How interesting is this? A recent study found that one 40-minute reflexology session per day for six days caused an immediate increase in breast milk production among women who had given birth to preterm babies.
The study included 50 mothers with preterm babies in the NICU ranging in gestational age from 29 to 36 weeks. The women were randomly assigned to either the reflexology group or a control group, with those in the reflexology group receiving one 40-minute reflexology session per day for six days straight. The massages consisted of a 20-minute focus on each foot, starting with a “simple massage” of the calf, ankle and foot.
The results showed that the women in the reflexology group experienced a significantly higher increase in the mean volume of pumped breast milk than those in the control group.
“The results indicate that reflexology is effective on the volume of milk of mothers, and this low-cost and easy procedure can be used along with regular lactation training,” the study’s authors conclude.
Now if we could all just get someone to give us a 40-minute massage every day!
