Acupressure for Birth Partners

By Dr. Tanya Smith, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Birth partners have the privilege and responsibility of accompanying a woman through one of the most intense and memorable experiences of her life - the birth of her baby. She will always remember how she was supported.

For the birth partner, it may be the first time attending a birth and they may wonder what it’s going to be like and how they can help. Acupressure is a simple, practical technique that many birth partners can confidently apply with a minimum of training.

Acupressure works well to augment other comfort measures that can be used during childbirth such as breathing or relaxation exercises, heat or ice packs. Mothers get good labour pain relief with acupressure. Here’s what one mother, Sarah, said about her experience using acupressure during her labour:

"I found using acupressure during labour brilliant. Having used acupressure I wouldn't even consider being in labour without it. The difference was amazing - I felt a lot calmer and able to cope and much more relaxed. It was really good for me to have my partner so closely involved with each contraction - I felt connected and supported. Acupressure helped me stay focused and calm. Acupressure is safe, effective, natural and I was in control. An ideal pain management technique."

One of the best things about acupressure is that it does not require a trained professional in order to use the pressure points. It is easy to learn and doesn’t require any equipment besides the support person’s hands. Just a few important points can make all the difference to a labouring woman. Here’s what one partner, Mark, thought of acupressure:

"At first I was very skeptical about acupressure's ability to relieve the pain of childbirth, but as soon as my partner's contractions began, it was obvious that this was really effective. She almost seemed to enjoy the contractions, as long as I was pressing very hard indeed on the right spots and not letting up for an instant. This was also the ideal way for me to feel fully involved in the birth and not get too panicky. We had a trouble-free, doctor-free labour and birth and we now have a beautiful, healthy, happy son. I'd recommend acupressure to anyone having a baby."

If you or someone you love is expecting a baby, please let them know that Lifecycles Wellness offers both individual and group courses for birth partners. We also have a referral list of doulas who have trained with Tanya to provide acupressure for labour and can assist in labour preparation.

To learn more about labour support and preparation from the Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, talk to Tanya at Lifecycles Wellness.