Is acupressure to induce labour considered a home remedy? As you eagerly approach the final weeks of being pregnant, all sorts of thoughts may be running through your mind about how to induce labour and getting your baby out in a more natural way.

Acupressure is once again getting attention with regards to how it may be beneficial to pregnant women. Acupressure is a non invasive intervention that can be administered in a comfortable and homely setting, generally by the pregnant woman’s partner or a trained practitioner rather than in a medicalised environment.

Some believe it might be beneficial for stimulating uterine activity, as well as reducing stress and calming the body in preparation for labour, maybe even serving as a gentle comfort during those final nervous days.

The science is uncertain, but for many women acupressure has become a reassuring ritual they can perform on themselves at home with their own bare hands, something that makes them feel like they have an element of control over the pregnancy; that connects them to its outcome in an era when extreme patience is in woefully short supply.

What is acupressure?

Acupressure is a therapeutic massage technique with roots in traditional Chinese medicine. Not to be confused with acupuncture, acupressure involves applying physical pressure to specific points on the body.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, qi (pronounced ‘chee’) is the body’s natural or life energy flow. Acupressure aims to fix blockages and imbalances of qi in the body, to promote healing and maintain health.

Can we use acupressure to start labour?

Acupressure is often recommended as a natural way to encourage labour and avoid medical induction. If your due date has been and gone, your midwife might have suggested acupressure as a way to encourage labour to begin naturally, without the need for medical intervention.

Is it safe to use acupressure points?

Yes. Acupressure is considered a safe practice during pregnancy. It’s a good idea to visit a qualified and experienced acupressure practitioner who will be able to teach you where the relevant acupoints are and how to use them to encourage labour. Always speak to the practitioners before booking to make sure they have experience in supporting pregnant women hoping to go into labour.

Can we use acupressure to induce labour?

Yes, many women turn to acupressure at the end of their pregnancies to try to induce labour. There are specific points on the body that can be targeted to stimulate uterine contractions and, hopefully, encourage the onset of labour.

There is no guarantee that acupressure will work but studies suggest it might be a successful way to encourage labour naturally. Acupressure is generally seen as a complementary method for labour induction, so it’s worth trying alongside other home remedies.

One of the benefits of acupressure is that you can carry it out yourself or, ideally, get your birth partner involved. Oxytocin, the ‘love hormone’, plays a crucial role in labour. Ask your partner to give you a full-body massage and apply gentle but firm pressure to your acupressure points as part of the massage. Hopefully, a loving massage will help to get the oxytocin flowing and encourage labour to start.

Does acupressure work to induce labour?

A big research review, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2024, found that acupuncture can be beneficial in reducing induction rates. The researchers believed more research was needed to explore the precise benefits of acupressure to bring on labour.

What is the success rate of acupressure?

The science is mixed on the success rates of acupressure in inducing labour. While the huge research review mentioned above found a positive correlation between acupressure and the natural onset of labour, some studies have found the opposite. More research is needed to understand fully the effect of acupressure on labour induction, and the impact this technique can have on women during labour.

Should I try acupressure to bring on labour?

Your due date is only ever an estimation of when your baby might arrive. It can be difficult emotionally, though, when that day comes and goes with no baby in sight. As the days pass, you’re desperate to meet your baby, and the list of things you’ve tried to kickstart labour naturally gets longer.

Some women eat spicy curries, proposition their partners, or attempt nipple stimulation to try to bring on contractions. Acupressure is another method you can use to try to initiate labour. It might not work but it will help you relax and give you something to focus on while you wait for your baby to arrive.

Want some more ideas to try? Look at BellyBelly’s article How To Bring On Labour Naturally – 11 Natural Methods.

What is the best acupressure point to induce labour?

There are hundreds of acupoints on the body, but not all the acupuncture points will help to bring on labour. You must make sure you are targeting the correct pressure point or muscles for bringing on labour.
The specific acupressure points or muscles believed to be useful in stimulating labour are:

1. Lower Intestine 4 point (LI4)

There are 4 lower intestine points, situated between the bones of the thumb and first finger. Apply pressure and gently massage these points for one minute, then take a one-minute break and try again.

2. Bladder 60 point (BL60)

The bladder 60 point is located between the outer ankle bone and the Achilles tendon. Look for the natural depression between those two landmarks and you’ll find the spot. Gently massage the spot for a few minutes each day. You could ask your partner to do this as part of a foot rub.

3. Bladder 32 point (BL32)

The bladder 32 point is located on the lower back. It is positioned halfway between the dimples above your buttocks and the lumbar spine. Ask your partner to apply pressure and massage in a downwards motion towards your buttocks for a few minutes each day.

4. Spleen 6 point (SP6)

The spleen 6 point is located above the ankle on the lower calf, about four finger widths above the inner ankle bone. Apply firm pressure with your index finger for a few seconds, take a one minute break, then repeat.

