Anyone used acupuncture to bring on childbirth?

[MinnieMummy]

Did it work? And if so, how long after the treatment?

I like to think of myself as being a rational person and that the scientific method is the way to go, but... I'm 39 weeks, 3rd pg (DS 3.5 and DD 21mths), SPD, huge and beyond fed up. I had an acupuncture treatment last Thursday and did feel very 'heavy' afterwards, but to no avail.

Is it worth going back for more?? Would be another £40 which is what mostly puts me off. Or is it one of those things like pineapple, curry etc. that only 'works' because the baby is good and ready anyway??

Sigh...

I had it, at 41 weeks. I was induced at 42 weeks so it did not work in the sense that it didn't bring on labour.

However, my labour was very short so it could have contributed to that but there's no way of knowing of course!

I found the treatment very relaxing though and it helped me to think that I might be actively doing something.

Raspberry leaf tea - get it from a proper herbalist (not the pre-boxed stuff). Long walks, warm baths, curry, sex...

Two rounds of acupuncture, one homeopathy consultancy later... nothing. Ended up having a c-section at nearly 42 weeks. Probably not what you wanted to hear, but personally I wouldn't spend another £40.

I had 2 induction treatments for ds2. After the 2nd treatment I went into labour within 30 hours. Also had a very quick labour of 2.5hrs.

I found it worked for me not only physically but also emotionally. I had a horrible 1st delivery and was afraid of going into labour yet after the treatment I walked out feeling "ready" for the baby to come.

They have it on the NHS at my local (Whittington North London) which outrages me. Everyone I know who has had it has sworn by it, but then...if you're 40 weeks+ pregnant you're going into labour somehow...so how do they know it's the acupuncture?

I was told I was being induced on my due date with DS and so had a week of sessions in the hope of bringing labour on a bit early. The acupuncturist told me that even if it didn't bring on labour it would help the induction process and should allow for a speedier easier delivery - I finally ended up with an emergency cs .
I did enjoy the sessions though - very relaxing!

Hello Minnie Mummy and All
I am an Acupuncturist and I offer inductions. It is possible to induce labour with one session however I have found some babies seem to need a little more convincing! I charge £60 whether it take 1-3 sessions and treat every other day where necessary. It also helps if the mum brings her birth partner to the sessions and conveniently the points used to induce a baby are also used to help labour progress so I like to use the session to show the partner which points he/she can massage during labour to help to support the mum.
Whilst it is not light reading this is a link to a study supporting the use of Acupuncture for Induction ( www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11802511)
I wish you all the best with your birth.
You can always give me a ring if you have anymore questions 07988 518 989.
Warm regards
Emma

I did, in the hope of avoiding induction, but it didn't work.

I was told that it would make the labour easier too, and I did have a very quick straightforward induction, but obviously I'll never know how much of that was due to the acupuncture.

Thanks AcuEmma, I don't suppose you are in the Oxfordshire area??! Am still wavering between 'it'll happen sooner rather than later' and 'I can't take another day of this!'

someone posted about their Surestart centre offering Acupuncture for free as it had reduced the number of inductions done.

tweaking nipples is free though....