Acupuncture - did it work and does it hurt?

Hi Everyone
I am now a day overdue (I know only a day and my dates could be out etc etc:)) but am wondering whether I should make an acupuncture appointment later in the week to try and get things moving, because I do NOT want to be medically induced.
I have never had acupuncture before and am a little bit scared of needles, so can anyone tell me first of all did it work to get things moving for you and how much the needles hurt if at all?

Thanks Kimmy

I've got no experience of induction accupuncture, but I have it regularly for my vomiting in pregnancy.

The needles don't hurt at all. If they are hurting then they are not being done properly or they have put them in the wrong spot. There is a sensation, but it's more of a vibration than pain. I actually find it all quite relaxing and generally fall asleep.

Hope it works out for you!

Fiona

I havent had it done for induction (but ive heard it has a good success rate and will be doing it this preg).. but had it done with TTC and it didnt hurt at all. It is very relaxing and if I couldnt hear DD going mad in the waiting room, i too would have fallen asleep.

I too haven't had it for induction (but will be because I am not being induced this time around). I have had it a numbers of times before for other issues and find it to be very relaxing. I find it really hard to turn off my brain when I have anything relaxing ie. massage facial etc, but acupuncture works to relax me if nothing else.

I had it for labour preparation, with a view to induction acupuncture, starting at 39 weeks, I think. It definitely didn't hurt, but it also didn't work for me, I got really dizzy and they had to reset them. Then got dizzy again, so they said no go for me. Booooo. But give it a go!

Yep, shouldn't hurt at all. Vibration is a good way of explaining the feeling... It's odd... But not bad kwim? The only places I feel uncomfortable is when they are in my feet or my wrists/hands but I think that's more so a mental thing for me.

Hope it gets things moving for you!

I had three sesions of acupuncture as i was overdue with DD. It does not hurt in any way. the needles hardly even go into your skin. i dont know if it worked casue i ended up having a sweep aswell, but it was so amazingly relaxing and i had a half an hour sleep every time on the table and a good few hours after! i recomend it, even if its just for the relaxation!! but def find someone who is a proper pregnancy specialist! dont just go to a normal acupuncturist. good luck and i hope it works!!!

Thanks everyone, well i got an appointment for 12pm tomorrow as I couldn't get one later in the week so we'll see what happens!
Thanks for all your replies :)

I too was due yesterday and had my second treatment on saturday. My baby is almost fully engaged (1-2 5ths brim).
Anyway the accupuncturist said that i was not quite there yet on tuesday but on saturday was about to pop. I'm hopeful that todays the day but we'll see. It doesn't hurt and is very relaxing.
I had it with my first as well and went into labour the night of the second treatment so I do think it helps.
GL - hope we are both posting BA soon!

I had acupunture when TTC and the spots where it hurt represented the organs that had issues. It was funny because when my I feel pregnant and before I knew it, the related spot sent shooting pain through my foot. If you have a tender spot it usually settles down and you should find it relaxing.

I don't know if it works for induction but I would give it a go.

What is it with babies due yesterday?! My baby also isn't here yet and I was due yesterday.
I was going to call up my acupuncturist and see if I can make an appt. I have only had acupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome and it worked wonders for that.

Lets hope these bubs of ours come very soon :hug:

As the others have said, Acupuncture generally doesn't hurt. I have had it through both pregnancies. I did have induction acupuncture with DD too and it was very strong and uncomfortable for the last couple of sessions though. She was almost 2 weeks overdue and we were really trying to get her out and I had the needles as well as the electrode things hooked into them. So induction acupuncture is a little different to what you normally would get and much stronger.

Acupuncture has never hurt for me. It's usually rather gentle. I have had it through both pregnancies and for DD I was 7 days overdue so had it at 5 days overdue and went into labour the next day....I do believe it helped!

Will be having some more acupuncture shortly, probably 2 more visits before bub is due!

Good luck! Any day now :)

I had the little electrode things attached too and I found the spots on my ankles stayed quite tender for a while afterwards also. They did tell me though that if it hurt at any time I was to tell them and I also had control of the electric thingy so that I could adjust it one way or another. Probably I had it up too high.
I had 2 sessions and was booked in for a 3rd but went into labour before my 3rd session.

Well i had my appointment and am now just waiting. I was very proud of myself for going through with it and didn'treally hurt I still can't believe i let someone stick a needle in my head lol!

thanks for everyones replies, fingers crossed something starts soon, they were able to squeeze me in on Thursday in case nothing happens today so we will wait and see.

Thanks again for all your replies xxx

Good work Kimmy. Did you have the electrodes attached or just the needles?

Hope you go into labour this very night and we all wake up to a Birth Announcement tomorrow!

Just the needles FabFiona, as it was my first time but she tweaked them a fair bit.

Yeah fingers crossed by birth announcement will be up tomorrow, thanks for your well wishes xxx

i love accupunture and had it from 35 weeks with DD2. at my 40 week appointment i had the electrodes attached and my waters broke 12 hours later.
i definatly recommend it!

Hi again
I'm still waiting around for bubs to make an entrance, so while I'm waiting thought I'd ask another question. I had a second session today with two extra needles which were in my lower back with the electrodes on them. I also saw my midwife and bub is head down engaged and ready to go, she also did a stretch and sweep and said my cervix is two centimetres dialated which is good, so my question is what do you think based on your previous experience etc, my chances are of going to labour today/tomorrow????
I am so ready to meet my little one the suspense is killing me!

Hi good luck.
I was due the same day as you and had my second treatment on saturday but am still waiting. I had a S and S yesterday and my baby has been engaged for weeks but still not here. My cervix was pointing backwards though. I know what you mean about being ready!!!
Last pg when i had accupuncture it was japanese and they used moxi sticks. I went into labour at 39wks after the second treatment. This time i had Chinese accupuncture and it so far hasn't worked but she did say on saturday that i was about to pop.
I hope it works for you. As for me i'm now on the induction countdown - next wednesday if nothing happens. so i'll cross my fingers for us both.

Oh babe. No one can tell you when your baby's going to get here! I'm going to be frustrating and say that I firmly it's not only physical readiness that's an indicator of when your baby will arrive. You have to be emotionally 'ready' too. In the right headspace.
The fact is, your baby is coming VERY SOON. So do some lovely activities with your DS, cuddle and be unbearably lovey-dovey with your DH (get him to massage your feet and ankles! There are some great 'downward' pressure points there.) Have naps, go for walks, cook delicious meals, have more naps, bounce on a fitball, shake your booty like Arimeh's Eden does (lol!).
That's my advice, FWIW. Hopefully it's all irrelevant and you are pushing a baby out as we speak, LOL.