When I first started incorporating Reiki into prenatal and birth work I was a bit nervous. I didn’t know how it would be received. Even though I had done the training and read the research I was worried my clients would think I was not legit or too woo woo. But my fears melted away quickly especially when I used Reiki in labour.

What are my clients saying?

“Her exceptional support, including Reiki, massage, and hydrotherapy, made a significant difference. At one point, she placed her hand on my neck, and I instantly stopped shaking and felt the pain ease. I couldn’t have managed without pain meds for so long if it weren't for her.”

What is Reiki?

If you are into any alternative therapies and feel benefit from them you might be a great candidate for Reiki during pregnancy and labour!

Alternative therapies are things that you can use alongside medical treatment such as massage, movement, yoga, meditation, and chiropractor.

Reiki is also an alternative therapy and is used in many hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and oncology units because it has been shown to shorten hospital stays, improve healing, and lower pain.

The Reiki practitioner uses their hands to send energy to a specific area of the body that has been identified as painful or diseased or uses a more general approach to balance the whole body energy.

Why is Reiki so beneficial during labour?

• Reiki is non invasive (as a Doula I use Reiki with my clients while I am doing my usual Doula tasks)
• Reiki does not interfere with medical treatment (if you choose to have an epidural, need an IV, or request a c-section birth the Reiki will not interfere and can help calm your anxiety about any of these things)
• Reiki has no known medical contraindications
• Reiki can decrease pain, decrease anxiety, decrease insomnia, decrease nausea

What does the research say?

Reiki has been studied because of its noticeable effects on patients. Of course, more research is needed and especially more research in the prenatal area but this is what the studies are showing so far:

• Reiki is not only shown to lower pain and anxiety in prenatal, postnatal and other gynecological patients, but the positive effects continued after the treatments
• Reiki treatment for 15 minutes on cesarean section incision showed a 76% reduction in pain after the treatment. Patients receiving Reiki treatment used less pain medication and went longer periods before requiring medication than those who didn’t receive Reiki.
• The use of Reiki has increased among health care professionals and is used by doctors and nurses and commonly used in hospitals around the world.
• Reiki has been shown to decrease insomnia, nausea, pain, and anxiety

Does Reiki sound appealing to you? Let’s chat > Book a Free Consultation so we can chat about your labour and birth!

References:

J Holist Nurs

Effects of Reiki on Pain and Anxiety in Women Hospitalized for Obstetrical and Gynecological Related Conditions Mar 2021

Holist Nurs Pract

Effects of Reiki on Pain and Vital Signs When Applied to the Incision Area of the Body After Cesarean Section Surgery: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Double Controlled Study Nov/Dec 2016

Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice

The effect of Reiki on pain: A meta-analysis May 2018

J Holist Nurs

Implementation of a Volunteer Reiki Program at an Academic Medical Center in the Midwest Feb 26 2020