Filling knead for fertility

Miss Badminton said she had been trying to get pregnant for about five years using a mixture of natural therapies and IVF.

She said nothing was successful, so she researched and learnt about fertility massage techniques.

“I couldn’t find anybody else in Perth who was doing it,” she said.

Miss Badminton said she asked friend Edwina Taylor, who had an interest in massage, to learn the non-|invasive technique and try it on her.

Mrs Taylor said she worked on her friend for two months leading up to her next round of embryo transfers. Three months later, Miss Badminton gave her a surprise birthday present.

“The card was her ultrasound; she was 12 weeks pregnant,” Ms Taylor said.

“It was so rewarding for me to be able to help somebody.”

After a successful round of IVF, Fergus Dunne was born on March 7, 2015.

“There were a few things that I did differently in that one,” Miss Badminton said.

“I was taking more nutrients; that hopefully helped as well.”

Miss Badminton said she was also doing more yoga, cut back on work and her fertility clinic changed the way it did that round of IVF.

She said the massages had been relaxing as well and when they decide to try having a second child, she would be going back for more.

Mrs Taylor said her friend’s success inspired her to get fertility massage qualifications last year and she started offering the service from her Ellenbrook home in July.

Since then, she said two more of her clients had fallen pregnant, while other women benefited from the relief it offered for a range of conditions.

“This treatment is not only beneficial for women trying to conceive but also extends to women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, fibroids, cysts, menopause, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, digestive problems, hormone imbalance, painful and heavy periods,” she said.

“It’s helping them to get through a lot of their pain.”

Mrs Taylor said fertility massages focused on the lower back and womb.

“The physical therapy works by bringing the organs within the abdominal area back into alignment, releasing pressure and strengthening the surrounding muscles and ligaments,” she said.

Mrs Taylor said another client in her 40s had several failed attempts at IVF and approached her before attempting it again. The woman had since fallen pregnant naturally and was expecting twins.