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How Acupuncture Can Help with Labor Induction: Working Alongside Your Body’s Natural Processes

flossiemc

As a practitioner it’s an honor working with individuals throughout their pregnancy journey. From preconception care, through each trimester and into the postpartum period, acupuncture has much to offer. Acupuncture has also gained significant recognition for its potential to “induce” labor. I prefer the term “prepare” over “induce”, as treatments are more of a cumulative process that work alongside your body over a period of weeks.


Labor preparation treatments are done during the final weeks of pregnancy, from 36 to 40 weeks. I recommend that patients come in starting at 36 weeks and come in 1-2 x a week until their due date. During treatments, certain acupuncture points are used to help soften/ ripen the cervix and encourage contractions. From a Chinese Medical perspective, many of these points instruct qi (our body’s energetic intelligence) to move downwards, thus giving the baby a gentle nudge to begin their descent. From a biomedical perspective, these points work to stimulate uterine contractions, balance hormones (like oxytocin, the labor and “love” hormone), and promote a baby’s optimum positioning. 


On top of any physical benefits, many of my pregnant patients have expressed how much they enjoy having this time on the table to themselves before the baby is born. Acupuncture’s ability to regulate the nervous system can help to ease any nerves around this time of transition, helping the body into a state of relaxation and receptivity. 


If you’re considering acupuncture to help induce labor, it’s important to work with a licensed practitioner with experience in this area. Treatments are tailored to the individual, their particular pregnancy symptoms and labor progress. Acupuncture can be used alongside other modalities such as massage and dietary (dates, raspberry leaf tea, etc.) and herbal therapy. I also like to give patients acupressure homework to do at home, either on their own or with their partner’s help;  both my doula training as well as my studies with Claudia Citkovitz, acupuncturist and author of Acupressure and Acupuncture During Birth: An Integrative Guide for Acupuncturists and Birth Professionals, emphasized the significance of this kind of manual therapy. 


Interested in trying this safe and comprehensive approach to labor preparation? Schedule an initial appointment via my booking site, or send an email to flossiemccallacu@gmail.com. Mention this blog post to receive $15 off your appointment. 


Note:  It’s important to be under the care of a physician while receiving acupuncture, and to notify your acupuncturist of any complications or changes throughout your pregnancy.

© 2023 Flossie McCall Acupuncture

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