Has anyone had acupuncture to start their labour and was it successful?

[Kezza7779]

?!

[twelveyeargap]

Yes I did and no, it didn't work. Am a great believe in acupuncture for many things, but in this case it was unsuccessful. That said, I had to use a different practitioner to normal (due to not being at work) so it might have just been this woman. She didn't manage to help my swollen hands and feet go down either.

I might try it again with my usual Chinese doctor as opposed to just an acupuncturist.

[silvermum]

i really wasn't convinced by it at all. i had to stifle a laugh when the acupuncturist said that it would work - "with some people, it takes one or two sessions, others it takes ten" ! well, i thought - after ten sessions, unless you were having more than one session a day, the baby would almost certainly be arriving anyway!

[Kezza7779]

quite! well maybe i wont bother trying this then?!!!x

[thehouseofmirth]

I had reflexology and I can't say if it definitley brought on labour but DS was only a couple of days late. And it's very nice lying around having someone massage your feet!

[JFly]

Hard to say. I had acupuncture the day before I was due to be induced (41+13). It was an "intense" session and the practitioner I saw said on average it would take 12 hours to bring on labour and his record was 6 hours from treatment to labour. I had my session at about 2pm and went into labour at 5am the next morning (15 hours later). Not sure if that was what did it, given how late I was and that I had induction looming, but I would give it the benefit of the doubt. FWIW, had loads of reflexology for three weeks and it didn't bring on labour, but was extremely relaxing.

[meglet]

my waters leaked at 36 weeks and I was booked in for an induction the following week if the baby didn't arrive naturally. I was shitting myself at the thought of being induced and a midwife recommended acupuncture to try and start labour. I had a session at 5:30 in the evening and went into labour at 8pm, during my last ante-natal class. May have been a fluke though.

[castille]

Yes I did because I was due to be induced the next day (at 39 weeks) and really wanted a spontaneous labour instead of drugs, but no it didn't work.

[greenbeanie]

I had acupuncture just before 40wks. It apparently works up to 72 hours after treatment. I had a very experienced practitioner who was excellent. 48 hours later I was in labour which lasted 2.5 hours - so it worked for me. Also I felt more positive about going into labour, it was my 2nd pregnancy and I was dreading as the 1st labour had been awful, I left after treatment feeling ready to go through it if that makes sense!!

[minkersmum]

i had electro acupuncture at 38 weeks for back pain (long term thing not labour related) i also took a dose of castor oil that day as was constipated. Accupunture at 1.30 pm, oil at 3 pm, waters broke at 9pm, baby(2nd baby) born at 2.40 am. Coincedence perhaps, perhaps not, who knows?? its worth a try!

[Kezza7779]

hmmm tempting - how much is it per session (average) x

[ilovemydog]

Yes, tried acupuncture for over due baby.

No, it didn't work.

[greenbeanie]

It's usually around £25-40 a session depending on where you live.

[greenbeanie]

Forgot to add - Try looking on the british acupuncture council website for a registered acupuncturist near you and if you have a choice go for someone with experience with pregnant women.