The benefits of reflexology in babies
Do you know what reflexology is and what it is for? It can be very beneficial for your baby if he needs it.
Reflexology can help your little one with some discomforts. The theory behind reflexology is that certain areas of the feet correspond to the organs and systems of the body. The pressure applied to these areas is believed to affect the organs and benefit the health of the person, also that of babies.
Did you know that there are more than 7,000 nerve endings in the human foot? By touching these nerve endings, a reflexologist can help the flow of energy through the body to areas affected by illness or stress. So it should come as no surprise that reflexology is extremely beneficial for your baby’s health as well.
With reflexology, all the nerve endings in the feet are stimulated. This stimulation awakens the organ and allows it to function better. All organs in the body, including the kidneys, liver, lungs, and pancreas, benefit from this. There is an increase in blood circulation, which guarantees a wonderful increase in oxygen and greater absorption of nutrients .
Reflexology is especially helpful in alleviating colic symptoms that are generally associated with an underdeveloped digestive system (which is present in almost all babies at birth), as well as other common baby ailments, such as teething.
By stimulating the digestive system reflexes in the feet, the muscles relax and relieve cramps in your baby’s digestive system. If gas is trapped in the colon, you will hear a lot of gurgling and sometimes the baby will pass any residue in the form of gas.
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REFLEXOLOGY VS BABY MASSAGE
Reflexology is only done on the feet, while baby massage is done on the entire body, including your baby’s head, torso, arms, and legs . With reflexology, there is no need to remove the baby’s clothing, so it is less invasive and the chances of the baby being overstimulated are slim.
A full reflexology treatment can be completed in five to 10 minutes, while a massage takes between 20 and 30 minutes. Often times, if a baby is in pain, they will not allow you to touch that part of their body, so reflexology is a quick and effective modality for relieving painful symptoms, and babies are often more receptive.
WHEN CAN YOU START REFLEXOLOGY ON A BABY?
It can start as soon as a baby is born. Reflexology is especially helpful directly after birth, whether it’s a vaginal delivery or a C-section. It helps to expel any excess fluid or mucus that sits in your baby’s lungs . A reflexology treatment after birth also helps to increase blood circulation immediately.
This is particularly beneficial when there is a low Apgar score and if your baby is a little blue. If you had a particularly difficult delivery and your little one is a bit stressed, reflexology can help calm him by holding his solar plexus reflex. This not only calms your baby down quickly, but it also helps jump-start all those little organs in your little one’s body as some of them start to work harder now that your baby has been born, the heart is one of them, as well as the lungs.
As you can see, reflexology is a good idea for babies and newborns. It is a practice that you can do both from home and if you want to go to a physical therapist for babies and have it work directly by a professional. What matters is that the method does not feel invasive for your baby and that it does not feel discomfort during the treatment.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.