Easier Shorter Safer Birth

Easier, shorter and safer birth

A Golden Publishing House book
November 2006
All rights reserved

Copyright ©2006 by Golden Publishing House Pte
No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted or sold in any form or by any
means, electrical or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any
information storage or retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information address:

www.GoldenPublishingHouse.com
Catalog in Publication Data:

(National Library Board, Legal Deposit Office, Singapore 486548)
Leino, Lena
ISBN 981-05-7211-5
2
www.MaternityAcupressure.com
The information provided in the “Easier, Shorter and Safer Birth” book is for educational
and informational purposes only and in no way should be considered as an offering of
medical advice. The reader should regularly consult a licensed health care professional
in matters relating to her pregnancy, labor and health and particularly in respect to any
symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.
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Acknowledgments
I wish to thank all the people who have been part of the creation process of this
guide and who have helped to publish and to share a small portion of the power
of acupressure.
I am especially thankful to Debra Betts (NZ Reg. Nurse, Lic. Acupuncture British
College, Diploma of Acupuncture, MNZRA) for her superior help. Her knowledge
about labor acupressure is extraordinary. By sharing her vast knowledge, she
remarkably expanded my understanding about this wonderful method of
acupressure.
I am also grateful to the wonderful models who feature in this guide; Mrs.
Beatrice Stirrup and Mr. Juha Ylitalo.
Finally, I sincerely wish that as many people as possible come across this
effective and safe technique and take advantage of the benefits acupressure has
to offer.
Lena Leino
November 2006, Singapore
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Content:
Remarkable benefits of Labor Acupressure 6
About Labor Acupressure 6
Is it safe for the mother and the baby? 7
High blood pressure and diabetes of the mother 7
VBAC and acupressure 8
Medical induction, pain medication and acupressure 9
Acupressure and medical doctors 10
Effectiveness of acupressure 10
Appropriate time to induce labor using acupressure 11
How fast does it work? 11
What if I don't have any experience in acupressure? 12
How do you know that you are working on the right spot? 13
How much pressure should be applied? 14
Applying acupressure: the technique 14
Pressure-applying techniques
Firm pressure with rotation 15
The pressure-release procedure 16
Rubbing 16
Acupressure tools 16
The specific points for induction and pain relief 16
Acupressure points:
Induce labor 18
Turning a posterior baby 28
Labor pain relief 31
Anxiety and nervousness 40
Relaxation 42
Nausea and vomiting 45
Make better progress with labor
Strengthen contractions 49
Dilate better 49
Better progress during the second stage 50
References 53
5
Remarkable benefits of Labor Acupressure

Acupressure is extremely effective for inducing labor, giving pain relief and
helping at any stage at which the mother may get stuck. Some acupressure
techniques are helpful in more specific situations, for example, in turning the
posterior baby into the right position, vomiting, and in slow labor.
The father, significant other or any other supporting person is able to support the
birthing mother in labor using acupressure with very little practice – or in some
cases without having any previous acupressure experience.
Many birthing mothers have been surprised how effectively their partners were
able to use some acupressure techniques on them in order to get the labor
started when they were threatened with medical induction. These women were
also impressed at how effectively their partners were able to apply acupressure
for pain relief during labor.
In addition, many fathers and supporting persons have said it was a real help to
be able to focus on the mother and the baby in a simple, practical way, rather
than relying on machines. They felt great to have a means of being helpful, to be
able to give pain relief and make the birth proceed more smoothly and with less
medical intervention.
Acupressure can help to induce labor naturally, provide effective pain relief and
reduce the need for medical intervention. Given the many benefits of this simple
and flexible technique, the question should really be: why aren’t more people
using acupressure?
About Labor Acupressure

Acupressure is a simple technique for enabling parents to experience as natural
and uncomplicated a birth as possible. The technique is very straightforward: it is
just a specific way of touching the body. Acupressure works on a similar principle
to acupuncture, but instead of needles only pressure is applied to various points
on the body in order to enable it to work better. Thus the key feature of
acupressure is the use of pressure, which is usually experienced as calm and
relaxing sensation even though it works deeply on the body. The practitioner
uses the hands, especially the thumbs and palms, to apply pressure on specific
spots located all over the body.
Both acupressure and acupuncture work using the self-adjusting and natural self-
healing mechanisms of your body. These mechanisms are mediated by the
nervous system, spinal cord and midbrain. In addition to these, the benefits of
acupressure and acupuncture are mediated by the neurohumoral and immune
systems, meaning cellular chemical messengers, neurotransmitters and
6
hormones, antibodies, interferon, etc. Chinese medicine is founded on the idea

that stimulating the body’s own energy reserves enables it to function more
effectively.
Is it safe for the mother and the baby?

