Anyone used acupuncture to induce labor?

MrsSmithinOR

I'm ready to get things started so that no one starts talking about a medical induction...  Has anyone used acupuncture?  Did it work?

sschwege

I'm not sure if it actually put me into full blown labor, but I definitely think it got my body ready, if nothing else.  With DD I had an appointment on a Friday and that night as I laid down to go to sleep I started having terrible sciatic nerve pain (worse than contractions for me because I remember thinking if this is what labor is like, I'm getting the epi!).  I could feel DD moving around a lot during that time.  The next morning when I woke up baby had dropped significantly.  I had another appointment on Saturday and went into labor early on Tuesday morning (40w3d).  I saw a DOC and she did acupuncture as well as a chiro adjustment both times.  You might see if your insurance will cover it, mine covered 90% which is why I did it, I figured it couldn't hurt!  Good luck!

Amanda&EricB

With my last pregnancy, my chiropractor said she would do accupuncture to induce labor, once I hit 39 weeks. I didn't make it that far. She said it can be very effective.

OSibyl

I'm a FTM... so no personal experience. But I'm currently in acupuncture school (and therefore biased!!!)  and would definitely recommend trying it. If nothing else, it will relax you and prepare your body.

MrsBigTime

I'm going to be induced @ 39 weeks for GD, so my MW suggested I start acupuncture for cervical ripening starting @ 36 weeks. I went twice that week, skipped week 37 (the lady was out of town) and will be going hopefully twice this week before my induction on Sunday. It hasn't put me into labor (obviously, here I am) but I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced last Thursday and then 1+ and 80% on Monday, so maybe it's helping? I've also been doing nipple stimulation every night, taking EPO, drinking RRLT and walking about a mile and a quarter each day as well. 

My acupuncturist told me that the treatment wouldn't actually put me into labor, but it could help free my body from any other ailments that could be getting in the way of it going into labor. The way I see it, it's a relaxing hour, it has helped significantly with my heartburn and my body is making some progress, even a few weeks earlier than it's "supposed" to. I don't really know if the acupuncture is making difference per se, but at least I know that if an induction is necessary, I tried every possible thing I could do to go into labor on my own.

mschrick

I would definitely recommend acupuncture to start labor.  I did it when I was 41 weeks 2 days.  5 hours after my appointment my contractions started and LO was born 20 hours later.  Good luck!

hamiltks10

I went in for acupuncture on my due date and my water broke less than 24 hours later. 

Not sure if that is the reason....but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Edited to add that I saw a chiropractor throughout my pregnancy and think that played a major role in having an easy pregnancy and uncomplicated labor/delivery.  I highly recommend seeing a chiropractor.  And doing yoga. : )

smash1228

OSibyl:

I'm a FTM... so no personal experience. But I'm currently in acupuncture school (and therefore biased!!!)  and would definitely recommend trying it. If nothing else, it will relax you and prepare your body.

Lurking from the May board and saw this post..

 What acupuncture school are you going to? I just graduated this past June from Florida College of Integrative Medicine in Orlando . Good Luck!