Chinese Medicine for Labour and Birth

Pregnancy and childbirth are some of the most amazing things a woman’s body is capable of - and can also be very draining and depleting. In Chinese Medicine, there are many ways of supporting mothers-to-be throughout their entire pregnancy journey, including in the weeks before the birth of their baby. At the clinic, we very frequently see mums-to-be for Labour Preparation treatments as a really important time to support our patients as they prepare for a very unique time in their life. When treatment is started early enough (we like to check in at around 32 weeks) we can help with getting bub in an optimal position, preparing the body for labour, and setting them up for a postpartum period that is as smooth as possible, so they can recover well and begin to enjoy their new life as a mum sooner rather than later. 

In Chinese Medicine terms, pregnancy is a process that involves the consumption of an enormous amount of Qi (energy) and Blood (the Chinese Medicine concept of Blood includes our physical blood that runs through our veins, but also has a more energetic concept that ties in with many aspects of our physiology). As you approach labour, the way these energies interplay in your body begins to change and, as you approach birth, they begin to descend downwards. Acupuncture and acupressure can be incredibly helpful tools in helping this process to occur as it should, so we thought we would share a few of our favourite Labour Prep acupressure points with you here.

To perform acupressure successfully, all you need to do is apply strong but comfortable pressure to the point for at least 30 seconds. You can massage the point with circular motions a little if you like. It’s completely normal if some of the points are a little sore - that’s a normal function of some of the points. We very strongly encourage all of our labour-prep patients to get their partners involved with this, as all of these points can be very useful during labour as well.

Large Intestine 4
This point is probably the easiest to access, on the hand. This point helps to encourage contractions and is great for pain relief.

Liver 3
This point has a strong ‘moving’ function, and is helpful in getting contractions going (and with pain relief).

Spleen 6
This is one of our favourite points, and helps to soften and (later) dilate the cervix.

Bladder 32
This point is a little tricky to find, being on the sacrum (the triangle bone at the bottom of the spine). Massaging the entire sacrum is a great way to make sure this point is being stimulated. This point directly talks to the uterus through the nerves that run through the sacrum, and is wonderful for encouraging contractions and for pain relief. 

As you get closer (and get ready to press the eject button for baby) there are a few more things that can help to encourage labour to start:

• massage of the shoulders, lower back and hips (there is actually another great labour prep acupuncture point at the very top point of the trapezius muscle on the shoulders - so cash in some shoulder rubs!)

• spending plenty of time on your fit ball to help open up your hips

• intimacy with your partner, if you’re in the mood (nipple stimulation can be especially helpful)

• and of course, acupuncture and Chinese Herbs (our personal favourites!).

As with any new tool in your kit, the more you can get familiar with these points before you need them, the easier it's going to be to make the best use of them when the time comes that you do need them. The human body is an incredible thing, and the pregnant body moreso. Investing some time in a skill such as in the weeks before birth can be so incredibly helpful throughout your journey of labour and birth - and so, we hope this helps make that journey a little easier.

Dr Grace Jones (TCM) is a Registered Acupuncturist and Director of Bloom Chinese Medicine in Maroochydore. Bloom Chinese Medicine is a welcoming, inclusive, empathetic clinic dedicated to empowering patients throughout the journey’s of womanhood (including fertility, pregnancy, motherhood and beyond). Grace is passionate about supporting her patients to feel informed and at ease with their journey. www.sunshinecoastacupunctureclinic.com.au