Hi SamiH,

I had a weekly accupuncture for about 8 weeks before I had my son (at 39weeks gestation). The main reason I had it done was because I developed gestational diabetes and I'd been told accupuncture could help. However, towards my due date, my accupuncturist said she was also placing needles to help my pelvic area "open up". She also gave me loads on information on massage that partners can do to help the birthing mum's pelvis "open", and gave me moxa treatments (you light a moxa stick and put it close to certain points on the skin for a few seconds). I was also given chinese herbs to take ... nasty, but effective. In my case, the accupuncture, herbs, moxa and massage all went hand-in-hand. The accupuncture itself isn't painful and I always felt very relaxed during and after.

All in all, the accupuncture made me feel terrific and certainly my gestational diabetes didn't affect the bub. Also, following just one week of treatment I never again had swollen ankles or reflux the rest of the pregnancy.

Keep in mind I didn't have accupuncture to bring on labour, but when I went into labour I had Cam in approx five hours and it was a relatively "easy" birth. I'm convinced the accupuncture assisted me to birth Cam, possibly by shortening my labour and possibly by assisting my pelvic area to open up. My Ob said she felt sure it would have helped with my labour also,

Hope my experience is of some help to you - when (hopefully) I've got bub #2 on the way, I'd definitely go back for more.

Cheers, Andie