Acupuncture/Needle Phobe/4kg ++ baby - HELP!!!

[Kitt3n]

Hey guys,

Need some learned advice!

My midwife just left, by dates I am either 40+3 or 40 weeks today.

From the description of my pains she is sure the baby is engaging and then pulling out and floating around (as she was when she felt my tummy - last visit she was 1/5 engaged). MW expects she is a "good" 4kgs, as she is now. My body is showing all the other signs that my body is ready to go, its just a matter of the little one getting her head in there and keeping her head engaged! (definately her father's daughter - he didnt move out till he was 29, why would you when you have it so good? lol)

Anyway - she suggested acupuncture as she is sure this will help things along. I am an absolute needle phobe. I cry when I have a blood test. I ball my eyes out when the dentist gives me the anaesthetic. Its pathetic.

She also suggested seeing an osteopath.

From the two, what have you guys done, what worked, what were your experiences etc?

Any descriptions of your experiences would be greatly appreciated!!

[Madissun]

I dont have any advice, sorry Kitten. Just wanted to let you know though that your not the only one with a needle phobia and your definitely NOT pathetic. I hyperventilate when i have to have a needle, especially a blood test! *Hugs*
And....Good Luck!!

[Nelle]

I haven't had either, but I've got a couple of friends who swear by acupuncture or massage for getting things started.

What I DO have experience in is a 4+kg baby, and you'll do great, whenever it comes.

[Visitor7]

Firstly, I wouldn't listen to her estimating that the baby is 4kg. I was told Nina was 'a decent size' bub, and she was only 2.98kg. The midwives were expecting at least 3.5kg!

Secondly, if you have a needle phobia, then accupuncture would not work for you. I don't have a needle phobia, but I was scared ****less! lol
There are plenty of nautral methods you can try other than accupuncture to get things moving along.
Congrats on reaching 40 weeks, and sending you lots of labour vibes.

[Beach Mama]

I hate needles too hun, and was pretty worried about getting it done. It doesn't hurt, the needles are super fine but they are still needles so I can understand the fear. I definitely know it worked - I started getting prelabour pains once I started my weekly sessions and lost part of my plug 2 days later. You could also get acupressure if you are too worried to have the needles. It is worth it though, and I recommend getting more than one session because your therapist will probably go easy if you are worried for your first one and then build up. Good luck hun! Don't forget to do lots of posturing, squats and walking leaning a bit forward that can help them get head down too - especially the wide leg squats.

[Junglemum]

I am on exactly the same page as you, i HATE needles. I sat in EMD with a broken arm for 6 hours with no pain relief as i was too scared to have a needle when i was 18!!! (I have got a little better over time since i had to start putting needles in other people! but i'm still not a fan.)
Having said that, i have had acupunture quite a few times now and i can honestly say it does not hurt at all. Infact sometimes i feel nothing, sometimes just a little sting. The guage of the needle is SOOOOOOOoooo small. It is honestly tiny, smaller than a pin. Compared to a blood taking needle, which needs to be reasonably large so as not to damage the blood cells. Sometimes it feels funny, but NEVER painful.

BUT if you can't come at having accupunture than no harm in trying an osteo or someone who does accupressure.

[Beach Mama]

Im thinking aloud but can you get that laser acupuncture where they stimulate the same spots but there are no needles??????

[Pandora]

i had accupuncture and a 4.5kg+ bub lol
i dont have a needle phobia though, but i was still pretty nervous about it.
As people have said already the needles are very fine. Most of them i didnt feel go in. Some i did but it was no worse, and probably less uncomfortable than a blood test. Definitely 1000 times smaller needle or at least it seems like it.

If your eyes were closed you probably wont even know most of them are in.

I wouldn't necessarily go by guessing re your bubs size either, it can be way out.

Maybe you could have a look at the articleon the main site about natural induction methods and try some of those?
Evening Primrose oil, sage oil belly rubs, reflexology, there are lots of natural induciton methods you can try apart from accupuncture.

[Kitt3n]

Thanks guys

I know the guessing of baby's size can be way out, but I really am "all belly" and very big - even by my own hands baby feels much much bigger than DD did (she was born 3.68 kilos).

