What exactly is acupressure?

Acupressure is an ancient healing art developed in Asia over 6,000 years ago that deals with the human body and the flow of natural energy within the body. Acupressure treats the body as an energy system and works to relieve a persons individual symptoms by releasing blocked energy centres in the body. These centres are called acupoints and are found on energy pathways called meridians.

Acupressure is somewhat similar to acupuncture, only it uses fingers and thumbs to stimulate specific points instead of needles. Acupressure is actually considered to be the mother of acupuncture, as it was used long before needles came into the equation.

Acupressure is usually applied by hand, but can also be applied by elbow or by various hand-held devices. By using deep but gentle finger pressure on specific acupoints the blocked energy starts to release, allowing the body and mind to relax.

Acupressure is known to help in a number of positive ways - by reducing stress and tension, increasing blood circulation, aiding in the removal of toxic wastes, providing relief from head, neck and shoulder aches, increasing energy levels, stimulating speedy healing of injuries, increasing general well-being and last but not least - helping pregnant women to have a normal and safe birthing experience.

The latter is also called maternity acupressure or labor acupressure.

How can maternity or labor acupressure help pregnant women?

Maternity or labor acupressure is a holistic method that can have a remarkably beneficial effect in preparing the mother and the baby for the birth. It helps to induce labor naturally and is very effective in giving relief from labor pains without drugs and medications. During childbirth, it can be used to strengthen contractions, help the cervix to dilate and help to relax and stay calm.

A large number of pregnant women are using labor acupressure technique to induce labor naturally, if the pregnancy is overdue. Using acupressure to induce labor is as simple as locating sensitive spots on your skin and stimulating them by pressing the points with your thumb. Labor acupressure uses only application of pressure on specific spots on the skin, so it can be safely used at home with basic instructions. Labor acupressure is a very simple hands-on technique and extremely safe to use.

Studies show that over 80% of pregnant mothers using acupressure to induce labor naturally experience a normal and natural childbirth with significantly less complications than others who are not familiar with this technique. The use of labor acupressure also significantly shorten the total labor time. Women who have used acupressure during pregnancy and childbirth have been incredibly satisfied with the results of this method.

Let us first understand the term ‘induce labor’. If you are well past your delivery date and undergo false labor with no signs of natural labor, then you stand at a risk to both your self and your baby. At this point, your doctor can use some techniques to induce or start up your labor.

Reasons Behind The Need To Induce Labor:

Risks Involved

Let us now take a look at the risks that may present when you decide to induce labor.

Some techniques are touted to aid labor but they haven’t proven to be either safe or effective. They are:

Many other situations might arise also when you will not have the need to induce labor and will have to get a c-sec immediately.

When I was pregnant, I felt that doing everything naturally was best for my baby. But by the time my due date came around, I felt that I had been pregnant so long, I would have taken any drug, or done anything to get things going. However… even though I was beside myself with the anticipation of meeting our baby, I wanted to try natural ways to induce labor.

I am talking about being about 18 months pregnant, in the month of August, feeling as large as a house, sweaty, and swollen everywhere! Are you with me so far?

Anyways, we asked our midwife what some natural ways to induce labour were and she said, “Well, you could try having intercourse…”

Dead silence. We just looked at each other and then said, “Oh. What else?” That was the last thing on our minds at that point! But, actually, they say that the prostaglandins in semen are one of the natural ways to induce labour. So if you are up for it, give it a try.

Other natural ways to induce labor include: power walking, eating spicy foods, and nipple stimulation. (But I would not recommend them all at the same time.)

I remember reading somewhere that pineapple is a natural way to induce labor so when my sister-in-law was anxious to induce her labor, she ate pineapple on pepperoni pizza and she went into labor the very next day! But maybe it was her time; I just don’t know. Keep in mind, that really and truly, no one is ever pregnant forever; it just feels that way sometimes. Your due date is actually just a number they give you and they say that delivering anywhere from two weeks before, to two weeks after is within the norm. So it’s actually a “due month”, not a “due date”.

Many doctors advise against nipple stimulation and although some people recommend castor oil or an enema to induce labor in a natural way, lots of other people say not to do this. So I would talk to your doctor and see what she or he recommends.

The natural way to induce labor that worked for me was power walking (around and around the block, much to our neighbors’ amusement) and eventually convincing my midwife to break my water when I was having strong contractions every 10 minutes. Mind you, this was my second baby — but she was born only four hours later, with no intervention, so it was fabulous. A totally natural labor, which, believe it or not, I enjoyed! It was an amazing experience which I have done twice now, both times naturally.

I wish you all the best for your labor. Remember this:
You are strong!

