Cervical Ripening & Labour Induction

Acupuncture provides physical and emotional support leading up to labour and birth. It can increase your sense of satisfaction with the birthing experience and enhancing your overall well-being after birth.

Acupuncture can:

• Encourage optimal birth presentation by turning posterior or breech presentation
• Reduce cesarean rates
• Minimize need for medical induction(oxytocin)
• Reduce need for pain medication or epidurals
• Shorter labor times
• Treats anxiety and helps create a calm mental attitude for a an optimal birth experience.

Cervical Ripening & Labour Induction

Acupuncture is particularly beneficial in stimulating cervical ripening and can be an effective alternative to a medical induction. This reduces your chances of going beyond 40 weeks term and can shorten labour. Research indicates that weekly acupuncture treatments preformed at week 37, 38, 39 and 40 weeks can help the baby become engaged and the cervix to soften and dilate, This usually induces women to go into labour within 4 days of their due date.

Acupuncture can be used three to four weeks prior to the due date until labour begins. An Australian study showed that women who had received prebirth acupuncture when compared with midwifery only care had:

• An overall 35% reduction in the number of inductions (for women having their first baby this was a 43% reduction)
• A 31% reduction in the epidural rate.
• 32% reduction in emergency caesarean delivery
• A 9 % increase in normal vaginal births.

Acupuncture treatment: Once a week for four weeks starting at week 37. If you have not gone into labour by week 41 plus one day then we will offer an acupuncture induction treatment at no charge. You must have come to all four treatments weekly (37 to 40).