Our Treatments explained

Bowen Technique

  • The Bowen Technique is a wonderfully gentle yet powerful therapy that can help address a wide range of issues. It's deeply relaxing and non-invasive—making it not just a treatment, but a treat to receive.

    Developed in the 1950s by Tom Bowen in Australia, this technique has only more recently been introduced in the UK.

  • Bowen therapy is based on the principle that the body has the innate ability to heal itself, given the right conditions. The practitioner performs a series of precise, gentle rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue using their fingers and thumbs.

    These movements are strategically placed and spaced with resting periods in between. During these pauses, the body is given time to absorb the effects of the treatment and begin realigning and rebalancing itself.

    Rather than manipulating bones or forcing muscles, Bowen prompts the body to correct itself—like pressing a reset button for the nervous system and restoring natural alignment and function.

  • Bowen Therapy may be beneficial for a wide range of physical and emotional conditions, including:

    • Musculoskeletal pain and tension

    • Sciatica and lower back pain

    • Headaches and migraines

    • Digestive and respiratory issues

    • Stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbances

    • Hormonal imbalance and menstrual discomfort

    • Pregnancy-related symptoms (see below)

  • Bowen is incredibly well-suited for expectant mothers. Its gentle approach makes it safe and effective throughout all stages of pregnancy and into the postpartum period.

    Key benefits include:

    • Relief from common pregnancy discomforts such as back pain, sciatica, pelvic discomfort, and fluid retention

    • Pelvic alignment: Around 33–34 weeks, a Bowen session can help correct any pelvic tilt, which encourages the baby to adopt the optimal position for birth (occipito-anterior)

    • Preparation for labour: Around 39 weeks, Bowen may help facilitate engagement of the baby’s head into the pelvis

    • Natural stimulation of labour: If your baby is overdue, gentle Bowen moves around the coccyx can help support the onset of labour

    Bowen can also support emotional well-being, helping expectant mothers feel more grounded, calm, and confident throughout their journey.

    💡 Please note: When possible, Bowen should be received on two consecutive weeks, and ideally not on the same day as Reflexology treatments.

  • A typical Bowen session lasts about 45–60 minutes. You’ll remain fully clothed (wearing light, loose-fitting garments) and lie comfortably on a treatment couch.

    The practitioner will perform a series of soft, rolling movements over specific points on the body—often on the back, hips, shoulders, and limbs. After each set of movements, the practitioner will leave the room or sit quietly nearby for a few minutes. These resting intervals allow your nervous system to process the input and trigger the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

    You may feel warmth, tingling, or subtle shifts within your body—this is completely normal and part of the healing process.

Creative Healing

  • Creative Healing is a specialised therapeutic approach designed to clear congestion, restore alignment, and promote deep relaxation within the body—particularly in preparation for pregnancy and birth.

    Dr Gowri Motha introduced Creative Healing into the Gentle Birth Method programme due to the vital importance of pelvic and spinal mobility during pregnancy. These treatments are uniquely structured to target the lower back, sacrum, coccyx, spine, and sciatic areas, helping ensure optimal comfort and alignment throughout each trimester.

    Beyond this, Creative Healing nurtures the whole-body system—supporting the liver, kidneys, heart, pancreas, spleen, and more—so that the body remains in harmony during this transformational time.

    • Safe, gentle, and suitable from the first trimester to birth

    • Tailored to your pregnancy stage and emotional state

    • Promotes physical alignment and emotional balance

    • Complements other therapies such as Reflexology or Yoga
      (Note: Best scheduled on separate days to Reflexology for optimal results)

At Gentle Birth Method, we believe that understanding your care is an essential part of your journey. This page offers a clear overview of the hands-on treatments we offer, so you can feel confident and informed before your appointment. Whether you're new to holistic pregnancy care or simply curious, this guide will walk you through our signature therapies, their benefits, and what to expect during your visit.

Each Creative Healing session is tailored to your unique needs, Treatments include:

  • A core element of Creative Healing, this treatment stimulates drainage in the upper and middle back and pelvic region, releasing retained fluid and easing pressure. Pelvic lymphatic drainage in particular creates more space within the pelvis, aiding the baby’s descent and positioning for birth.

  • This treatment supports digestion and nutrient absorption, which are vital for the mother’s energy and the baby’s development. It can relieve bloating and help maintain a strong, nourished gut throughout pregnancy.

  • Offered typically between 32–36 weeks, this treatment promotes healthy digestive enzyme production and supports balanced blood sugar—helping to prevent gestational diabetes and alleviate symptoms like nausea, bloating, and constipation.

  • Effective in addressing nausea and morning sickness, this technique supports liver detoxification, especially useful when pregnancy-related hormone shifts slow the liver’s natural processing capacity.

  • Given in early pregnancy and again before labour, this treatment supports the increased circulatory demands of pregnancy and helps regulate emotional wellbeing, easing anxiety, overwhelm, or fear.

