Labour Preparation & Induction

Preparation for Labour

In the last six weeks of your pregnancy, I start working with your body to prepare it for labour. The goal of this is to help loosen the ligaments and tendons around your pelvis, move the baby into place and ensure you are strong, healthy, relaxed and ready for labour and delivery. For many women I have worked with, this is all it takes and they have gently slipped into labour and had positive birth experiences as a result of their preparation. If your obstetrician or midwife tells you that your cervix hasn’t ripened or that the baby has not moved into place, you may wish to consider this as a safe and effective way of overcoming these challenges.

If you are reading this and have not had regular acupuncture throughout your pregnancy, please do not despair. I can also help you – no matter where you are in your pregnancy. Any chance you have to prepare your body for labour is never wasted. We will discuss a strategy based on where you are in your gestation.

If you know you will be having a C-Section, then we can help you too. From an holistic perspective, there is great merit in preparing your body for what amounts to abdominal surgery. I can also help you after your C-Section with scar reduction and wound healing to help prevent the formations of scar tissue (which may impede future attempts at conception).

Natural Induction

You might be reading this because your obstetrician or midwife has recommended you consider a medical induction.  Many women prefer to have this be their last resort – so long as your baby is travelling along contentedly in your belly. There are acupuncture points which should never be used during your pregnancy. The reason for this is we know they can stimulate contractions through the production of a hormone called oxytocin. These points can be used at the end of your pregnancy as a way of helping your body to go into labour under its own steam.

Some women commence labouring quite soon after treatment, but in my experience it can sometimes take two or three sessions for your labour to commence. Natural induction does not always work, but like everything else, no therapy is ever wasted as I’ve had many women report very efficient labours after having natural induction therapy prior to a medical induction.

When you call our clinic to enquire about natural induction, we will ask you a series of questions to ascertain your suitability to have this treatment.  Your obstetrician or midwife’s advice is always paramount and should never be ignored.

Now that you have a greater sense of the type of people I work with, how I approach my work with people like you and the services and specialties I offer in my practice, you might be wanting to know a little more about me. To learn more about me please visit my Who Am I page or if you’ve already decided that I’m the right practitioner for you, then please visit my contacts page.