Acupuncture for induction is used in my Charlotte, NC acupuncture office. It can be used to address any stress you’re feeling and begin inducing labor naturally. Your baby is unaware of due dates and time, instead he/she is busy developing and preparing for its new life. Acupuncture for cervical ripening and labor induction can boost your chance for a natural vaginal birth. Acupuncture to induce labor is an effective way to begin the process of gently moving things along.
Acupuncture is safe and can be useful at anytime during the pregnancy, most seek it out when they past their due date. I highly recommend most patients begin treatment at the beginning of their pregnancy or at the beginning of their last trimester for the best success rate at natural labor induction. This will allow any symptoms your experiencing to be addressed, like:
1) Swelling and discomfort
2) Back pain, hip and pelvic pain
3) Anxiety
While gently strengthening your body to prepare for birth. It may even help to:
1) Decrease the pain during contractions
2) Shorten the average labor
3) Reduce recovery time
For some expectant moms, you may be experiencing discomfort in the last trimester and trying to deliver your baby on time can become very stressful. Acupuncture can help!
An article from WebMD, “Can Labor Be Induced Naturally?”, states a small research study from the University of North Carolina found 70% of women who received acupuncture went into labor on their own. Also the women who had acupuncture were less likely to deliver by cesarean section.
The Cochrane Library published an article “Acupuncture for the induction of labor” and it showed evidence of a change in cervical maturation for women receiving acupuncture. See the full article here: http://www.cochrane.org/CD002962/PREG_acupuncture-for-induction-of-labour
Many patients can go into labor 6-48 hours after their treatment. In some cases multiple treatments may be necessary. Acupuncture points for general relaxation are done in addition to points beneficial for acupuncture induction. Mild electrical stimulation may be added for further stimulation and promotion of labor. Acupuncture is a safe and effective choice that gently and naturally encourages your body toward the onset of labor.
Other helpful articles:
Be sure to check out Mom Loves Best for amazing tips on how to induce labor naturally!
https://momlovesbest.com/naturally-induce-labor
http://www.webmd.com/baby/inducing-labor-naturally-can-it-be-done
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD002962.pub3/abstract;jsessionid=B67F99BA00
