Acupuncture to kickstart labour? Anyone tried it?

[Flum]

Suggested by doula today. I am 3 days over due and nothing feels imminent. I don't really want to mess about with nature as have had such a normal & easy pregnancy.

AT 14 days overdue I was given acupuncture by the hospital - it didn't work!!

Yes i tried it, didnt work. have heard good stories from others though.

How long did they give it though? ie how soon were you induced after that?

Had Acupuncture from two days before due date, had an elective section at 41 weeks.

A bit different, but had acupuncture because my waters had broken but very weak/no contractions.
The midwife did the acupuncture in my legs and hands and DD was born 5hrs later.
(The midwife had thought it would be at least another 12hrs)

I'd highly recommend it - had it twice during my pregnancy/labour (the first time was because DD had turned breach and it worked then too)

Good luck!

Didn't work for me at 42 weeks. I think that it is like a lot of these things - if you are already on the brink it may just tip you over, but otherwise, probably not. Good luck Flum, hope it goes well, whenever it happens

Yes, it was a big waste of £120.

It seems to work for some people but sure as hell not for me. And I asked about it at a Chinese medicine place and they said it was never done in China to bring on labour, so not sure what foundation there is for doing it tbh (although it was my consultant who suggested I do it).

Personally, I would have sex - it is free and more fun than having vibrating pins stuck in your flesh.

I had it to start labour after being 10 days overdue. The first session just totally relaxed me and I had a brilliant nights sleep. Went into labour the next and then had another session to get contractions working properly. It worked for me and just gave me a real boost.

Even though it didnt bring on labour it did produce some strongish contractions though. There probably is something in it.

I tried it, didn't work for me - but then neither did three prostin gels!

I am now 10 days overdue after having three sessions of acupunture! Session 1 @ 3days overdue, session 2 @ 7 days o/d, session 3 @ 9days o/d.

They did cause slight contractions within an hour or two of the session however they soon went off.
The only thing I will say is I have just had a membrane sweep at the hospital and the midwife said I am looking favourable - so it might have helped things along. At least i feel like I have been doing something... apart from wasting £100!!!

I had accupunture on my hands and feet at 14 days over with DS3 - nothing happened but kept doing my own accupressure on the areas that were used. On day 16 I got up early, took some castor oil (pucked it all up) went for walk up a very steep hill and had mw do another sweep at 11:30. Baby finally arrived at 6 pm.
Good luck and keep at it.

I had acupuncture when i was 11 days late. Baby arrived next day. I'd also done a spinning class the same day as the acupuncture (not part of my normal exercise routine) so dont know if that played a part too.
I found the acupuncture quite relaxing so personally, I wouldn't have felt it wasted even if I hadn't gone into labour the next day.