I might bite the bullet and make an appointment for this acupuncture tomorrow - hopefully I can get in during the day. I mean, I am about to give birth naturally at home and I am scared of needles? grin and bear it girl!

[Aimz]

Hun I am terrified of needles too. I am always more anxious about the needle than the actual procedure.

I have had accupunture once before (about 5 years ago) and I barely felt them!! If you express your fears to the AP they will be extra gentle and will tell you exactly what they are doing before they do it. You will come out of it feeling wonderful. I am going back in the new year for my migraines.

So many people have it done to kickstart labour.

Good luck xx

[norquesta]

I too am scared of needles but when it has been needed I had had TCM sessions. Sometimes it has been a bit tender, but most of the time I can't even feel it.

I always believe that babies come, when babies are ready and rushing them when there is no medical need can end in problems, whether natural or chemical methods are used.

I known many babies that have on engaged when labour starts, so it really doesn't matter that your little one is not engaged yet.

I would suggest, enjoy the last days/weeks of your pregnancy, trust that your baby still needs a time to grow and know when your body starts to labour that the time is right for both of you.

As far as size, 4kgs .......... looks like you grow healthy babies, I wouldn't be concerned with the size of your baby, just proud that you have looked after yourself and that you will soon be holding a healthy, good sized newborn.

A tip ...... fill in the next few weeks of your diary with 'stuff', movies, dinner, friends coming over etc etc, it makes the time fly instead of feeling like you are hanging around waiting for something to happen.

Enjoy!
PS. I'm a mum of a 10 pounder born at 42 weeks.

[Trillian]

Kitten, you could try some bowen therapy to get things kickstarted if you are that concerned. It's very gentle and not a needle in sight LOL. You have the luxury of not having any pressure on you to *perform* because you are HB'ing so try to relax and just let go kwim?

[Kitt3n]

Thanks for your input guys.

I am not worried about the size of the baby - actually quite happy that she will probably be a healthy lil chubber What worries me is if she takes on her father's attitude to moving out (lol) and grows much bigger before the very end. I had a second degree tear with DD and even though I am much more aware now of how to avoid this, having the home birth I am concerned of having a bigger tear and then endng up needing a trip to hospital. But I do have a great MW who will actively manage the whole situation I am sure

My MW said to approach the osteo/acupunturist not necessarily for induction, but to see if they can release any tension that may be in my pelvis, which may be encouraging her to keep popping back out. The purpose was more to get her in there and ready, not so much to bring on the labour NOW iykwim?

[Olive]

kitten i had my first ever accupunture yesterday at the pregancy centre and i too was nervous, yes you feel but bearly!!!!! it but its nothing like having a bloood test which im petrified of!!!!
go for it i say!!!!!

[Kitt3n]

Well I have found a guy within walking distance who does acupuncture, chinese massage and trad chinese medicine ..... I'll call him at 9, maybe all I need is a massage and a walk!

[Trillian]

Maybe that might be all you need. Good luck!

[Aphrael]

I had it too late for it to do anything with my last pg (was on a time limit stupidly enough, not anymore though) and I was so nervous and scared I dont think it did anything. I didn't move the whole time the needles were in but I needn't have worried, they didn't hurt at all.

I'm having weekly sessions from 36 weeks this time and also preg massage to help me relax (no chance of induction so have to try everything else) so fingers crossed my body does the job (it will).

So just relax while you have it and know everything is going to work out

I hope you have a fantastic homebirth

Cheers,

Beck

[*charmalea*]

i would sugget Japanese accupunture over chinese , Japanese is stronger so you need less treatments ..

i go to accupunture for everything .. even induction .. but it did not work DD was 41+2
i was also told i was going to have a big 9lb+ baby as my 1st was 8lbs and i am not that big .. so the hosp wanted me to do a c/s @ 38wks .. DD being 9 days over was only 7.4lbs (can you imagine what she would have been @38wks)

another example about how sizes can be off is , my frined was bullied into a c/s because her 1st was 9lb14 , she had the c/s @ 38+4 and her baby was only 8lb4 and they told her on the U/S a few days b4 it was already 9lbs ...

so you just cant tell !!