Acupressure Points to Induce Labor from Specialists

Written By:

Tamara Quinn

Co-Founder of Pulling Down the Moon, Reg. Yoga Teacher,

Yoga Swami

Reviewed for Accuracy By:

Meredith Nathan

Director of Massage

When you’ve reached the 40-week mark of your pregnancy, the increased discomfort that comes from having a fully formed child inside of you can make you feel like you’d do anything to start labor. You've done your job of growing and nourishing your baby, and now you’re ready to meet them. As you look at natural ways to trigger labor, acupressure is one that may come across your path. Is this a safe option, and does it work? At Pulling Down the Moon, we believe that acupressure can be a helpful part of a holistic health approach to pregnancy and delivery. Here’s a closer look at how it works.



What is Acupressure?

Acupressure involves placing physical pressure on specific points on the body to activate and impact the nervous system. While similar to acupuncture, acupressure does not involve needles. Instead, it uses pressure to activate the points and improve the function of the nervous system, muscles, and connected tissue by using acupressure points to activate the nervous system. For expectant moms, acupressure can help promote relaxation, release necessary hormones, and increase blood flow to the uterus; it may also help induce labor naturally, and studies have shown that it may reduce the chances of needing a cesarean delivery.

If you’ve reached the 40-week mark and the baby isn’t showing any signs of coming, acupressure could be a way to help you relax, release the necessary hormones, increase blood flow to the uterus, and start the labor process. It’s not a guarantee, but it is a low-risk treatment that could create the necessary changes to spark labor. Of course, you should always speak to your doctor first to make sure this is an appropriate course of treatment. 

Acupressure Points to Induce Labor

Acupressure and acupuncture have been practiced for thousands of years, but it’s only in the past few decades that they have become mainstream in Western medical practice. Many women believe that these techniques are effective at starting labor, as well as managing pain. When used with other techniques, such as abdominal massage and relaxation techniques, it can make the entire process more pleasant. More research needs to be done to support using acupressure to induce labor, but many studies have found that acupressure supports an improved labor experience. For instance, one study found that using acupressure during labor reduced the amount of time a woman was in labor by 35% compared to other types of labor support. It also showed a 9% increase in the success rate of natural birth. Another study found that using acupressure points can reduce the amount of pain in labor.

There are five specific pressure points to induce labor that are worth knowing. If you’re ready for the baby to come and want to trigger the necessary changes, talk to your acupressure provider about these specific points: