Besides being an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, I am also a Holistic Massage Therapist and Usui Reiki Master.
Throughout my years of clinical lactation experience, I realised that breastfeeding and infant-feeding challenges are not always about optimising feeding techniques alone. Transitioning into motherhood is an intense process, requiring us to adapt to changes in our individual identity, our relationships, and our mental structures that we were once used to.
Breastfeeding does not only require physical endurance; it can also be mentally challenging to suddenly feel the pressure of helping a baby survive based on what your body produces. Combined with lack of sleep and changes within ourselves and our relationships, this can all feel quite overwhelming in my opinion.
As a Reiki Master and Holistic Massage Therapist, I combine the clinical approach of lactation care with bodywork.
Reiki is a gentle form of energy healing in which I place my hands lightly on or just above your body. Through this light touch, the body is supported in shifting from a stress response driven by adrenaline and cortisol into a state of oxytocin and deep relaxation. This allows the body to let go, clear emotional or energetic blockages, and enter a calm, restorative state.
I have noticed that this often allows milk to flow more easily as the body is more relaxed during feeding, and parents to feel more grounded mentally, better able to feel what works for them and to set mental boundaries accordingly.
A Reiki session lasts 60 minutes. See it as a very relaxing, well-deserved power nap!
All sessions are led by Marloes, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). ITEC Holistic Massage Therapist and USUI Reiki Master.