Acupuncuture durring labor...

[mhaddon]

Has anyone done this? If so how was it, did it help? I went to my chiropracter today and she wants to try it again durring a labor and thought I'd be perfect b/c I'm having a HB. She tried it in the hospital and had to stop b/c she doesn't have hospital privlages. So she told me she'd do it for free Plus she's very very interested in having a HB her next time. I told her I was planning a water birth and she said we could work something out. I didn't know if anyone else had tried this. I'm willing to try anything once

[wondermama]

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[RubyOrganique]

I'm curious about this, too. I've had great success with acupuncture prior to pregnancy, so I can see how it might be a huge benefit. So far, the only resources for acupuncture during labor have been way beyond my means. (You're so lucky to have a provider interested in doing it for free!)

Anyone utilized acupuncture to get labor started or to help with labor discomfort?

[Panonim]

I don't actually personally know anyone who's used acupuncture in labour, although i've heard online that it can be helpful.

Here's my biggest thought about it though: When I have an acu. session, I find that it is very uncomfortable to move any part of my body that has a needle in it. Just feels weird (like a funny bone feeling). I prefer to stay perfectly still while the needles are in. It seems to me that it'd be really difficult to hold perfectly still and not move during labour.

Now, if the acu works so well that there is no pain, then maybe it would be possible to hold still. And maybe not everyone feels that weird feeling when they move with the needles like I do.

Anyway, just wanted to give my thoughts about it. I agree that it's awesome to have an opportunity to have it done free, I'd say that it's worth a try!

[mhaddon]

Originally Posted by Panonim

I don't actually personally know anyone who's used acupuncture in labour, although i've heard online that it can be helpful.

Here's my biggest thought about it though: When I have an acu. session, I find that it is very uncomfortable to move any part of my body that has a needle in it. Just feels weird (like a funny bone feeling). I prefer to stay perfectly still while the needles are in. It seems to me that it'd be really difficult to hold perfectly still and not move during labour.

Now, if the acu works so well that there is no pain, then maybe it would be possible to hold still. And maybe not everyone feels that weird feeling when they move with the needles like I do.

Anyway, just wanted to give my thoughts about it. I agree that it's awesome to have an opportunity to have it done free, I'd say that it's worth a try!

I've never tried acupuncture before, but am going to thoughout the pregnancy. However, when I was getting my epideral for some reason the contractions were less painful durring that time. I wonder if it was b/c I knew I had to stay still?? Also she said if that didn't work she could also do acupressure which sounds awsome b/c DH rubbing my and using pressure is about as usefull as my 2 year old doing it

[wrenmoon]

I had acupuncture during my first labor...not to change the pain but to get things rolling. After 14 hours of overnight labor and lots of throwing up we decided to try to get things moving before I got too tired. I went into transition immediately and then my water finally broke about 20 minutes later. My babe was born two hours later.

honestly what the needles felt when they were in was the last thing on my mind although I can't say they felt good... compared to labor though, it was nothing.

[sarahmck]

My acupuncturist is also a doula and she will be at my birth. My friend had her at her first birth and felt that it was helpful. For what it's worth, her labor was very fast, only 5 or 6 hours for a first baby. I'll report back in a couple of months....

[Shanana]

I know someone who used it during labor and felt it was very useful. Sadly, the person she used has now moved out of the area, or I would be looking into it.

I think it's great your chiro is willing to do it - and do it for free!! I would definitely take her up on it .

[Mama Coltrane]

i am an acupuncturist and a doula, but to be honest I haven't had the chance to do needles during labor. I have done some before labor. I think it would work well during labor, especially in the beginning of active labor. Transition would be tough because it is not recommended to move around a lot with the needles in you. Acupressure in the right spots is great for transition and pushing phases.
I have just started attending more homebirths, so maybe I will get a chance to do some needling during active labor.
There are some great chinese herbs to use after labor to help with bleeding, physical trauma, emotional trauma, etc.

[April422]

I have a client who is an acupunctrist and she was a student during her 2 births and she did acupuncture on herself during labor. With her first baby she delivered 3 hours after she got to the hospital after laboring at home only for a few hours, and with her second she delivered 45 minutes after arriving, with only a few hours of labor total.

It worked great for her.