Who has tried Acupuncture to bring on labour?

[Meluchja]

Just wanting to know from those of you who have tried acupuncture to try and bring on labour, what your experiences were like. Did it work, did it not work? How long after having it done did it work etc?.

Thanks in advance.

[Visitor7]

I haven't, but I've heard many stories on here from women who've had it, and it worked successfully. Just wanted to say good luck if you go with it.

[Meluchja]

Thanks Jodi.

[*Princess Kylie*]

Mel, as you know from BB I have had two lots of acupuncture recently. Things really started to pick up after the second treatment, and I have definitely felt different since the treatments. Having said that, I am not in labour, but at the same time it tends to work better for women who are overdue (or so I have been told).

Good luck if you do try it! Melanie at Shen Therapies in Jamboree Heights is great!

[Willow]

Hi girls, just wanted to add that I saw a post from Kelly a few weeks ago saying that she no longer recommends it as she's had a few clients who've had acupuncture, their waters have broken but then labour fails to establish which of course may lead to induction.

I'll try and find it...

[Firstkid]

Willow - that's exactly what happened to me! I was overdue and my Ob was threatening an induction. I had acupuncture in the hope of bringing on labour. The night after the acupuncture, my waters broke, but there was no sign of labour, so eventually I had to have an induction anyway. Of course, it could have been a coincidence (I'd also been on a long walk and DTD that day!), but not sure I'd go down the acupuncture path again.

Kelly says she's heard a lot of similar stories recently.

[christy]

I had acupuncture prior to having Jovie. The first treatment was at 38 weeks and when I got up from the table it was like she "dropped" straight into the pelvis. I had 4 more treatments & after every one I would have contractions lasting for around 2 hours and then they would settle and stop. When I was 40 weeks I had a massage and the same thing happened & then when I was 41 +3 I had another massage & went into spontaneous labour that night.

[sconeonamission]

I'm not sure whether I'd have accupuncture or not, but I can reccommend you my accupuncturist if you like. He's in Capalaba, just email me if you want his details!

[MumofLewis]

I had acupuncture last night as I am 3 days overdue. I was recommended by a friend who had it a few weeks ago and went into labour the same night. No signs for me as yet, maybe I need another session.

I'm very open to acupuncture as I believe it made a difference to my IVF treatment and it does no harm to mother or baby. If anything it is very relaxing.

[Steph]

I had accupuncture with my first - was about 8 days overdue, it didn't work for me (see why below), acutally he turned from head engaged to breach, I did heaps of yoga and excercise to try to "turn" him back. Had to be induced at 11 days overdue, and then discovered that his head was too big for me to deliver, so emergency caesar. However I have and continue to use accupuncture for stress relief and because I get major sinus infections and it really helps me. Be careful that you actually find someone who understands the different pressure points - no point in paying for accupuncture to bring on labour if they don't use the correct points so I am lead to believe - do you have a GP who is into alternative therapies? Mine is and I trust his judgement implicitly. Just like you have to be careful with massage in pregnancy.. I would think time would play a part too, I only know ladies who were overdue who went for accupuncture and I don't know any of those who had any negative experiences (except me).

Good luck!!

[July Mum]

Just some questions for those who have had acupuncture during pregnancy:
Where on your body were the needles put?
and how many weeks pregnant were you when you had your first treatment?
Thanks

[LizzyT]

and how many weeks pregnant were you when you had your first treatment?
Thanks

I started having acupuncture from about 30ish weeks. The purpose was to help my body relax, stretch and be ready for birth.

Where on your body were the needles put?Thanks

All over, hands, feet, legs, everywhere really. Some acupressure and moxa as well.

I didn't have acupuncture to induce, but I did ask my CP to try to encourage my babies head to engage as my OB was putting a lot of pressure on me (at 38 weeks)for a CS as my obviously HUGE baby wasn't engaging because DS was too big for my pelvis.

DS dropped the next day and was born 2 days later. (7pound 2 oz)

[Julie Doula]

This isn't about acupuncture, but I had a good conversation today with another doula about using massage to gently induce labour. She has had several successful experiences with her clients.

She does a 75 minute massage, allowing the mother to sink into deep relaxation. With the lessening of catecholamines (stress hormones), the 'feel good' birth hormones (oxytocin & relaxin) are able to predominate.

During the massage, she spends plenty of time on the acupressure points associated with inducing/encouraging labour - the sacrum/coccyx and the inside of the ankle (check those locations before trying it out - Google for more info or see someone who is experienced).

We agreed that lessening concerns, tension and anxiety and reaching a place of accceptance and 'letting go' is needful for labour to begin (these factors affect our hormonal system). Anything that will add to tension, such as having to worry about an impending deadline, would hardly be conducive I would think.

I hope this might help.

[Meluchja]

Well I should tell you about my accupuncture treatments, that I finally decided to have.

I had my first treatment on the thursday and I thought it had the opposite effect. All my pre labour symptoms had died off. Then I had a second treatment on friday and wow, did things speed back up again. I went into natural labour the next night and Jack was born 3 hours after.

So I would say it worked for me, I think my body just needed a little something to kick things into the next gear as I had pre labour for about 4 weeks prior.

[Julie Doula]

Wow, outstanding MummyMel! Congratulations!