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Acupuncture to help induce labor???

springbok15springbok15
in 3rd Trimester

So I took my first Bradley birth class tonight. It was 3 hours long but I really liked it. I feel so much more relaxed and in control about the whole birthing process already. She even taught all the DH's how to give an awesome hip and butt massage!

She has had a home birth herself (about 25 years ago) and said she went 3 weeks past her due date. My midwife has told me that they won't let me go more than 2 weeks past my due date. She said that recently she has been sending her clients to an acupunturist (sp???) if it looks like they are going to go past their due dates. She said that pretty much without fail this has helped women go into labor within 3 days of having the acupuncture preformed.

I'm pretty crunchy granola, but even this sounds a little far out to me. Has anyone else heard of this?

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Re: Acupuncture to help induce labor???

  • smilelarismilelari member

    My acupuncturist offers this service and seems to have pretty good success

    ETA:  It's one of those things that even if you don't really "believe" it's worth a shot before agreeing to a medical induction

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  • reannegummerreannegummer
    My cousin had it done and it didn't work for her but everyone is different.  I'd rather try anything natural before a medical / drug induced labour.
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  • AliciaSpringAliciaSpring
    my boss did accupuncture with her first. She said it really helped.
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  • lovesazzielovesazzie member
    My MW recommends it too. I agree with the PPs that it is worth a try!
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  • volleydivavolleydiva
    My chiropractor's wife did it and it instantly broke her water! I was going to try it, but I went into labor early on my own. 
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  • PathrellPathrell
    My Midwife rolled her eyes when she told me of the Acupuncturists who claim they can "jumpstart" labor. She DID say that acupuncture and certain pressure points are good at "priming" the cervix to ready it to ripen, but causing labor is highly unlikely. She said if it were really true that sex, hot peppers, evening primrose oil, acupuncture and massage would cause labor, women would be clamoring for all of it once their EDD came. And apparently a chemical in semen helps the cervix along too, So Sex and Evening Primrose oil are the "at home" cervix ripening techniques. Wink  Acupuncture can't hurt, since it could be highly relaxing and theraputic, just be prepared that it may not help.
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  • katJudekatJude member
    I started acupuncture at week 36 and did it weekly until I went into labor.  Weeks 36, 37, 38 points are used which help prime the cervix and uterus for labor.  Week 39 adds an additional point to start to encourage your body to go into labor and weeks 40+ points are used to motivate labor.  I went into labor 3 days past my due date but had an amazingly fast and efficient unmedicated labor/delivery.  I would definitely do acupuncture again but I'm not sure that doing it once will induce labor!
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  • nycteachnycteach

    imagekatJude:
    I started acupuncture at week 36 and did it weekly until I went into labor.  Weeks 36, 37, 38 points are used which help prime the cervix and uterus for labor.  Week 39 adds an additional point to start to encourage your body to go into labor and weeks 40+ points are used to motivate labor.  I went into labor 3 days past my due date but had an amazingly fast and efficient unmedicated labor/delivery.  I would definitely do acupuncture again but I'm not sure that doing it once will induce labor!

    This!  I had the same acupuncture treatment schedule although my baby was still two weeks late, but I also had a very fast, relatively easy labor with no drugs.

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  • GenevievedGenevieved
    I have heard of it and if there is talk of induction I will be looking to get it done.
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  • Kimberly74Kimberly74

    When I was pregnant with my first, I got weekly prenatal massages during the entire last trimester (what a great gift that was).  Anyway, when I was 37+ weeks, she started doing a lot of work around specific pressure points to target uterus etc.  I always had consistent contractions afterwards, but still went to exactly my due date.  I ended up with a pretty complicated labor that resulted in a c-section, so can't say it necessarily helped.

     I think, if the conditions are right, it can help augment labor (rather than pitocin for example), but won't necessarily start real labor.

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  • 4realyo4realyo
    Im a big believer in acupuncture and TCM. I tried for 9 months to get pg (charting temps & everything), started acupuncture & was pg the next cycle. Ive continued with acupuncture throughout the pregnancy and plan to continue with it to help prep me for labor. They also treat you after the baby is born if you have difficulties with milk supply, etc. It certainly cant hurt.
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