Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) in Pregnancy. Guest Blog by Astrid Lowe

You don’t have to put up with pregnancy-related swollen ankles, wrists or carpal tunnel syndrome. Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) therapy can help.

MLD was once described in the Saturday Daily Mail as ‘one of the best kept secrets on the health and beauty scene’. It is a powerful, but surprisingly gentle technique, which helps balance fluid in the tissue. London’s leading fertility expert Zita West recommends MLD as beneficial at any stage of reproduction: to detoxify, boost the immune system, balance hormones and relieve fluid congestion. It is incredibly relaxing and can help you sleep better. It feels like pampering – with a purpose.

The lymphatic system is a waste disposal system. It doesn’t sound glamorous, but it plays a key role in your body. Lymphatic vessels collect fluid from the tissues and take it through the lymph nodes to filter out harmful substances before returning it to the bloodstream. From there, it is eliminated with other body waste. The lymphatic circulation relies mainly on muscular movement and has no pump like the blood circulation has the heart. MLD techniques can help boost lymphatic circulation.

In pregnancy, your body produces and retains more fluid. Oedema (swelling) is most often an issue during the third trimester. It may be worse at the end of a day and in summer. When you press the skin around your ankles, it might not spring back straight away. Your rings might feel tight on your fingers.

In general, oedema is part and parcel of pregnancy, but it is important to check with your doctor to rule out other causes of swelling, for example pre-eclampsia. 

Put your feet up. Take breaks from sitting or standing. Go for a walk. Join a pregnancy yoga or Pilates class. Go for a swim. Wear loose fitting clothing. Try flight socks or maternity hosiery (if not too hot!), and put them on before the day starts. Eat healthily. Drink plenty of water. 

Have MLD treatment. You might soon notice that you need to go to the toilet more often, as the re-energised lymphatic system starts to move excess fluid and waste. 

At your first session, your therapist will carry out a consultation and recommend the number and frequency of future sessions. Treatments usually last for about an hour. Like in classic massage, you will be covered in towels except for the area being worked on. 

MLD is one of the safest treatments available to pregnant women. It is a gentle ‘skin technique’ and uses no oils or powders, so nothing is being introduced to upset the developing foetus. There is no need for you to suffer from swollen anything.

Astrid Lowe is a Vodder qualified MLD therapist and member of MLD UK.

You can book a treatment with her directly at her practice

Akana Holistic Therapies,

at The Sunshine Clinic in Send

or the Ascot Natural Health Centre in Sunninghill. 

Web          http://www.akana.co.uk

Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/akanaholistic

Twitter      @akanaholistic

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