And there are thousands of other women doing this right now at the exact same time as you, all over the world.

Your body will only give you what you can handle.

You go, girl!

There are many different natural ways to induce birth and acupressure labor is one of the best ways. I was overdue, tired, and frustrated. I went back and forth between my ob-gyn and midwife and all they could say is: be patient. Well, I was being patient but my son was reluctant to come out (finally!) and meet us.

How to use acupressure to induce labor?

Acupressure labor is an ancient technique of inducing labor naturally. By applying pressure, usually by hand, on different pressure points on the body, natural equilibrium and energy in the body is restored. When using acupressure to induce labor, contractions are induced, the cervix softens, and the body is relaxed and eased into birthing. DO NOT practice these techniques if you’re experiencing problems and before you consult your doctor. Your pregnancy has to be full term and acupressure labor works best when you are already dilated.

I was 15 days overdue when my friend Jenna, a mother of 3 and natural birth veteran introduced me to acupressure labor; to say I was underwhelmed, would be an understatement. I mean, if my doctor can’t help me, how can acupressure induce my labor?! Boy was I wrong! I tried some of the methods described in this book that same night after my doctor said he sees no problem with me trying it.

I felt nothing but an odd, squeezing sensation in my cervix. I tried it again the next morning… The squeezing sensation turned into slight cramping and gradually, I started feeling pressure in the lower section of my stomach.

By that night, I have been practicing the acupressure labor every 30 minutes or so. I was elated when I realized late that afternoon my water broke! All through the night, my hubby and I worked on acupressure points. The contractions were coming in and I was at last able to feel things are moving along! By the next morning, contractions were going strong and appearing every couple of minutes. The rest, as they say, is history… My son was born 1:45pm that day

Conception of pregnancy is a natural process so why shouldn’t we use acupressure to induce labor the way Mother Nature intended if there are no medical reasons to stop us.

Are you ready to say “hello!” to your little one?

Being overdue when your pregnant can be so frustrating and upsetting. Your excited for this baby and when your doctor say this is when your due, you kind of count on that. Besides the fact that you are so done with having heartburn, swollen feet, itching stomach, aching ribs, etc. Not to mention being so exhausted you just can’t take another step and feeling as big as a house. Everyone thinks they are being sympathetic when they ask, “Haven’t you had that baby yet?” You just want to say, “Well I did, but then I accidentally swallowed a turkey.”

I remember being overdue with my first baby. I was willing to try almost anything to start labor. Maybe do some running or try some caster oil. WARNING: Don’t try this at home! Trust me! But there is something you can do to help you induce labor that is safe and natural. It’s called maternity acupressure. This is great for naturally inducing labor. It will make your labor easier and shorter. For those of you who have had the experience of pitocin, acupressure is a natural and so much less painful alternative. And for those of you who have not tried it, I hope you never do!

Not only is there acupressure that can induce labor, but it can ease your labor pains to make them bare able. This is excellent for those who want to have their baby naturally without any pain medication, but it is also great to use for the labor pains you have before you receive your epidural.

Most women do not want to have a cesarean. Did you know that statistics show, women who are induced have a higher chance of having a cesarean. When using maternity acupressure, it naturally starts labor and helps to open your cervix, so your chances are not any higher than if you went into labor on your own and.

Some times the babies head is not turned in the correct position. This is a very painful and difficult delivery. There are simple acupressure techniques that help a baby in a posterior position turn into an optimal anterior position for easier delivery. My sister delivered all her babies posterior. She could have benefited by using maternity acupressure if she had known about it.

Transition is the time, during labor, when the babies head moves down. It is the most difficult part of labor and delivery. It can last anywhere from 2 hours to 5 minutes depending on the person. Acupressure can help get you through it and also shorten the time it takes to get through transition.

Maternity acupressure is a terrific way for the soon to be dad to be involved and know how to help you with your labor. They just want to make you more comfortable, but heaven knows they need some help sometimes.

So whether you’re looking for help to start labor or just to help you through it once it’s started, maternity acupressure may just be for you.

I wanted to share my story to help out other women who may be searching for answers about How To Induce Labor Naturally. With four children and one on the way I can appreciate the physical and emotional toll pregnancy can have on a woman.n emotional roller coaster with all the highs and lows that life can offer. As you watch your tummy grow, stretch and expand with baby pushing out in all sorts of shapes, you wait in anticipation of the big day when bubs finally arrives.

Having already given birth to four children, I still feel nervous about giving birth for the fifth time. Like most mothers already know, labor and child birth is NO walk in the park. Bringing a baby into the world should be a joyous occasion but can overwhelm you if you are not prepared.