Naturally, the first concern of any expectant parent is for the wellbeing of both
mother and child. Ever since acupressure has been being used during labor it
has yielded only positive results.
Midwives closely monitor the behavior of the baby throughout the birth. This is
the case with midwives using acupressure as well. Any signs of distress, or
sensation that the labor was moving too fast and they would, naturally, abandon
the practice of acupressure immediately and would not advocate it as a birth aid.
On the contrary, experienced midwives have been amazed at how helpful

acupressure has proved to be, with many reporting how acupressure helped the
birthing woman’s cervix to dilate, made contractions more frequent and gave
remarkable pain relief for the mothers. Many have used acupressure for inducing
overdue pregnancies.
Furthermore, studies where groups of expectant mothers have had one or two
pressure points stimulated during labor have shown absolutely no negative
feedback. Acupressure never works against your body – it just encourages it to
work better and more efficiently. Thus acupressure doesn’t overstimulate the
uterus or cause precipitate labor - in precipitate labor the mother gives birth so
quickly that both she and the new baby go into shock, this is sometimes a feature
of a medical inducement.
Indeed, the beauty of acupressure is that it is a way of working with the body;
effectively helping the body to help itself. It simply doesn’t have the power to
overwhelm the body, unlike some of the oxytocin drugs used as conventional
birth aids.
Thus, there is no danger that acupressure can cause any injury or distress to the
unborn child or the mother. Actually, acupressure can prevent the baby from
becoming distressed during labor because acupressure makes the birth easier
and shortens the labor in a natural way, helping to avoid medical interventions
and their well-known side effects.
High blood pressure and diabetes of the mother

Acupressure works with the body, enabling it to function more effectively. This
means that whatever the woman’s physical condition, stimulating her body’s own
7
energy will not counteract or interfere with any other treatment and can only be
helpful in assisting the birth.
Furthermore, in the case of a woman who is being induced because of high-

blood pressure, diabetes, or any other medical condition, using acupressure is
particularly beneficial and allows the medical induction to progress as smoothly
as possible. Acupressure can also be used to induce labor naturally and avoid
the medical induction.
VBAC and acupressure

Earlier it was widely believed that once a mother had given birth via a cesarean
section that any additional babies would also have to be born via cesarean
section. Nowadays, however, studies have shown that the vaginal birth is
perfectly safe and 80% of mothers have successful vaginal births, despite having
had a previous cesarean delivery.
Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is usually safer for the mother and baby. For
the mother, recovery is quicker, there's less risk of infection and blood clots, less
blood loss, and for many breastfeeding will come easier after a vaginal birth (not
to mention shorter hospital stay and smaller expenses). There are many
advantages for the baby as well, most of which are related to the delivery
process and can help the baby to prepare for life outside of the womb. For
example, the immune system works better in babies who had a vaginal delivery.
As with mothers with high-blood pressure, diabetes or any other kind of medical
condition, acupressure is very beneficial if you wish to have a normal vaginal
birth after a cesarean section.
Using acupressure during labor stimulates the supply of nutrition and oxygen to
the uterus by increasing the blood flow and helping the cervix to dilate. In
essence, it assists in making the birth as natural as possible. The main concern
where the mother has had a previous cesarean is that labor might progress too
quickly, which in turn causes other problems, such as uterine rupture.
Acupressure does not and cannot overstimulate the body, and so there is no risk
in applying acupressure before and during a VBAC. On the contrary, labor
acupressure helps your body to do its best and minimizes the need for strong
pain medication, which often slows down labor and increases the risk of a
cesarean section.
8
Medical induction, pain medication and acupressure

