This is a treatment I have perfected over 30 years. It comes in two parts. While I always emphasise that every individual is different and therefore I do not protocol treatments in any situation, when it comes to inducing labour, I do have a tried and tested formula that applies across the board. However, this is always the second part of the treatment. The first part determines success. If you get that right, she’ll be on her way.
Understanding the Why
It works like this: I usually have a very small window to work with, sometimes only 24 hours before a medical induction is scheduled. So I have to quickly work out why my patient isn’t going into labour. There are many factors to consider, depending on whether it’s her first, second, or third labour.
Usually, the first labour is the hardest and longest to get going. Even though we are supposedly “cut out” for this job, the body has never been through it before. Plus, we must remember that this woman has grown and protected the baby for nine months. Her body and brain have been telling her all that time to protect and hold on. Now suddenly she’s expected to let go, all because of a date a doctor has given her, and often, in my opinion, too early.
Due dates in the UK are estimated based on fertilisation occurring on day 7, yet most conceptions occur around day 14 or even up to day 20. In France, the gestation period is measured at 41 weeks, which I believe is more realistic. But here in the UK, when a woman is just three days overdue, she’s already under pressure.
Creating the Right Conditions
Once I’ve understood and unpacked her thought processes, I can get her to a place where she’s ready to yield and let go. I guide the needles to specific emotion points that speak directly to the body without me even having to say a word. These points allow her to release, to forget the “mission”, and to jump off the wheel of expectation.
I let her know that she is the most important person, before the baby. It’s up to her to allow herself to let go, and only when she is ready. She is so conditioned to believe that giving birth is her natural job and that her body will “know what to do”, and yet she’s needing help, so already feels she has failed. This is another myth. In my 30 years of experience inducing hundreds of women, and having three babies myself, I can confidently say this pressure to “just deliver” is unrealistic and unfair.
This is the most important part of the treatment. She needs to feel as fully in herself as possible, with no expectations from others and no time pressure. I have learnt this over many years, and I will not apply the induction treatment before I feel she is in the right place emotionally and mentally.
Once she feels relaxed and calm, that switch from anxiety to trust will often enable her to take control of her birth journey and go with it. I may remind her of the breathing techniques, and I’ll practise them with her if she’s already having contractions. I’ll explain the power of focus and show her partner where to apply pressure on her back during contractions, or I may record a video for her support person to follow.
I also show her acupressure points on her wrists that she can press during labour, giving her something physical to focus on during contractions. She may already be contracting by the time she walks into my treatment room, yet not dilating, and this is where the work begins.
The Treatment: Part One
The first part of the treatment is focused on calming the heart and mind and reducing anxiety. I always use Ht 7, Yintang, and Lv 3, along with any other points specific to her situation. I then massage her lower back to help her relax deeply. The needles are left in for around 20 minutes. After this, she is usually in a very different headspace, much more grounded, calm, and connected.
The Treatment: Part Two
The second part is the actual induction treatment. I position her sitting up with her legs over the side of the bed, resting on a chair or ottoman-height support. This part is about opening the cervix energy and encouraging the baby to descend.
Needles are placed on the lower back and sacrum, then in the hands, feet, and legs. It’s essential to get a strong Qi response, it needs to be felt more obviously than in a standard treatment. Focus is especially given to increasing energy at the lower back points, Sp 6 and Co 4.
This treatment can be repeated over the next few days if possible. Often, especially with second or third babies, only one session is needed. However, for a first baby, two or three treatments may be necessary.
Integrating with Modern Medicine
There is a common assumption that acupuncturists disregard epidurals or pain relief. This is a myth. We are a complementary therapy, not an alternative one. Our skills work best in harmony with modern medicine. I am not a purist. If there is something better to offer, or if a medical intervention such as an epidural is needed, I fully endorse its importance for pain relief.
This method has stood the test of time. Each treatment is personalised, but the structure remains because it works, first settle the mind, then invite the body to open. It’s not about forcing the body to give birth, but rather helping the woman find her readiness to begin.