If I Knew Then, What I Know Now…

That’s why, before our last child, I decided to do a little research into remedies to help induce labor and alleviate the aches and pains that we are associated with labor. And trying to figure out how to shorten the labor process.

Look What Turned Up…

I found lots of ideas on How To Induce Labor Naturally online. There are a few of the well known ones like: walking, exercise, stimulating the nipples, and sexual activity. I had tried these methods but no success. The most amusing part was reading some pretty far fetched ideas like: painting the house white? Sleeping upside down? Drinking blended venison? Yuck! No thanks.

A little searching and I stumble upon a website talking about Acupressure Labor. Amazingly the idea clicked just reading how the method worked and the simplicity behind it. I was quite surprised also by the amount of people actually using this method.

So, What Is Acupressure Labor?

I learned that by applying gentle pressure to certain parts of your body, much like a massage, your body will respond positively in many ways. This method is used for pregnancy and labor with really positive effects on a woman’s body during pregnancy. The Acupressure Labor method seemed to make sense to me AND, it was all NATURAL. I knew I wanted to know more so I went searching for books or videos acupressure labor.

After searching online, I found a book by, Dr. Erin Dunbar, explaining acupressure labor techniques. I didn’t hesitate to buy the book as I was three months to my due date with our fourth. No sooner did I buy the book online, I was using the methods straight away as I had instant access. And I have to admit, this book changed my life.

Now, I won’t tell you that everything went like a dream with no pain or waiting that would be a lie. That’s not how it works, I mean labor is labor. What the techniques did for me though was nothing short of amazing.

When it came up to the due we had been using the techniques and were in the final stages. Our fourth child was delivered at 07:04am on her due date. Labor was not only significantly shorter but I also noticed it was less difficult this time round. I wasn’t as tired nor did I feel drained like last time and I felt like I was fine to go home that day. So, four hours later, I went home to my own bed.

Let It Work For You

Like I said before, I understand pregnancy and feel strongly about these techniques which is why I am writing this page with the hope that expecting mothers have access to this life changing information.

The knowledge contained in, Dr. Erin Dunbar’s, Acupressure Labor book is very powerful and WILL make a huge difference in your childbirth experience. You will gain the power to induce your labor and control pain naturally and easily and have a normal childbirth experience. You deserve to have your baby in a beautiful way without the fear of excessive medical interventions.

If due to any reason labor does not start on its due date, then the doctors use medication for inducing pain. It is a kind of artificial treatment done for childbirth. Usually, it is done when it is found unsafe for the baby to be in the mother’s uterus. However, doctors do not recommend it, if there are signs of false pain.

Reasons For Inducing Labor

• In case, when complications like heart disease, hypertension or gestational diabetes develops.
• If bleeding during pregnancy occurs.
• In case the baby is not getting sufficient oxygen and nutrients from the placenta.
• If the pregnancy goes beyond 42 weeks, then self-induced labor is opted. After 42 weeks period, the baby is at the risk, because the supply of nutrients from the placenta is decreased gradually after this stage of pregnancy.
• In case chorioamnionitis occurs. It is a kind of infection inside the uterus.
• In case the amniotic sac has broken and the pain has not started within 48 hours.

Natural pain is the best way of delivering baby. However, when delivery needs some mediation, then doctor’s use this technique. There are many ways of performing it like:

1. Amniotomy: The doctors break the amniotic sac with a plastic hook. With this technique of breaking water, the effort generally begins in few hours.

2. Prostaglandin: A gel is inserted into the vagina to soften the cervix for delivery. It can be also in form of a tablet. Moving around the room is beneficial with this method of induce labor.

3. Oxytocin: With Oxytocin, pain can be progressed too quickly. However, if the contractions become too strong with it, then it is advised to discontinue its consumption. Drugs like Pitocin and Syntocinon (forms of Oxytocin) given at low doses through IV stimulates contractions.

Advantages Of Induce Labor

In spite of complications, many individuals prefer it, because there are many advantages of it. Some of them are listed below:

• Monitoring heart rate along with access to baby’s scalp is possible.
• Labor time is shortened by an hour.
• With the induce labor, examination of amniotic fluid can be done, which reflects the presence of meconium. Meconium can reveal the sign of fetal distress.

Does The Process Hurt?

No, the procedure does not hurt at all. These days, it is becoming more popular than natural labor.

What Will Happen If The Process Fails To Work?

With induce labor, the labor starts developing, and there are very less chances of its failure. If the water of pregnant women breaks, then nothing else can be done. However, if the baby’s health or the mothers health is at the risk with induce labor, then use of C-section can be needed.