Where, according to some reports, up to 50% of medical inductions result in the
mother having a cesarean section, acupressure is used as a way of facilitating a
natural birth.
The high proportion of c-sections after medical induction are due to facts like the
baby not descending into the pelvis and the cervix not dilating enough for the
baby to be born. In addition, the prostaglandins and oxytocin that are used in
medical inductions often cause the contractions to be too intense which, in turn,
increases the need for pain relief and epidurals and other complications related
to these medical interventions. And sometimes even medication doesn’t start the
labor. In these instances, cesarean birth becomes the safest option.
Acupressure, however, is used to increase the flow of nutritious and oxygen-rich

blood to the pelvic region and prime the body for birth, and thus to encourage the
onset of natural labor which itself significantly reduces the likelihood of a
cesarean delivery. Thus, unlike medications that force labor to start, acupressure
works with your body to encourage and assist the contractions to start naturally,
to get your cervix to ripen and dilate, and to get the baby to descend into your
pelvis.
Stimulation of specific acupressure points has been scientifically shown to induce

labor (Complement Ther Med. 2005). Up to 70% of women using acupressure
techniques will go into labor spontaneously. Thus simple acupressure techniques
which you can do at home remarkably reduce your risk of being medically
induced in a hospital.
When a medical induction is unavoidable, acupressure ripens your cervix and

helps it to dilate and provides extra pain relief. Thus acupressure significantly
increases your chances of having a normal birthing experience with minimal
medical intervention, even in cases where the labor has to be medically induced.
Pain management during labor is an important issue that should be thought

about in advance. It's important to use the strong pain medication wisely, due to
the side effects. It is well established that epidurals commonly slow labor and
increase your risk of having a cesarean birth.
Acupressure is an excellent technique for giving relief from labor pains. Not only
is it amazingly effective in “anesthetizing” the sensation of the contractions, but it
also carries no side effects or risks. In addition, acupressure is an incredibly
flexible technique; it can be used in numerous positions, in various places and it
doesn’t restrict your movements. It won’t make you feel dizzy or give you a sense
of being out of control with the situation.
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For many birthing mothers acupressure gives all the pain relief they need during
labor and for almost all it remarkably diminishes the need for artificial pain
medication. If you are planning to have an epidural in any case, use acupressure
to delay the epidural until you are dilated to more than five fingers (5 cms). This
dramatically reduces your risk of having a cesarean delivery.
Thus, in cases where some medical interventions are unavoidable, labor

acupressure works as a wonderful complementary technique. It can be used to
help the cervix to dilate more and descend the baby, or to strengthen the
contractions if the labor slows down. Acupressure is safe to use with medication,
although in many cases it may totally prevent the need for these substances.
Acupressure and medical doctors

Let your doctor and midwife, and whoever else is assisting with your pregnancy
and birth, know that you are using labor acupressure. Should any there be any
queries or concerns, show them this book. In addition, the acupressure studies
referred to earlier can be found online at www.PubMed.com
Naturally, those responsible for the care of the expectant mother and her child
want to be sure that there is no risk involved with acupressure. These studies
should give them reassurance and also enlighten them with regard to its potential
benefits.
Effectiveness of acupressure
As well as the testimonies of many happy new mothers, there has been a lot of
positive feedback from midwives. Even when there is some degree of skepticism
- either about the theory behind the practice, or from people who have previously
been treated with acupuncture and doubt the effectiveness of the practice when
not using needles - reactions have been good.
The birthing women have reported feeling a real difference in their contractions
when the appropriate points were being pressed. Many of the new mothers rated
acupressure very highly as a form of pain relief, with comments like ‘fantastic’
and ‘couldn’t have done without it’. Many women who tried a TENS machine in
addition to acupressure during labor found that acupressure was more effective
than the TENS machine. This machine provides pain relief by administering a low
electrical current to specific points on the birthing woman’s body. These
machines, unlike acupressure, can’t be used in a birthing pool, shower, or bath.
In addition to ratings varying from “very good” to “excellent” from the mothers
being treated with acupressure during labor, the lower instance of medical
intervention in cases where acupressure was used speaks for itself.
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Furthermore, once a woman has gone past her due date and medical induction
looks increasingly likely, acupressure is helpful in inducing labor naturally.
Midwives using acupressure and advising expectant mothers to apply pressure
to points such as Adjoining Valley (LI4) and Three Yin Crossing (SP6) and the
sacral points, two or three days before a planned medical induction, repeatedly
report that the women who had been doing acupressure at regular intervals
managed to go into labor naturally and avoided the medical induction.
Indeed even when a woman who has been using acupressure still needs to have
a medical induction there are far fewer complications and most of these women
achieve a natural delivery. So, not only does the use of acupressure often mean
that medical intervention is unnecessary, but should medical intervention be
unavoidable acupressure can continue being applied in complete safety and
usually to great benefit.
Appropriate time to induce labor using acupressure

Acupressure should be used only when you are well overdue and in order to
prevent medical induction. Don’t use acupressure to induce your labor just out of
impatience. Even though acupressure is a natural form of induction it should only
be used as such in order to avoid artificial intervention, otherwise let your body
and the baby get ready in their own time. Use of acupressure causes the onset of
labor in most mothers. If you are using it before your due date there is a chance
that your baby will be born prematurely.
However, even though induction should not be considered until the pregnancy is
at least 40 weeks old, there are things you can do to prepare for labor from about
37 weeks onwards. For example, stimulating the Ciliao acupoint (BL32) regularly
helps to open up the pelvis and that has proved to be very beneficial when labor
begins.
How fast does it work?

