Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: What is acupressure?
• Part 2 of 3: Pressure points on hands and back
• Part 3 of 3: Foot and ankle pressure points
• Tips
• Warnings

Many pregnant women would like to give birth in a natural way. Acupressure is a healing method that uses certain pressure points on the body. This method can - in addition to many other things - also be used to induce or accelerate childbirth. Proponents of acupressure in childbirth believe that it can stimulate cervical dilation (widening of the cervix) and help induce labor.

To step

Part 1 of 3: What is acupressure?

1. Inquire about the backgrounds of acupressure. Acupressure is a therapy developed in Asia over 5000 years ago that plays a huge role in Chinese medicine. It uses specific finger placements and pressure on important energy points of the body. Acupressure usually uses the fingers, especially the thumbs, to massage and stimulate the pressure points. Sometimes elbows, knees, legs and feet are also used for this.
   • The pressure points are arranged along energy channels called meridians. According to Asian medical philosophy, stimulating these areas can help release tension and stimulate circulation.
   • The popular Shiatsu massage technique is a Japanese bodywork therapy related to acupressure.
2. Find out what acupressure can be used for. As with massage, acupressure can induce deep relaxation and a reduction in muscle tension. This technique is also used to relieve pain. Acupressure can help with nausea and vomiting, headaches, back and neck pain, fatigue, mental and physical stress, and even addiction. It is believed that acupressure and other Asian body therapies can correct imbalances and blockages in the flow of vital energies through our body.
   • Acupressure massage is now offered in most Western health and massage centers. While many people are skeptical about acupressure's efficacy, there are also many doctors, practitioners, and holistic health advocates who are convinced of the positive effects of acupressure. For example, researchers at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine are studying the scientific basis of acupressure while explaining the practical applications of these techniques.
   • Acupressurists-to-be follow formal training programs. These programs include the study of anatomy and physiology, acupressure points and meridians, Chinese medicine theory, technique and protocol, and clinical studies. Becoming a licensed acupressurist usually requires about 500 hours of training. If someone already has a license for massage therapy, it will take a bit shorter.
3. Locate some commonly used pressure points. There are hundreds of pressure points on our body. Some of the most commonly used pressure points are:
   • Hoku / Hegu / Colon 4, located between your thumb and index finger.
   • Deliver 3, the soft flesh between your big toe and your second toe.
   • Sanyinjiao / Milt 6, at the bottom of the calf.
   • Many pressure points are identified by multiple names, sometimes just an abbreviation and a number, such as LI4 or SP6.
4. There are several ways you can use acupressure during pregnancy. Acupressure can help pregnant women with morning sickness, relieve back pain, help with pain relief during contractions and induce contractions naturally. While acupressure is safe to use during pregnancy, it is still good to be careful. Your best bet is to contact your doctor, who can recommend a midwife or pregnancy counselor who practices acupressure, or a licensed acupuncturist or acupressurist.
   • Any pressure points associated with inducing labor should be avoided in women less than 40 weeks pregnant. So there is a risk of applying pressure to those points too early, which can cause problems.

Part 2 of 3: Pressure points on hands and back

1. Use Hoku / Hegu / Colon 4. This pressure point is considered one of the most popular to induce labor. It is located on the hand between the thumb and index finger.
   • Pinch the skin between your thumb and index finger. Then focus on a spot in the center of your hand, between the first and second metacarpals. Apply constant, firm pressure to this point. Then rub the area with your fingers in a circular motion. If your hand gets tired, just shake it out and start over.
   • If contractions come on, stop rubbing around the pressure point. Resume when contraction is over.
   • This pressure point aids in the contraction of the uterus to allow the baby to descend into the pelvic cavity. You can also use this during contractions to relieve pain.
2. Try Jian Jing / Gallbladder 21. Gallbladder 21 is located between the neck and the shoulder. Drop your head forward before locating GB21. Have someone find the round protrusion at the top of the spine, and then the curve of your shoulder. GB21 is halfway between these two points.
   • Apply steady downward pressure at this point with your thumb or index finger to massage and stimulate this area. You can also pinch the skin between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, let go, and then use your index finger to massage this area in a downward motion for 4-5 seconds.
   • This pressure point is also used for a stiff neck, headache, shoulder pain and other pain complaints.
3. Rub or apply pressure to Ciliao / Bladder 32. This pressure point is on the lower back, between the two dimples in the lower back and the lower vertebrae. It is used for inducing contractions, relieving pain during contractions and helping the baby to descend.
   • To locate this point, have the pregnant woman kneel on the floor or on a bed. Run your fingers down the spine until you feel two small bony hollows (on either side of the spine). These cavities are located between the dimples in the lower back and the spine.
   • Press the BL32 pressure points with your knuckles or thumbs for constant pressure, or rub in a circular motion.
   • If you can't find the hollows, measure the length of the pregnant woman's index finger. BL32 is about the length of the index finger above the top of the buttock crease, about an inch from the sides of the spine.

Part 3 of 3: Foot and ankle pressure points

1. Use Sanyinjiao / Milt 6. This pressure point is located on the lower leg, just above the ankle bone. SP6 can help dilate the cervix and strengthen weak contractions. This point should be used with caution.
   • Locate the ankle bone. Place three fingers on top of each other on the shin. Run your fingers down the shin to the back of the leg. There will be a sensitive spot just behind the shin. This area is very sensitive in pregnant women.
   • Massage in circles or apply pressure for 10 minutes, or until contraction comes. Resume applying pressure after contraction is over.
2. Try Kunlun / Blaas 60. This pressure point is considered useful if the baby has not yet descended properly. It is located on the ankle.
   • Find the place between the ankle bone and the Achilles tendon. Push your thumb into the skin and apply pressure or rub in a circle.
   • This site is often used during the first stage of labor, when the baby has not yet descended.
   • BL60 can improve blood circulation and relieve pain.
3. Stimulate ZhiYin / Bladder 67. This point is located on the little toe. It is believed to help induce labor and reposition the baby in a breech presentation.
   • Take one foot of the pregnant woman in your hands. Use your fingernail to apply pressure to the top of the little toe, just below the toenail. Do this on both feet.
4. Consult your doctor or midwife if you have any questions. If you are concerned about your own safety or that of your baby, or why you haven't given birth yet, or just about acupressure in general, talk to your midwife or pregnancy counselor. They can answer your questions and take away your concerns.
   • If you would like to learn more about acupressure during pregnancy, please contact a licensed acupressurist. Make an appointment and get informed to see if it is for you.

Tips

• You can put pressure on the LI4 and SP6 pressure points on yourself, or you can have a friend or a pregnancy counselor use these techniques.
• Sometimes it is a good idea to work with multiple pressure points at the same time or one after the other. For example, use the LI4 pressure point on the person's left hand and apply pressure to the SP6 on the opposite leg. After a few minutes, pause for a moment and then switch to the other hand and leg. You can also add BL32 to the rotation with LI4 and SP6.
• You can apply pressure to these points for a few seconds to a few minutes.
• Every woman reacts a little differently and has different comfort thresholds for these pressure points. Do not force anything and only apply pressure as long as it is not uncomfortable.
• Time the contractions to determine if they are coming at regular intervals. Use a stopwatch to see when each contraction starts and ends. The duration of a contraction is the time between the beginning and the end of a contraction, while the frequency is the time between the start of the first contraction and the beginning of a new contraction.

Warnings

• If you feel pain while massaging or applying pressure to these areas, stop immediately.