RaMa Mama: Doula Share

How Can Acupuncture Support The Birthing Process?

Whether the topic is fertility, labor and delivery, or postpartum depression, my doula clients have been pleased with the effects of their acupuncture treatments. In a birthing center, I once had an experience where the mother's contractions were slowing down and she had been laboring for over 19 hours and she wanted to give up. The Acupuncturist was called in to stimulate points in her foot and help get the contractions going again while supporting the energy deficit. The needles instantly helped to create flow and the contractions started up again. The mother got a second wind of energy and she was able to push the baby out soon after with the help of essential oils. It was a true testament to the power of Acupuncture in removing the blocks needed to get movement flowing once again.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture have been supporting women with birth, delivery, and afterbirth for over 3,000 years. Many women will attest to the fact that starting at 36-37 weeks, acupuncture can be a great and effective treatment in preparing the body for labor, helping to alleviate interventions, and shortening the duration of the process of labor and delivery.

According to the National Library of Medicine, acupuncture has been proven to support the creation process. "In childbirth and delivery, acupuncture has been reported to be beneficial for inducing labor, shortening the time of labor, avoiding post-term dates, and reducing postpartum bleeding. Acupuncture has also been cited as an effective tool for cervical ripening and induction of labor."

Acupuncture is thought of as a complement to the many other practices we have used for centuries. It is a great tool to relieve headaches, nausea and help with vomiting. It supports pain relief, relaxation, and happiness. There are studies on women having children over 40 using acupuncture to support, and in each case, the women had spontaneous labor, natural births at full term, delivered healthy babies, and were able to produce breast milk without any problems.

In addition to this, there has been extensive research that provides statistics on how this healing method supports the birthing process. With acupuncture during pregnancy, there is proven to be 35% less inductions, 31% less epidurals, 32% less emergency c-sections, and 9% more vaginal births. This is great evidence that acupuncture can help make giving birth a more healthy and positive experience.

The very ancient techniques that are still used today have lasted the test of time for a reason. When we need support, the movement of energy can create profound shifts, and Acupuncture is a way to utilize the subtle energy field to create harmony in the physical body. If this interests you, do the research and find someone locally to talk to about it. Acupuncture could be the key for you to unlocking the obstacles during this very sacred and powerful time of creation.