5. Spleen 9 point (SP9)

The spleen 9 point is located on the inner side of the lower leg. It is in the depression, behind the knee (medial condyle of the tibia) and is used to improve circulation, knee or joint pain and water retention. Apply gentle pressure with your fingers for a few minutes, take a one minute break, then repeat.

6. Gall bladder 21 (GB21)

The gall bladder 21 point is located on the shoulders, halfway between the base of your neck and the tip of your shoulder. It might feel like a tender spot. To treat this spot, ask your partner to apply pressure with the knuckles, hold for 15 seconds, then release.

Can you use acupressure points in the feet to induce labour?

By stimulating certain points on the feet such as BL60 – (Kunlun area), it may induce labour. The acupressure spot of the Kunlun, is based on traditional Chinese medicine, which suggests that this specific pressure point in the area of the outer ankle and the Achilles tendon. This may be metaphoric, but it can have a soothing, relaxing effect on the uterus.

A few women report experiencing mild contractions or sensations of baby movement after trying foot acupressure, but scientific proof is thin and results swing widely. It is safe when used with light, comfortable pressure although you should never feel pain.

If you are overdue and natural remedies are of interest, then you should try acupressure.

How soon after acupressure will labour start?

There is no exact ‘one size fits all’ answer to how long it takes labour to start after acupressure. Although some women go into labour just hours later, others find the acupressure doesn’t initiate labour at all.

Acupressure after waters breaking

Hollywood might tell you otherwise, but labour doesn’t always begin when your waters break. In some women, their waters break and nothing else happens. If this happens, you should alert your healthcare provider so you can be monitored to reduce the risk of infection.

If your waters have broken, you can use the acupressure points listed above to try to encourage contractions. Ask your partner to give you a relaxing massage combined with some treatment of acupressure points. Hopefully, that will get the oxytocin flowing and kickstart labour.

What is the difference between acupressure and acupuncture?

Although acupressure and acupuncture follow the same theory, they use different methods to stimulate the body’s acupuncture points. Acupressure relies on the application of manual pressure, whereas acupuncture uses fine needles to penetrate the skin. Acupressure can be performed at home, but acupuncture must be carried out by a qualified practitioner (acupuncturist).

What is acupuncture?

Rather than relying on pressure, acupuncturists insert fine needles into the skin during acupuncture. The needles are usually left in place for a short while before the acupuncturist removes them. People also use acupuncture points to help with fertility, anxiety and migraines.

Find out more about acupuncture at Acupuncture To Induce Labour | Does It Work?

Acupressure for pain relief during labour

Acupressure might help to reduce pain during labour. A 2020 research review found that acupressure during labour reduced the need for pharmacological analgesia and improved satisfaction with pain management.

To use acupressure for pain relief during contractions, you should ask your birth partner to master the techniques before you go into labour. During contractions, as you focus on your breathing, your birth partner can add pressure to certain points of your body to provide pain relief.

What are the 5 acupressure points to relieve pain in labour?

There are several pressure points that might help relieve discomfort during contractions They are:

Large intestine 4 point (LI4)
A 2014 study reported in the Oman Medical Journal suggests that acupressure on this point is an easy and effective way to alleviate labour pain.
Gall bladder 21 point (GB21)
A 2021 study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that acupressure at gall bladder 21 point successfully reduced pain during labour.
Bladder 32 point (BL32)
A 2016 study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that acupressure on bladder 32 point was an effective way of reducing pain during labour.
Spleen 6 point (SP6)
A 2004 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that spleen 6 point acupressure reduced labour pain and shortened the time spent in labour.
Pericardium 6 point (P6)
A 2022 study published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results found that acupressure at pericardium 6 point reduced pain intensity and anxiety for women during labour.

What are the forbidden acupressure points?

The forbidden pressure points are those thought to encourage uterine contractions. Practitioners will avoid these points during pregnancy until 40 weeks. After that time, acupressure may be used to try and bring on labour. However, once you have reached 40 weeks, it’s well worth booking an acupressure session with a qualified practitioner to give this alternative therapy a try.

Using acupressure before medical induction

Acupressure can be used before medical induction as a way of stimulating uterine contractions and preparing the cervix for birth. You should begin using acupressure a few days before medical induction. Practise acupressure once or twice a day in the days leading up to your medical induction.

Using acupressure for a social induction

A ‘social induction’ is when there is no medical reason for inducing labour and the induction is wanted for social reasons, such as to fit in with work commitments or coincide with a family celebration.

Although acupressure isn’t medical induction, and it won’t guarantee that your baby will arrive soon, you should avoid using it to kickstart labour unless it has been recommended by your healthcare provider.

What are the potential side effects of acupressure?

The side effects of acupressure are limited, and for that reason, it is generally considered a safe therapy. There are some potential side effects of acupressure, however, include soreness after having acupressure performed. Some individuals experience light headedness after acupressure, which isn’t ideal during pregnancy, so make sure you stop if you experience this symptom.