Acupuncture for Labour Induction / Preparation
Whether you are looking for help in getting your body prepared and ready for labour, or if you are needing help with getting the natural processes of labour started, below you will find some commonly asked questions that relate to how acupuncture may be able to help you.
Can acupuncture help with labour induction?
Acupuncture treatments can be used at the end of your pregnancy to help stimulate the release of beneficial hormones, help to ripen the cervix, reduce stress, and assist in releasing tight muscles of the back, hip and pelvic area. In conjunction, these benefits may assist in allowing your baby to drop lower and become fully engaged, as well as helping your body to progress through the onset of natrual spontaneous labour. Helping to release any tight muscles in the back, hip and pelvic area may also assist in a smoother labour.
Most patients come to see us when they are between 39 and 40 weeks for help with natural labour induction, however if you are currently at an earlier stage of preganncy and looking to help get your body as prepared as possible, then we recommend coming in once a week from 36 weeks. This way we can support the later stage of your pregnancy, work on getting your body prepared for labour, and this can help to increase the effectiveness of the labour induction treatments if needed later on, as acupuncture has a cumulative effect.
How many treatments are needed?
Every person is different, so how many treatments are required differ from patinet to patient. However, it has been our experience that a vast majority of patients wanting help with natural labour induction require between 1-4 treatments, when started between 39 and 40 weeks, with treatments being received daily. If you have been booked in for an early medical induction due to pregnancy complications, you can discuss with your obstetrician the possibility of having acupuncture induction treatments done sooner than 39 weeks, and with their aproval, we can begin treatments earlier if safe to do so.
We recommend at your first appointment that you book in a further 2-3 follow up appointments in advance to make sure you secure consecutive treatment days for the best possible outcomes. Our cancellation policy does not apply to our labour induction patients, as you may go into labour on the day of your appointment. This gives you the freedom to book multiple appointments without concerns of any financial penalty should you need to cancel. We just ask that you reply to your appointment reminder text message to let us know you have gone into labour so that we can cancel all remaining appointments and be able to assist other patients at those times.
What should I wear for my appointment?
We recommend wearing loose fitting, comfortable clothing to your appointment. Most of the acupuncture points are easily accessible for this treatment, however if any clothing is required to be removed to access certain points, your practitioner will leave the room and allow you time to get ready with ample linen left for you to cover up as you would for a massage.
How long is an acupuncture appointment?
You initial acupuncture appointment will usually last close to 1.5 hours. In this appointment, there will be a thorough consultation assessment to discuss your pregnancy and overall health prior to receiving your first acupuncture induction treatment.
Follow up appointments will usually last 1 hour. As the full assessment was already carried out in your initial appointment, follow up treatments consist of checking on progress changes from the previous treatment, followed up by receiving your acupuncture treatment.
How much do the treatments cost?
If you have never been to Jon Rose Acupuncture before, your first appointment will be $135, and any follow up appointments will be $95. If you have private health insurance that includes acupuncture cover, your cover can be processed on the spot, leaving you with only the gap to pay.
Our cancellation policy does not apply to our labour indcution patients, as you may go into labour on the day of your appointment. We just ask that you reply to your appointment reminder text message letting us know that you are in labour so that all future appointments can be cancelled and we are able to then assist other patients with those available times.