In my time as a Chinese medicine practitioner, many women have come to the clinic when they are overdue, or under pressure to go into labour quickly in order to avoid an induction. There is growing popular belief that you can have ‘induction acupuncture’, which is unfortunate because this creates the expectation that having an acupuncture session can kickstart labour immediately, in the same way that a medical induction can. In my experience it is fairly rare for a woman to go straight into labour after one session of acupuncture. And this is exactly as it should be. Imagine if you all you had to do to start a labour was put in a few acupuncture needles? What if the baby wasn’t ready? What if you’re body wasn’t ready?
Preparing for labour naturally is a process and involves all levels of your being. It involves time and space. It involves giving in to the mystery and wisdom of the body. Acupuncture can help facilitate this process and get your body in good shape for a successful and empowering natural labour.
“For every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven”
A time for everything
Your due date is a rough estimate of the time at which your pregnancy will be fully ripe. Of course, there are sometimes compelling medical reasons to intervene around the due date, but in general it’s normal for the length of a healthy pregnancy to vary from woman to woman.
Natural labour is driven by a progression of hormones produced by both the mother and the baby. When the baby’s lungs are fully developed, the mother’s body is primed and the time is right, a hormone cascade containing all the necessary impetus for birth unfolds. Oxytocin stimulates uterine contraction and softens the pelvic ligaments. Endorphins, the feel-good hormones, provide euphoria, drive and sometimes even blissful sensations during the birth. Some adrenaline is also produced to give the strength and courage to work through the more challenging parts labour. In addition to driving contractions, oxytocin, also known as the love hormone, helps mum and baby to fall in love, and fuels the close bond between them during their first months together. Many of the ingredients of this heady hormone cocktail aren’t present in a medically induced labour, meaning that labour could be longer and tougher labour, and that bonding between mum and baby could be more difficult.
When acupuncture shines
Above everything else, preparation is essential when it comes to increasing the chances of a successful natural labour. Ideally, mum’s-to-be begin acupuncture for birth preparation one to two months before the due date. Acupuncturists focus on relaxing the muscles and ligaments of the lower body, reducing stress, and keeping both the mother and the baby well nourished.
Relaxing the body
A labouring Mum’s body works hard during labour and has a long way to stretch! The more relaxed she is of body and mind well before the due date, the more likely she is to be able to work with the intensity of labour. When preparing a woman for birth, Chinese medicine practitioners aim to relax the lower body including the lower back, hips, pelvis and legs, encouraging the body to be receptive to the unfurling that is to take place.
Switching off the mind.
Many who have experienced acupuncture are familiar with that place of deep, meditative calm it can evoke. Thoughts become less structured or turn off completely. The body goes soft and melty. Sometimes one falls into a peaceful half-sleep. This is what happens when we slip out of our habitual mind-focused way of interacting with the world tap into the consciousness of the body. This body consciousness holds the knowledge needed for working with the intensity of labour.
Stop-start labour
Acupuncture can be a fantastic tool for supporting a woman through a stop-start labour; when the there are signs of early labour such as mild, spaced out contractions or the waters breaking, but the labour doesn’t progress. Going back and forwards form the hospital is stressful, and stress is the opposite of what is needed for full labour to kick in. When women feel safe and relaxed, their inner primate knows that the environment will be safe for the newborn baby. Having a well-established and trusting relationship with your Chinese medicine practitioner is useful here.
Letting ‘your inner monkey’ do it
Leading Melbourne childbirth educator Rhea Dempsey talks about the importance of ‘letting your monkey do it’. It’s a fantastic image, based on the idea, that the woman’s efforts during labour are based mostly on biological instinct, and that it’s a good idea to throw social niceties and even some of your dignity and pride out of the window. Just think of the way a monkey might do it; Monkeys don’t make plans and get upset when they go awry; They don’t use logic and reason, they just feel and act; They move around during labour to find a the most comfy position; They’re not embarrassed about making a lot of noise or pooping a bit by accident.
5 tips to help you prepare for labour
Slow down
These days it seems to be common for women to be really busy right up the due date. Many of us are so busy and overwhelmed that we operate in fight-or-flight mode constantly. Remember that feeling stressed out, or in-your-head-and-out-of-your-body may delay the start of labour. Biologically, we are hard-wired to start labour in a place where we feel safe, relaxed and loved. Stop work earlier, and let your brain go to jelly a bit. Let your mind switch off and get in touch with yourself and your baby. Rest when you need to – carrying a baby is tiring!
Move!
Labour is such a uniquely dynamic physiological process – one of the most intense and physically transformative human experiences there is. Giving birth involves the dramatic unfurling of the body, the thinning of the cervix to a tiny fraction of its original thickness and the awesome capacity of the vagina to expand to allow the baby’s head to pass through. Do whatever you can to wake up and loosen your body; walk in the bush, have daily massages, especially of the lower back, hips and legs. Do some yoga. Dance. Make love.
Many acupuncturists teach massage and acupressure techniques to partners or support people as part of a birth preparation session. Have a chat to your acupuncturist for more information.
Hire a midwife or doula
I highly recommend hiring a known midwife or doula to be your support before, during and after the birth. Choose someone with lots of experience of natural birth, and the knowledge and skills to help you navigate the most challenging parts of the labour. Choose someone you respect and who you instinctively trust to help you make decisions in the heat of the moment; someone who can help you to know the difference between a tough labour and a true emergency. There are lots of fantastic people out there.
Make a birth plan
Making a birth plan helps you get clear about what your priorities are and empowers you to make choices that will enable you to have an fulfilling birth experience. For example, there are an array of options for where your labour and birth can take place. You may like to research the hospitals near you and see which one aligns most closely with your intentions. Some women feel more confident birthing in a less medical environment, and may like to consider a birthing centre or home birth.
Sharing your birth plan with your partner or support people helps them to uphold and protect your wishes during labour, freeing you from the need to think logically or make decisions. This allows you to stay fully present with the process unfolding in your body.
Know yourself
Labour is a challenge. It’s going to push all your buttons. Unexplored fears around motherhood, parenting, relationships, sexuality, gender and body image often come up in the intensity of labour, and can make things difficult.
Fears and doubts about being able to cope with the intensity of labour or the challenges or parenting are common. Give yourself the space to come to terms with these things before the labour starts. For some women, exploring doubts and uncertainties with a doula, midwife or counsellor can be helpful. For more information on understanding some common responses to the challenge of labour and how to overcome them, see Rhea Dempsey’s book, Birth with Confidence.
Want to know more? Here’s some helpful literature.
Dempsey, Rhea. Birth with Confidence: Savvy Choices for a Normal Birth, Boathouse Press, 2013.
Gaskin, Ina May. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Random House, 2003.
Buckley SJ. Executive Summary of Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing: Evidence and Implications for Women, Babies, and Maternity Care. J Perinat Educ. 2015;24(3):145-53. doi: 10.1891/1058-1243.24.3.145. PMID: 26834435; PMCID: PMC4720867