One of the most common questions I am asked before I work on someone is whether or not pushing or pressing in a certain spot is safe and/or will it send them into labor, and let me tell you I only wish it were that easy!

As Traditional Chinese Medicine has gained more popularity in our western culture, the use of acupuncture and acupressure for certain ailments in pregnancy has too. And I love this! These modalities can be such a great tool to help you in your prenatal journey. I often recommend clients to check out local licensed Acupuncturist, Adrianne Ortega of Alma Acupuncture to help with all kinds of concerns. With that said, there are certain points that can encourage labor.

Notice that I said “encourage”, not spontaneously send you into crazy hardcore contractions. Acupressure points have long been recognized for their potential to encourage labor in pregnancy and help ease pain during childbirth. In an effort to help you and your partners, mama, here are a few points that you can do on your own to help stimulate labor and alleviate pain.

Read this part first, it’s important:

Please note that these points are not meant to induce or stimulate labor before your body is ready. First of all it probably won’t work, but it can still cause physical changes in your body. These acupressure points should only be used to help regulate contractions once early labor has started, to speed up the labor process if the water has broken and the cervix is not progressing. Additionally these point’s should not be stimulated before 39-40 weeks of pregnancy.

To stimulate these points, use firm pressure for 5 minutes every 1-2 hours during early or active labor. This means constant and consistent pressure. The pressure should be deep, but tolerable. And remember, do not do these before 39-40 weeks.

And there you have it mamas, hopefully you and your partner have found this little guide helpful as you get closer to meeting your little one! Just remember if you choose to use this please do not do so before your 39th week.

I would also recommend reaching out to a licensed acupuncturist such as Adrianne Ortega of Alma Acupuncture, if you are interested in seeing how Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupressure and acupuncture may help you reach your goals.

Lastly, if I have the opportunity to work with you during the final weeks of your pregnancy, creating a session to help your body prepare for birth is an awesome tool. We will utilize things like these acupressure points as well as the Spinning Babies approach to get your body ready for one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences you can go through. Good luck mama, you’ve got this!