What's your view on pressure points?

DEBBIE33CASEY

I had a massage tonight and the therapist pinched some points on my palms and heels and afterwards kinda winked at me and said something to the effect of, "hopefully that will have helped to get things going a little faster for you" aka she was trying to help induce my labor.  Most women would have probably be thankful but I felt kinda shocked. I'm one of those rare women who is not wanting to rush things along!  Infact the longer I am safely pregnant the better! I'm not going to get overly upset about it but I really wish she'd asked first b/c I would have turned her down.  No use crying over spilled milk but it really made me freak out for an hour and didn't even want to tell DH because of all the crazy feelings I felt about it.

So what do you think?  Do you think they have any significance?

Rsoc23

IDK but that is pretty crappy of her to assume that you would even want that.

Kristine Schilling

moms a massage therapist. Showed me some pressure points that can help speed you along, assist in dilation that sort of thing.

Problem with them, just like most other things is that they only work if your body is ready.

I did all the pressure points for 4 days. And what did I get? 1 cm dilation, no further effacment.

bpwife&mama

I had a massage today too and requested that he (yes, a he, and he said vagina twice, balls once, and butthole once.  Quite the experience).  Nonetheless, I requested that he not press any pressure points because I am just 37 weeks and have not seen the doctor yet this week.  She should have asked you first if that was ok!!

FarmvilleLover

I'd be pretty peeved if I were you.  Definitely should have asked you first, wtf!

Kristine Schilling

oh... FYI: Just giving the hand and ankles a "pinch" is not going to do much.

I am pretty sure, since those spots are pretty tender to the touch on a PG woman, you would have noticed repeated pressure if she did it right.

 Recomended stimulation for those pressure points is approx ten minutes of repeated applied pressure. Meaning, applying pressure for 10 seconds, then letting up and doing that over and over for about ten minutes on each spot.

Those points, so you can ease your mind:

Hand:: webbing between the thumb and pointer finger, the applied pressure can feel very much like a small hot needle poking you.

Ankle: Outside of leg, just above the ankle bone, in the dip at the Accillies(sp?) tendon.

Lower leg: inside edge, approx 3 finger widths above ankle bone in the crease between your shin and the muscle. Again, will feel uncomfortable, and be sore afterwards.

kerischrader

I went to get acupressure (at an authentic Chinese place) to try and get things started and all it did was give me an extra BM for the day and lots and lots of BH's all night long It can work but only if your body is ready.

SoonToBeMsP

I don't think it'll do anything unless your body is ready. (Helpful, huh?) But I'd be pissed if they just did it without asking!!

And even though I don't think it'll matter, at my massage tomorrow, I plan to tell my massage therapist to avoid any pressure points that might trigger labor. Like you, I am in no hurry to rush this along (especially at just over 37w!), so I'd rather be safe than sorry. 

DEBBIE33CASEY

Kristine Schilling:

oh... FYI: Just giving the hand and ankles a "pinch" is not going to do much.

I am pretty sure, since those spots are pretty tender to the touch on a PG woman, you would have noticed repeated pressure if she did it right.

 Recomended stimulation for those pressure points is approx ten minutes of repeated applied pressure. Meaning, applying pressure for 10 seconds, then letting up and doing that over and over for about ten minutes on each spot.

Those points, so you can ease your mind:

Hand:: webbing between the thumb and pointer finger, the applied pressure can feel very much like a small hot needle poking you.

Ankle: Outside of leg, just above the ankle bone, in the dip at the Accillies(sp?) tendon.

Lower leg: inside edge, approx 3 finger widths above ankle bone in the crease between your shin and the muscle. Again, will feel uncomfortable, and be sore afterwards.

I think she DEFINITELY hit the points, it actually kinda hurt and I almost asked her to stop.  I think she definitely knew the points she was going and the ones on my ankle are sore today but she didn't do it for 10 mns- so hearing you say that it takes 10 mns of repeated pressure makes me feel better b/c she only focused on the points for about 2 minutes each.

DEBBIE33CASEY

and the whole "won't make a difference unless your body is ready" thing?  I totally agree.  But that's what scares me.  I've been having stronger and stronger contractions for the past 3 days now and at my dr appt yesterday (about 2 hrs before my massage) he was saying he expects me to go into labor at any time.  And my amniotic fluid is really low so I don't want to mess with anything.  After my appt I almost cancelled my massage b/c I was worried it might trigger labor but since I'd pre-paid for the massage I didn't want to lose my $.  So I about panicked when I realized what she'd done!

I'm still having contractions today but who knows what will come of it. 

Penguinb83

It would be one thing had you asked them to or they asked if you wanted that, but SERIOUSLY?!? I would be livid! Even if it didn't do anything!