To put it plainly, acupuncture will help a woman achieve the best possible labour that she can have. This is a great preparation for women who want to give their body the edge when planning natural childbirth. A series of at least 3 acupuncture sessions when used in the last three weeks of pregnancy improves the quality and efficiency of labour.  When labour is efficient it means that a woman’s body is working its best. There will be less pain, labour will be faster and there will be less need for medical interventions such as artificial inductions and caesarean sections. Also it has the effect to rebalance the body which will help with emotional stability, ease fears and anxiousness and relax tired muscles. Feedback from midwives who attend births of mothers who have had the acupuncture preparation is very positive.

Acupuncture is part of a system of medicine that has been developed in the Orient over the last 5000 years. The fact that this medical system has survived over such a long history is evidence that it is effective. Acupuncture
is the insertion of fine needles into certain areas of the body along energy pathways. The acupuncture points that are stimulated, work to ripen a women’s cervix which is where the baby will pass through during labour and to prepare the muscles surrounding the pelvis. Women often feel the baby moving during the treatments. In the days following a session mild period like cramps are felt, this is the loosening of muscles around the pelvis and the cervix softening up. The treatment is painless. The needles are so fine that many can be fit into the space of a regular hypodermic needle. The feeling that people most often describe is heaviness where the needles are used. Women also report feeling relaxed and sleeping better.

Any woman who wants to give their labour the best possible chance should incorporate acupuncture treatment in preparation for giving birth. Acupuncture is safe even for women who have high risk pregnancies or who are planning on using pain medications during labour. The benefits of acupuncture preparation can be utilized by women no matter what style of birth they are planning.

Acupressure which is simply pressing on specific areas on the body has been said by most women who use it during their natural labour to cut their pain in half. The best thing about acupressure to reduce pain during labour is that it can easily be taught to the labour partner. Even the most basic acupressure training will make the world of difference to labour pains.

Acupuncture can provide a gentle inducement to labour if the baby is overdue and can be an effective alternative to a medical induction. Pregnancy due dates are guidelines, women should not feel any sense of urgency when they are a few days past due. An acupuncture induction can be started no later than three days before a medical induction is scheduled to give the treatment time to take its course. After a woman gives birth it is like she has run a marathon in a short time. The body is drained of vital energy and substances. Along with acupuncture to rebalance and stimulate recovery, there is a classic herbal formula which is used to purge the body of any leftover birth matter and to regenerate lost blood and energy. Women should explore the benefits of natural remedies throughout their pregnancy.