Inducing labor:
There are cases where a single acupressure treatment has started the labor.
Therefore it’s important not to apply firm or deep pressure to the acupoints
known to induce contractions, dilate the cervix and descend the baby during your
pregnancy before your estimated due date, to avoid starting labor prematurely.
Usually you need, however, to apply firm pressure for a minute on the specific
acupoints several times every two hours to induce labor. Acupressure should
start the labor at latest in 2-3 days.
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If your doctor has estimated that the induction is necessary, you should start
using acupressure immediately in order to avoid the medical induction and
decrease the risk of further medical interventions. In this case you can treat the
appropriate acupressure points every half an hour.
Turning the baby:

Posterior position of the baby can delay labor. Babies in posterior position are
head down, but face their mother’s tummy instead of the back. Posterior position
makes it more difficult for the baby to descend properly into the mother’s pelvis.
Stimulating the Reaching Inside point (BL67) can be useful in moving the baby
out of a posterior position. Once the baby has turned into the right position,
facing the mother’s back, stimulating the Shoulder Well point (GB21) after your
due date is very effective in getting the baby to descend.
If your baby is in posterior position, stimulation of the Reaching Inside point can
be started weeks before the due date and should be started at the latest in week
36. Depending on the baby, he’ll take between a few days and a week to turn.
Pain relief:
Acupressure gives immediate pain relief. Start using acupressure at home as
soon as the contractions become frequent.
Most people start applying pressure on the acupoints for pain relief when the
contraction begins and relieve the pressure when the contraction subsides.
Others apply pressure on the point all the time; lighter between the contractions
and firm during the contraction.
What if I don’t have any experience in acupressure?

Many midwives and doulas know acupressure and you can always turn to an
acupressure specialist. However, because acupressure is a very simple and non-
invasive method, you don’t have to rely on having a professional practitioner
around. The beauty of acupressure is that anybody who is willing to help can use
it. Even people who have no experience and apparently no aptitude for massage
can practice it, because it is simply about putting pressure on the relevant body
points, nothing more. It’s a very simple hands-on (or rather, knuckles and
thumbs-on) technique.
You yourself, a partner, or anyone who is supporting the birth can apply
acupressure safely with the instructions shown in this book. You don’t need any
special knowledge of anatomy or previous experience in acupressure - you just
need to press around the areas indicated in this guide.
Support persons with no experience might be worried about whether they can
cause any harm to the baby or the mother by pressing on the wrong spots. By
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following the instructions in this book you will be working on the right areas.
Pressing on the ‘wrong points’ would simply be ineffective, and the birthing
woman would soon know if there was nothing useful happening. There is no risk
involved in that sense. The only warning for the supporting person is that you
might not be allowed to leave the birthing mother’s side once you’ve found the
right place!
It is possible to stimulate your own acupoints, but it is certainly more satisfying

and more effective, especially during labor, if you have someone else do it for
you. Some points are, of course, easier to reach than others - particularly when
you are heavily pregnant. And, in any case, acupressure is a great way for the
partner to be helpful and get involved during labor.
How do you know that you are working on the right spot?
This guide demonstrates how to localize the areas where the specific
acupressure points lie. You simply follow the instructions and press around the
area with your fingertip or thumb.
Please note that the measurement of a