  • Provides relief from nausea or discomfort by reducing upward pressure in the digestive tract.

Reflexology

  • Reflexology is a deeply restorative treatment that involves gentle massage and pressure techniques applied to specific areas of the feet. These reflex points correspond to various organs, glands, and systems in the body, creating a mirror of your overall health and wellbeing. By stimulating these reflex zones, a skilled practitioner can help restore balance and function to the associated areas—enhancing the body’s natural healing processes.

  • Yes. Reflexology is safe when performed by trained and experienced practitioners. Dr. Motha and her team have supported thousands of women throughout pregnancy using Reflexology. It has been found to:

    • Reduce symptoms such as nausea, swelling, backache, and anxiety

    • Help mothers reach full-term with fewer complications

    • Support natural labour and recovery

    In the first trimester (up to 12 weeks), Reflexology is adjusted to be even gentler. During this phase, only light lymphatic drainage and treatment of the upper foot are performed to honour the body’s sensitivity before the placenta is fully established.

    • Relieves back pain, pelvic discomfort, and leg cramps

    • Reduces water retention and swelling in feet/ankles

    • Supports healthy digestion and alleviates nausea

    • Improves sleep and energy levels

    • Enhances emotional well-being

    • Strengthens the immune system

    • Helps the baby adopt optimal position for birth

    • Reduces anxiety and stress

    • Can help intensify contractions naturally during labour, potentially shortening labour time

  • Many of our clients continue Reflexology into labour itself. Stimulating specific points (such as those on the heel and arch) can intensify natural contractions, encourage the baby’s descent, and reduce the need for intervention. Reflexology offers comfort, calm, and empowerment at a time when it’s needed most.

  • Some midwives or healthcare providers may advise against Reflexology in early pregnancy due to fears of triggering early labour. However, Dr. Motha’s study (presented at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2001) showed no increased risk of miscarriage or premature birth. The majority of babies were born at full term (40 weeks), with only one early delivery—of twins—at 36 weeks.

  • Alleviates pregnancy-related back pain and supports posture. May also include a neck treatment if needed, to enhance nervous system alignment.

  • Supports energy balance and metabolic function—particularly helpful if fatigue has set in during the second or third trimester.

  • Encourages efficient excretion of fluids and helps reduce water retention, swelling, and puffiness.

  • Boosts immune function and supports overall vitality.

  • Promotes pelvic flexibility and reduces congestion around the sacroiliac joints. This treatment is often given late in pregnancy to:

    • Aid baby’s descent into the pelvis

    • Ease constipation

    • Reduce the second stage of labour (pushing time)

  • Targets sciatic nerve tension and the classic symptoms of sciatica, including lower back pain, hip tightness, and shooting leg pain.

Pregnancy Massage

  • Pregnancy massage is a specialised, gentle form of bodywork designed to support the physical and emotional changes that occur during pregnancy. It promotes relaxation, eases muscular tension, and improves overall wellbeing for both mother and baby.

  • Using tailored techniques, your practitioner focuses on areas of tension—typically the lower back, hips, legs, and shoulders—while ensuring you’re safely positioned and supported with pillows and bolsters throughout the session.

      • Lower back and pelvic pain

      • Sciatic discomfort

      • Leg cramps and swelling

      • Sleep disturbances

      • Stress and anxiety

      • Postural imbalances from your changing centre of gravity

  • Massage is safely adapted for each trimester, offering different techniques depending on where you are in your pregnancy. We begin treatments from the second trimester onwards and adjust pressure and positioning as your body evolves.

  • Sessions are deeply calming and restorative. You’ll be made comfortable on your side or in a supported semi-reclined position. Oils or balms may be used to ease muscle tension, and your therapist will always work in tune with your needs and comfort level.

Closing Cermony

  • The Gentle Birth Method (GBM) Closing Ceremony is a sacred postnatal ritual designed to honour and support the mother’s physical, emotional, and energetic transition after childbirth. Rooted in ancient traditions and adapted by Dr Gowri Motha, this treatment marks the closing of the body, womb, and spirit following pregnancy and birth.

  • The ceremony combines therapeutic massage, herbal applications, abdominal wrapping, and intentional energy work. It is designed to "seal" the body after the expansive experience of birth—restoring a sense of balance, containment, and deep nurturing.

    • Emotional grounding after birth

    • Feeling ‘put back together’ physically and energetically

    • Womb and abdominal healing

    • Birth integration and reflection

    • Fatigue, overwhelm, or postpartum depletion

  • The Closing Ceremony is typically offered from 6 weeks postpartum onwards (or earlier, depending on your birth and recovery). It is suitable following both vaginal and caesarean births, and can be adapted for individual needs.

  • The experience is gentle, ceremonial, and deeply held. You will receive massage, warm herbal compresses, and abdominal binding using our Gowri Wrap. The session takes place in a calm, private space. Many mothers find it profoundly healing, both physically and emotionally.