Preparing For Childbirth With Acupuncture

Have you been considering using acupuncture in the lead-up to birth? Pre-birth acupuncture has been used by women for over a thousand years. But how do you know if it’s a good option for you? 

The main goal of pre-birth acupuncture is to increase your chance of a normal birth with no complications.  

Like many areas of acupuncture, we still need more research to confirm the exact mechanisms behind how it can help with childbirth. But there are a few main areas that it may be beneficial, including pain relief, stress and preparing the body for the experience of birth. 

Reducing stress about giving birth 

There are a lot of potential reasons that you could be feeling stressed in the lead-up to labour and birth. Some common concerns include: 

• First experience of childbirth (not sure what to expect or heard some horror stories from others!) 
• Previous complications during childbirth 
• Trauma related to childbirth 
• Financial concerns 

• Feeling unprepared for becoming a parent or adding another child to the family 
• Relationship concerns 
• Concerns for baby’s health (whether already diagnosed or worrying about potential issues arising) 

Whatever the reason for your stress, we want to reduce it as much as possible for your sake and for your baby’s sake.  

Acupuncture is often used to relieve symptoms of stress, which can help you to feel calmer and more in control. It also gives you some much needed self-care time, which is something you may not have much of in the following weeks! 

Preparing for labour 

Pre-birth acupuncture may be used to prepare your body for labour by increasing the readiness of the cervix. Studies suggest that acupuncture can also enhance the release of oxytocin and reduce the length of time in hospital.  

More research is needed to confirm if acupuncture can reduce the need for other induction interventions such as prostaglandins and membrane sweeping. 

Labour pain management 

One big concern around childbirth is labour pains. Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell beforehand what your experience will be like – every labour is unique. But there are steps you can consider to improve your pain management, including acupuncture. 

Studies suggest that acupuncture can have analgesic properties, and women who get pre-birth acupuncture need less pain relief (epidural and other pain medication) during childbirth. Acupuncture is often used to relieve pain, so it’s no surprise that this extends to labour pains! 

What to expect from pre-birth acupuncture 

Curious about what is involved with birth preparation acupuncture? Every acupuncturist has their own unique approach, so this is what to expect if you come to Burnett House for pre-birth acupuncture: 

• Weekly treatments starting from week 36 until your due date 
• For C-sections and scheduled inductions, twice weekly sessions may be recommended for additional support 

• A gentle treatment approach focusing on relaxing and preparing the body, as well as relieving any stress you might be experiencing 
• Post-partum acupuncture is also available as an ongoing support option <link to post-partum blog once live> 

Are you considering acupuncture as an option for birth preparation? Our acupuncturist Jamie is here to help. Jamie’s goal is to support you and alleviate symptoms so that you’re ready for the most calm, happy birth experience possible.  

If you have any questions about pre-birth acupuncture, feel free to reach out to us on (07) 41522372. You can also book an acupuncture appointment with Jamie at our Bundaberg clinic here.