Acupressure has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of illnesses. There are points that can stimulate contractions or induce labor.
More than 5,000 years ago, Chinese physicians discovered that soldiers with battle wounds unexpectedly found relief from chronic illnesses. After years of study, they mapped out various points that responded to either finger pressure (acupressure) or piercing with a needle (acupuncture.)
Think about how you instinctively press your temples when you have a migraine. Pressure points work in very similar ways.
If you are past your due date, you may have heard that some pressure points can help to induce labor. Here are some common points and how to find them:
Hoku - This point can be found on the top of your hand in the webbing between your thumb and index finger. Press on an angle underneath the bone that connects with the index finger. To stimulate contractions, rub the point. This point can be used for pain relief with steady pressure during contractions.
Spleen 6 - On the inside of the ankle, trace up four of mother's finger widths above the ankle bone. Rub for about 1 minute.
Bladder 32 - This point is halfway between the dimple in the buttocks and the spine. You can find it by tracing up one of the mother's finger width's above the top of the buttocks crease. You should feel a small depression where the point lies.
Tips on Finding Pressure Points
Pressure points are naturally sensitive and feel to the mother like you are touching a bruise. Try the spot several times with varying pressure to find it. If your labor partner or doula is using the points, the mother can provide feedback when they have reached the right place since it will be more sensitive. If it is especially painful, ease up a bit on the pressure.
When to Use Pressure Points
One of the most effective times to use pressure points is if you are already in labor and you need to strengthen your contractions or your water has broken and active labor has not started yet. These are both common reasons for labor inductions. You can also use these points if you are overdue and you want to try to stimulate contractions. In some cases, these points can reduce your chances of having your labor induced.
Remember that not all pressure points work for eveyone. Be sure to check with your midwife or obstetrician prior to using acupressure points to stimulate contractions and do not use them before it is safe for you to give birth. If your primary care physician is not educated about the use of acupressure, be sure to get a second opinion.
Are you looking for more ways to naturally induce labor? Check out this series.
Were there other points or methods you used during labor? Why not share them on our forum?
The copyright of the article Pressure Points to Induce Labor in Pregnancy & Childbirth is owned by Brenda Lane. Permission to republish Pressure Points to Induce Labor in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
I went and got a pedicure today and whene i left, i had dropped alot more
than what i was before getting the pedicure. So i think the massage really
helped
Aug 25, 2008 1:24 PM
Brenda Lane
:
Contact the author and see if they can send you one! Or try to see if there
is a used one on eBay or Amazon :)
Nov 11, 2008 3:27 PM
Guest
:
I put pressure on the 'Hoku' spot and not even seconds later I could feel
my belly tighten and the baby moving. Crazy... Hope this makes me start
labor!!! I'm going to keep on trying all the pressure points.
Nov 15, 2008 8:20 PM
Guest
:
my fiance tried the hoku spot and few seconds later my stomach tightened.
It didn't do much but we didn't do it that long either. we going to try the
others
Nov 23, 2008 6:45 PM
Guest
:
I tried accupressure at 2 days over due and i went in to labour that night!
Nov 26, 2008 7:16 AM
Guest
:
I used the hoku pressure point starting a week before I was due with my
last child continued using it in the morning he was due, went into labor
and he was delivered that afternoon. Am going to try it again for my forth
child, due in a few weeks.
Dec 13, 2008 1:40 PM
Guest
:
Does Acupressure actually work....when should you start doing it if you
want to induce labor?
Dec 15, 2008 10:44 PM
Guest
:
My girlfriend was 2 days over due and I started doing every accupresure
that I could think of. I was doing the Hoku and nipple stimulation at the
same time. After about 6 mins or so she told me to stop becaue it ws
causing bad cramps. Then about 2 mins after the cramps her water actually
broke. She scared the hell out of me with the look on her face and how hard
she gripped my arm. Anyways we got to the hospital at 1:15am and he was
born at 5:11am after about 4 hours of labor
Dec 20, 2008 7:58 PM
Guest
:
My husband and I tired the Hoku spot with out last kids and the next day i
had our son but we have tired it twice so far with this one and nothing.
Dec 28, 2008 4:28 PM
Guest
:
I'm 8 days over due, and have tried the hoku, and the spleen6 so far not
much has happened except for a few light cramping pains down low. Hopefully
it's a sign. my husband is going to try the blader32 here in a few. I'm
really hoping to go into labor soon. :)
Jan 6, 2009 11:29 AM
Guest
:
At almost a week overdue with my 4th baby, I did Hoku and Spleen 6 (along
with nipple stimulation) and labor started the next day. :-)
I
really think it works.
Jan 8, 2009 8:10 AM
Guest
:
I used these points with my last labor and went into labor several times
but it was false labor but all I did was use these pressure points. The
hoku spot and bladder spot are most helpful I think. I completely
believe in these pressure points!
Jan 10, 2009 9:59 PM
Guest
:
I was at 40 weeks and really ready to have the baby. I had been having
moderately painful contractions for a few hours at regular intervals that
started in the evening, but when we went to the hospital was told I wasn't
in true labor and sent home, not quite at 2 cm dilated. I continued to
have the contractions through the night and next day, but then toward the
late afternoon they kind of tapered off for the most part. I went to a
lady who was supposedly really good for maternity acupressure that early
evening at 5pm, and during the acupressure session had two really good
contractions. By later that evening I was having more intense contractions,
although only about 7 to 10 minutes apart. I started to have the pink
discharge and I knew some changes were happening and I was dilating. The
next day the pink was turning to actual bloody discharge, and the
contractions were becoming more intense, although not really any closer
together. I had an office visit, they examined me and I had progressed to 4
cm so they sent me over to the hospital around 4 pm. My labor progressed
really well, and I had my baby girl a little before 11pm that night. I am
very sure the acupressure is what helped my labor really get moving. It was
my third pregnancy and with my previous pregnancies I had to be medically
induced at the hospital, once at 41 weeks, and once a little past 39 weeks,
this was a first for me to just go into true labor on my own and it go
quite smoothly and quickly. I can definitely say the acupressure made a big
difference and if I ever get pregnant again will use this method again, but
would go with a professional who really knows what they are doing and who
can really help get things moving with labor.
Feb 18, 2009 11:43 AM
Guest
:
my mom tried both of these on me at around 11:45 p.m. By 4:00 a.m. i was
in Labor. It was wierd. Now im gonna go put my sister in to labor.lol
Feb 23, 2009 10:21 AM
Guest
:
I got a prenatal massage at 40 weeks and the girl did acupressure on me to
help kick start my labor. The minute I got off the massage table I was
having contractions!!!
Mar 3, 2009 4:45 PM
Guest
:
How do you know if youre doin it correctly?
Mar 19, 2009 2:43 PM
Guest
:
i was doing Hoku and my baby was kicking like crazyy, but i would like to
know how long you would need to do this
Mar 27, 2009 8:22 AM
Guest
:
i tried this both the hoku and the sleen 6 neither of them worked for me
then again, maybe i didnt time it right
Mar 30, 2009 7:02 PM
Guest
:
I was wondering, how long did you have to apply pressure for it to work?
Feb 6, 2007
