Acupuncture for Labour Preparation & Breech Position
Holistic acupuncture support in Wollongong for labour preparation for an efficient birth, and support with breech position turning.
Acupuncture for labour preparation & breech position turning.
The final weeks of pregnancy are an exciting time, but they can also bring physical discomfort, uncertainty, and anticipation as you prepare to meet your baby.
Birth preparation acupuncture is a gentle and relaxing treatment offered from 36 weeks of pregnancy to help prepare the body for labour. Using a specific set of acupuncture points, treatment aims to support the body's natural preparation for birth, encourage cervical ripening, and promote optimal conditions for labour.
In addition to preparing for birth, treatment may also help manage common late-pregnancy complaints such as pelvic pain, back pain, reflux, poor sleep, swelling, fatigue, and general tension in the body.
Treatments are tailored to your individual needs and are designed to help you feel calm, supported, and confident as you approach labour and birth.
Labour Preparation
From 36 weeks a specific set of acupuncture points are used to support the body’s natural preparation for birth. These points help ripen the cervix, meaning the cervix softens, thins, and begins to open in readiness for labour. Treatments can also help address common late-pregnancy discomforts such as pain, reflux, poor sleep, fatigue, and general tension in the body. Birth preparation treatments are usually done weekly from 36 weeks until you reach full term. From full term (around 40 weeks), treatments can increase to twice weekly and additional points may be used to gently support the body if labour hasn’t started yet. Treatments are very relaxing. You’ll be lying comfortably on your side, supported by pillows, while the acupuncture points do their work.During your appointment, you will also be educated on acupoints you or your partner can use during labour to support with pain relief, cervical dilation, descending of your baby and anxiety.What the research says
Research suggests acupuncture used in late pregnancy may help
Cervical Readiness
Acupuncture can improve cervical readiness for labour (Smith, Armour & Dahlen, 2017)
Labour Length
Acupuncture can shorten the length of labour (Betts & Lennox, 2006)
Spontaneous Labour
Acupuncture can increase rates of spontaneous labour (Zamora-Brito et al., 2024)
Less Interventions
Acupuncture may reduce the need for interventions during labour and birth** (Betts & Lennox, 2006)
Breech Position
A breech presentation is when a baby is positioned bottom-first or feet-first rather than head-down in preparation for birth. While some babies naturally turn on their own, others may remain breech as the due date approaches.
In Chinese medicine, moxibustion is commonly used to support the turning of a breech baby. Moxibustion involves burning the herb mugwort, formed into a cigar-like moxa stick, near a specific acupuncture point on the little toe known as BL67. The warmth and stimulation of this point are thought to encourage fetal movement and support the body's natural ability to facilitate optimal positioning for birth.
From a Chinese medicine perspective, the Kidney system plays an important role in pregnancy and is closely connected to the uterus. Stimulating BL67 with moxibustion is believed to strengthen and support this system, helping create favourable conditions for the baby to turn.
Following your appointment, you will be provided with a moxa stick and detailed instructions to continue treatment at home. This typically involves applying moxibustion to BL67 on each foot for approximately 10 minutes per side, once daily for 10 days.
Moxibustion is most commonly used between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, when there is still adequate room for the baby to turn. As with all pregnancy related care, treatment should be discussed with your healthcare team, including your midwife or obstetrician.