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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Accupuncture inducing labour,.. if it works, how long does it take?

22 replies

rrrayray · 14/01/2009 18:46

Wondered if anyone had experiences?

i had accupuncture this morning. I had been having redcued fetal movement, and its increased the movement massively. But i wondered IF it is sucessful in inducing me, how long after the session could i expect it to be?

I know everyone is different, and some will even be skeptical it works, but i just wondered for a ball park figure??

Be lovely to hear a positive story, as the man who did it said until a failure about 6 months ago, he had a 100% sucsess rate in the 10 years he has been doing it.

OP posts:

fourlittlefeet · 14/01/2009 18:49

lol ray, I'm going for mine first thing tomorrow! my friend had it with both pregnancies and went into labour within 24 hours each time. I think success depends on how ready your body is to go...

Aefondkiss · 14/01/2009 19:08

I had acupuncture on the Thursday before my due date, I slept for 8hrs that night, whereas I had been getting up to go to the loo frequently through the night throughout my pg.

DS arrived on the Sunday, my edd, lovely relaxed labour and birth. I do think the acupuncture helped.

I hope it has a good effect on you, and you have a lovely relaxed birth soon.

fourlittlefeet · 14/01/2009 19:20

fabulous - what a great story! thank you.

Original poster

rrrayray · 14/01/2009 20:40

Hey FLF... i didn't know you were trying it too. Well, have to say, even if it does nothing, it was REALLY relaxing. i dont even like needles, but i wasnt fussed, they are so small.

Thanks for story Aefondkiss Sounds like a lovely birth. just what i need after a manic week!

OP posts:

poppy34 · 14/01/2009 20:43

went for two lots (not with my usual woman so I'm not convicned it was the real reason) - first lot on monday - nothing -went back wednesday am, in labour thursday am .

however 2 friends swear by it -used it on all their pregnancies adn I'd probably do it again despite fact I am never sure if it was that or nipple tweaking

out of interest -did the treatment hurt (ie make you feel sore/bruised) - it was teh only time it left me feeling like that (and I've had loads of acupuncture before so wasn't sure if it was the treatment or the practitioner who wasn't my usual lady).

poppy34 · 14/01/2009 20:43

and can echo fact that had 12 hour labour that was not bad for pfb

BetsyBoop · 14/01/2009 20:44

with DD my acupuncturist gave me a "gentle nudge" induction on the Friday (39wks exactly), the plan being to go back on the Tuesday for a bit bigger nudge & then the following Friday (40wks) for a "full on induction" unless anything happened in the mean time, as I was not in a desperate rush, but had been warned to expect a big baby, so didn't want to go too overdue. (DD 8lb8.5oz in the end, so not the 9.5-10lb I was told to expect) She said doing it this way would give my body chance to prepare for labour.

I only needed the "gentle nudge" as I went into labour on the Tuesday, so I didn't need the further appointments.

She had worked in China for two years some years earlier where acupunture induction is widely used & said so long as you were over about 38wks she'd found it worked about 90% of the time.

fourlittlefeet · 14/01/2009 20:45

sounds fab; I'm really looking forward to it. the practioner did say it would prepare me for birth as well as hussle the bub a little . I think if it relaxes me and gives me a good nights' sleep, thats going to be worth it in itself. I'm pretty sure this bub is going to come out of its on voilition, whatever I do, its a stubborn little bean, so may as well look after myself too .

fourlittlefeet · 14/01/2009 20:46

thats good news too poppy; hoping for something in that region myself . tell us more about the tweaking... surely you didn't do the three hourly stints ?

poppy34 · 14/01/2009 20:46

there is nothing treatment wise like acupuncture to make you feel blissed out

BetsyBoop · 14/01/2009 20:47

poppy the treatment has never hurt me, the only problem I had was being too relaxed afterwards, so that I almost floated home in a trance!

fourlittlefeet · 14/01/2009 20:48

ooh, I'm all excited for tomorrow now!

poppy34 · 14/01/2009 20:49

lol - no but I was (prob like you) getting v. fed up by week 39 so tried it gently and noticed after only a couple of minutes I was getting contractions... basically think dh (lord love him for doing research) worked out that 5 minutes every 15 minutes a couple of times was meant to be best - only did two lots like that til contractions got to much..so got up to have breakfast and planning to go to pilates.. called pilates teacher saying felt a bit dodgy..then realised I was not just feeling dodgy but a bit wet and had to call 2 mates to ask em if I was in labour.. I was and bubs arrived 12 hours later .

poppy34 · 14/01/2009 20:50

mm- betsy its never hurt me after which makes me think that this woman was not all that and I'll lumber into town to see my usual lady if there is a next time (fingers crossed).

fourlittlefeet · 14/01/2009 20:56

lol at your dh poppy. all I get with the twiddling is collostrum .

artichokes · 14/01/2009 20:59

i was 7 days late with no sign of labour.
had acupuncture at 11am.
at 10pm I began having mild contractions every 8 mins. dd born 24 hours later.

Original poster

rrrayray · 14/01/2009 21:51

poppy it didn't HURT as such, but was VERY uncomfy. This is what he was aiming for apparently. it felt like Severe Cramp in my hands.

He put 2 needles in feet area (didnt look) and 2 in hands, one in head. The ones werent in head he attached to a little electric machine and ran an electrical pulse through it. like i said it felt like a cramp, and he upped it until it was borderline painful.

He said to come back next week (he only comes to clinic in my area on a wed) if still not in labour and he would do something a bit more intense, some lower back ones i think?

Problem is, due to low fluid i think i will be induced on tuesday if don't go myself.

baby, having been VERY quiet, is having an absolute party tonight.... so well, that bit has worked!!

OP posts:

fourlittlefeet · 14/01/2009 21:57

eeek at it being painful. I was thinking more tingly.

Original poster

rrrayray · 15/01/2009 12:51

i think he cranked it up on me b/c i said that i wanted to get her out before being induced! ha!

He had me on 2.8 on the electric thing, apparently it goes up to 10! jesus... that would be agony!

OP posts:

poppy34 · 15/01/2009 17:46

no electric shock/cramp was exactly what it felt like (normal a/p is not painful)...hope it works for you

Original poster

rrrayray · 15/01/2009 17:58

...Well... i think i've just had a show! Its now about 30 hours since i had it... So... Who knows... Maybe it DOES work!

OP posts:

fourlittlefeet · 15/01/2009 19:09

fingers crossed for you ray. I didn't have the electric stuff, but could feel the pulse jumping all the same and am now feeling quite odd. we shall see! Yay for your show.. does sound like the bub is on the move!

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