Pain Relief During Labor
Women have many options for pain relief during labor, most of which will be offered and managed by hospital staff. Acupuncture and acupressure are lesser known, yet excellent, methods for reducing labor pain. It is uncommon to receive acupuncture treatments during labor in a hospital, but some acupuncturists do attend births at birthing centers or at home.
However, acupuncture itself isn’t always necessary, or even welcomed by a laboring woman. In those cases, acupressure is an easy and fantastic alternative. Points typically used for pain relief are located on the hands, the shoulders, the low back, and the ankles/calves. They are generally easy to reach no matter what position a laboring woman is in, and easy to locate given the right instruction. Firm pressure on acupuncture points using hands or a massage tool can ease the intensity of contractions, relax tense muscles, reduce stress, and even encourage cervical dilation.
If you would like to try acupressure for pain relief during labor, the experienced acupuncturists at TCRA are happy to teach you how to locate and work with the most commonly used acupressure points for labor. These points can be taught to a woman’s partner, a doula, a midwife, or any other support person, so that they can be used throughout labor. Contact TCRA to learn this safe and effective way to help your labor go smoothly!