Acupuncture for Birth & Labor

Preparing for Birth: Alternative Healing Therapies and Whole-Body Care

There are many ways that a pregnant person can prepare their body, mentally, emotionally and physically for birth and labor- to help ease the process through optimal positioning for the baby and through mental relaxation.  A few of my favorite alternative therapies to prepare the body for birth include chiropractic care, Spinning Babies and acupuncture.  Today, I will be focusing on acupuncture specifically for birth.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a complementary or ‘alternative’ therapy that includes stimulating certain points on the body, usually with the insertion of a thin needle along energy channels that help clear any ‘blockages’ in that meridien.  It is performed by highly trained practitioners in Traditional Chinese Medicine and used to help alleviate and heal many issues, including painful periods for women, fertility issues, nausea, chronic pain and more.  It helps lead to overall health and vitality and in the case of pregnancy and birth, can help your body ease more gently and optimally into the birth journey.

Research on Acupuncture

Research has been done on different protocols for preparing the body for birth, especially in situations where true medical need is a reason for induction.  Research on acupuncture has shown that it can have a positive effect on helping ripen the cervix and softening it in preparation for birth.  Evidence Based Birth has a series on ‘natural’ induction methods and cites some of the research on acupuncture and birth.  Another resource that shares information on induction for labor is Dr. Sarah Wickham, midwife and researcher, in her most recent monthly e-newsletter.

When is Acupuncture Used For Pregnancy and Birth

Acupuncture is often recommended for birth in specific situations, but it is important to emphasize that it is useful in ANY pregnancy to help relax the pregnant mother, which leads to optimizing the body’s natural ability to produce the hormones needed for labor and birth.  One of the key points that I emphasize often is that total mind and body relaxation will allow your body to make more of the hormones of relaxation, including oxytocin, and it is these same hormones which are key birth and labor hormones- driving your body’s natural ability to go into labor and creating the right atmosphere for contractions/surges/pressure waves to occur.  Acupuncture is a great modality to help the pregnant mother release and relax her nervous system.

That being said, there are a number of cases where medical induction is needed for the pregnant person’s health or the baby’s health, including situations of pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome (please be aware of what is a true medical reason for induction and of the risks of non-medically necessary inductions).  In these cases, research has shown that acupuncture treatments can help prepare your cervix for an induction that might be necessary.

Other situations where acupuncture can help during pregnancy and birth:

• Nausea associated with the 1st trimester
• Baby’s positioning, including breech presentation
• Sciatica, back pain, anxiety and insomnia in later pregnancy
• Postpartum healing, including helping hormones balance out after birth, relieving swelling, helping with milk production

Local DC Metro Area Acupuncturist’s Advice

We have a couple of amazing local acupuncturists in the DC Metro area who focus on acupuncture for women’s health.  One of these acupuncturists is Njemile Carol Jones of Fertile Living, who focuses on reproductive health, fertility, menstrual cycle, and acupuncture for pregnancy discomforts, baby’s positioning (breech babies, etc), birth preparation and postpartum healing.  Jones has shared some of her wisdom on acupuncture for pregnancy and birth in the passage below:

There are many, many studies that demonstrate acupuncture is a reliable, helpful treatment for labor preparation.  We typically recommend treatments once a week beginning at week 35 or 36.  The treatments focus on cervical ripening — or the softening, thinning, and opening of your cervix.  This is especially helpful in encouraging your baby to move lower, down in your pelvis.  The protocol was developed and researched by acupuncturists and nurse midwives in New Zealand and has been successfully adopted by practitioners around the globe.  During a treatment session, I also address any other health concerns you have, like back pain, insomnia or indigestion, as well as your stress level. Primarily, it is my goal to offer treatments that help you have some quiet time to focus and prepare for this next phase of your journey with your baby.  I treat acupuncture channels on the forearms, lower legs, lower back and upper glutes, while the woman lies on her side, supported by a body pillow, if comfortable for her.

Every woman’s process is so different and individualized, and my treatments are appropriate for each individual woman. I do not treat to force your labor to begin.  It doesn’t help you or your baby.  I respect your baby’s wisdom, and make an honest attempt to honor your child’s process, while helping you create the conditions for his or her own birth.  When you and the baby are ready, labor often begins naturally 24-48 hours after an acupuncture treatment.

Njemile Carol Jones goes on to explain that one treatment a week from 36 weeks pregnancy until birth is a great protocol to follow for end of pregnancy/preparation for birth.  In those cases where medical induction is necessary (PS: Hitting 40 weeks is not a medical reason for induction), she recommends specific acupuncture treatments in week 39 or 40, every 2-3 days until induction.