Acupuncture has been used traditionally to help provide physical and emotional support leading up to labour and birth for thousands of years. Acupuncture can increase your sense of satisfaction with the birthing experience and enhance your overall well being after birth.
Acupuncture can encourage optimal birth presentation by turning posterior or breech presentation, reduce cesarean rates, minimize needs for medical inductions such as oxytocin, reduce need for pain medication or epidurals, shorten labour times, and help create a calm mental attitude for an optimal birth experience.
Acupuncture Helps with Cervical Ripening & Labour Induction
Acupuncture is particularly beneficial in stimulating cervical ripening and can be an effective alternative to medical induction. This reduces your chances of going beyond 40 week term and can shorten labour.
Research indicates that weekly acupuncture treatments performed at week 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40 weeks can help the baby become engaged and the cervix to soften and dilate. This usually induces women to go into labour within 4 days of their due date.
A study showed that women who had received pre birth acupuncture when compared with only midwifery/ob-gyne care had an overall 35% reduction in the number of induction, a 31% reduction in the epidural rate, 32% reduction in emergency cesarean delivery, and 9% increase in normal vaginal births.
Acupuncture for Birth Preparation Vancouver – When, How Often
Ideally we recommend starting weekly acupuncture treatments at week 36. This will allow enough time for gradual build up of labour hormones (such as oxytocin) and allow the mother to be at her best mental state. After the due date at 40 weeks, treatment can be increased as frequently as every 2-3 days to give the best chance of avoiding the need of medical induction. During your acupuncture treatment, you will be placed in a comfortable position, either on your side or seated. Acupuncture points will be inserted mostly around your feet, legs, arms, back and hands. If you are close to your due date or beyond, electro-acupuncture (minor electrical current) may be applied to the back points.
If you have any questions about the specificity of your pregnancy and birth preparation and/or would like to book an appointment, you can book directly online or reach out to Katie at katie@anantaosteopathy.com.
Our Acupuncturists in Vancouver do not diagnose or practice medicine, nor do we attempt to treat disease. If you are concerned about any medical pathology and/or disease, always consult your physician prior to exploring acupuncture.