Acupressure is a method that uses firm pressure on certain points of the body to activate muscle release, promote blood flow and help the body to heal itself. Acupressure is thought by its practitioners to aid in induction of labor and also to make labor easier, less painful and faster. To prevent preterm labor, labor induction techniques should not be attempted unless the pregnant woman is at least full term, at 37 weeks.
Spleen-6
Laurel Axen Carroll, an acupuncturist from New York, explains that there are three points to use on the legs and feet to help induce labor, strengthen contractions once they begin, and get the baby into the proper position for an easy birth. The first is the spleen-6 pressure point which is located three finger widths above the inner ankle bone, in the area between the bone and the calf muscle. This point can be massaged with any finger or thumb for 10 minutes at a time and it is helpful to both thin or efface the cervix, and induce labor contractions.
Bladder-60
The bladder-60 pressure point can help the baby to drop down into the pelvis, a necessary step for the progression of labor and for full and even dilation of the cervix. This pressure point is located behind the outer ankle bone, halfway between the ankle and the Achilles tendon. The bladder-60 pressure point can be rubbed in circles using the thumb or forefinger as long as it is comfortable for the mother.
Bladder-67
Sometimes right before, or even during labor, it is found that the baby has turned breech. The bladder-67 pressure point is thought to be useful in encouraging breech babies to turn to the proper head-down presentation for birth. This pressure point is located on the outer portion of the pinky toe, right beside the toenail. This area can be rubbed or even pinched with fingers or a clothespin for the length of time comfortable for the mother.
Large Intestine-4
The large intestine-4, or LI4, pressure point is located in the webbing between the thumb and index finger on both hands, explains Catherine Beier, childbirth educator and author, on the Giving Birth Naturally website. Pinching this fleshy area with the thumb and index finger of the opposite hand and rubbing for 30 to 60 seconds at a time may help stimulate uterine contractions. It is recommended that women use caution with this and any pressure point that stimulates labor, allowing a minimum of a one- to two-minute break between contractions.
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