period, you may suffer from fatigue, soreness from overused birthing muscles, and may be in need of attention and pampering. Massage can help with both the physical and psychological recuperation process. Just some of the benefits of postpartum massage include:

Help in returning the body to the pre-pregnancy state;
Assists in restoring the abdominal muscle wall;
Realigns the body to reflect nonpregnant weight distribution;
Reduces and alleviates muscle tension and stress associated with mothering tasks;
Provides emotional support;
Aids in the recovery of Cesarean delivery

COST: The massage takes one hour and costs £32.00 (£40.00 if using hot stones)
If you have had 4 Pregnancy Massages you have your first postpartum masssage FREE

REFLEXOLOGY

In the postnatal period Reflexology can help balance the hormones, to ease discomfort in the vaginal and rectal areas, to relieve gorged breasts and encourage milk supply as well as helping with any postnatal depression.

MENOPAUSE

Menopause means the last menstrual period. Ovaries naturally fail to produce oestrogen and progesterone when they have few remaining egg cells. Periods stop because the low levels of oestrogen and progesterone do not stimulate the lining of the womb (endometrium) in the normal cycle. Hormone levels can fluctuate for several years before eventually becoming so low that the endometrium stays thin and does not bleed. The resulting low, and changing levels of ovarian hormones, particularly oestrogen, are thought to be the cause of menopausal symptoms in many women.
Symptoms may include hot flushes, fatigue, vaginal dryness, depression and mood swings.

Herbal remedies, Aromatherapy massage, Reflexology, Hypnosis and NLP can be of help.

Vouchers are always available for all treatments