Feeling tired, big, and ready to meet your baby? We've been there!
Congrats! You've made it to the Home Stretch!
Labor prep acupuncture treatments can begin around 36-37 weeks and may help your body prepare for childbirth, gently nudging it towards the finish line. While these treatments are not able to strongly induce labor in the same way that Pitocin, a foley bulb, or any other induction intervention you may find at your midwife's or OB's office, our goal is to gently support changes that are already happening naturally in the body as your Birth Day approaches. Just like any other acupuncture treatment, labor prep treatments are individualized to support YOUR body's specific needs. Feeling anxious? Or exhausted? In pain? Sleepless? We have acu-points for that!
“Every birth is a natural birth: each of us is part of nature, not separate from it, and nature is always stunning in its variety. Your birth, then, is part of the natural world, however it unfolds.”
- Lauralyn Curtis
What can I expect during a labor prep treatment?
You will lie on your side with extra pillows to support you and your growing belly. Acupuncture points will be chosen based on what you're experiencing and are located on the legs, feet, arms, hands, and ears. Many people feel so comfortable that they drift off to sleep during their appointments!
We also like to use a TENS unit on the low back over your sacrum to help stimulate the nerves that go to the uterus. This can also relieve low back pain that many pregnant people experience towards the end of pregnancy.
As your due date nears, we begin to use specific acupuncture points that were previously avoided during most of the pregnancy since they strongly move qi and blood and promote a downward moving of energy. Ultimately, labor will begin when both your baby and your body is ready, but a handful of labor prep treatments may be helpful in kickstarting the process.
Which Acupressure Points Might Help at Home?
In between treatments, it's a good idea to stimulate these points once you get the go-ahead from your acupuncturist. Hold each point for several minutes at a time daily.
These points are NOT to be stimulated unless you are close to your due date!
Images courtesy of meandqi.com
Don't Forget!
Acupuncture is also a great support postpartum as you recover from your birth and your body is deficient in both energy and blood. Inquire here about our postpartum home visits!
Make an appointment today to learn more about how we might be able to help. And Congratulations!
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