Acupressure is a simple, safe and effective hands-on technique originating in China that involves the manual stimulation of specific points, known as Acupoints, on the body by applying pressure to them using the fingers, elbows, palms, or blunt-tipped instruments. The aim of acupressure is to relieve pain and discomfort, and to promote healing.
Acupressure, like acupuncture, can be used to treat a variety of other conditions that may arise during labour and childbirth. For example, it can be used to help babies descend and engage, dilate the mother’s cervix, induce labour and strengthen contractions in slow, non-progressive labours.
It can also be used to alleviate nausea, combat fatigue in protracted labour and assist posterior positioned babies to turn to an optimal anterior position for easier birth. There are several points where pressure can be applied for pain relief and for an efficient birth. Again, make sure there is direct, firm pressure on the points. Everyone is different on how long they like the points to be held for and how often. This is completely up to the laboring woman.
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