“finger-width” means the finger-width of the
person who is being treated. Thus the
supporting partner should calibrate his or her
finger-width with birthing mother’s fingers.
One finger-width is as much as the thickness

of one of the birthing mother’s fingers and
three finger-widths is as much as thickness of
three of the birthing mother’s fingers together.
Acupressure points often feel a little bit sore when pressure is applied on them.
Other common sensations are warmth, numbness, tingling or buzzing on that
area. The sensation is usually fairly pleasant or, at worst, a kind of dull ache. If
sharp pain is felt then pressure is being applied to the wrong place. The pressure
may be being applied over a bone, in which case the thumb or finger position
should be adjusted slightly until the sensation improves, or try a different
acupoint.
When you are pressing on the right spot the sensation is very different from when
you are pressing on the spot next to the acupressure point. For repeated use,
you can mark the right spot on the skin with a pen.
Stimulation of labor-inducing acupoints is felt as a contraction, especially when

points stimulating the womb are pressed. Treating some of the labor induction
13
points doesn’t necessarily cause strong immediate sensations. However, this

doesn’t mean that the point won’t be helpful in getting your labor going.
When you are using acupressure for pain relief, the birthing mother can tell
quickly whether the right spots are being treated, because she’ll feel immediate
relief when you press there. Listening to the birthing mother is important - she
can tell directly whether you are working on the right spot and whether the point
you are using is helpful at that moment.
If no difference is felt, try another point or adjust your position slightly. The
acupoints that need stimulation might vary throughout the labor, but usually the
woman is able to let you know which ones are working for her.
How much pressure should be applied?

In terms of how much pressure should be applied, the birthing woman will be
able to tell you that. She’ll know exactly how much pressure is needed.
When it comes to pain relief, it’s very personal. Some women benefit from a light
pressure being applied to an area continuously, with an increase in pressure with
each contraction. Others prefer to remain mobile, and will only ask for the
pressure to be applied as the contraction comes on. The important thing is that
the birth partner listens and responds to the woman.
A useful guide for how much pressure to apply when inducing labor is to press
the relevant points with a firm pressure and a small rotating movement for about
a minute every two hours. However, if a medical induction is likely to be sooner
than a couple of days, you can apply the acupressure every half an hour.
Applying acupressure: the technique

A key feature of acupressure is the use of pressure, which is usually experienced
as calm and relaxing sensation, even though it works deeply on the body. The
practitioner uses the hands, especially the thumbs, fingertips and knuckles to
apply pressure on the relevant points.
When it comes to doing acupressure in the right way, there are two main issues:
easiness and effectiveness. You have to be able to massage without exhausting
your hands and you have to do it in a way that will effectively stimulate the
acupressure point. That’s why it’s so important to increase the pressure by
leaning with your body weight, instead of just pressing the spot with your fingers.
14
In addition to this, it’s important to save your

fingers. When you use your thumb to apply
pressure on acupressure points, support it with the
fingers or when applicable, use paired thumbs.
When you are using fingertips, always back up the

fingers that are doing the massage. You can
support the index finger well using your middle
finger, as demonstrated.
Some acupressure points can be treated using the

knuckles, either the “door knocking knuckles” or the
“fighting knuckles”.
In order not to injure the skin when you press, keep your fingernails short
enough. If you have moderately long fingernails and you don’t want to cut them
short, you can try using the “door knocking knuckles” of your thumb, index or
middle finger in order to massage acupressure points.
Pressure applying techniques

Firm pressure with rotation
Use your thumbs, fingertips or knuckles to apply steady, firm pressure directly on
a point. When using the thumb, use the outside edge of your thumb or tip of the
thumb. When you massage an acupoint with your fingertips, it is recommended
that you use the index finger, whilst supporting it with the middle finger.
Once you have begun applying firm pressure to the acupressure point, massage
the point with a slow rotating movement. Keep the circular movement small, so
that you keep stimulating the right spot.
15
Start to stimulate with light pressure and gradually build up to a level that the
patient feels as a little bit uncomfortable, but not too painful. Similarly, always
release the pressure gradually in 2 to 3 seconds time.
The pressure-release procedure
With this procedure you use your thumb or fingertips in a similar manner to the
firm pressure with rotation technique described above. However, with the
pressure-release procedure you will be using a series of short, firm pressures
lasting a few seconds. Begin building the pressure gently and deepen it
gradually. Then, after increasing the pressure for about 2 to 3 seconds, release
the pressure slowly. One treatment usually comprises a series of eight to twelve
pressure-release cycles.
Rubbing
The rubbing technique is very effective on larger areas where there are many
acupressure points, like the sacral area on the lower back. Use your knuckles
and rub the area briskly in order to activate the acupoints and blood circulation.
Acupressure tools
Regardless of the pressing technique used, the hands can get quite tired when
applying acupressure during labor. It is best to start with the hands, chiefly the
thumbs and the knuckles. Remember to lean your bodyweight into the acupoint,
rather than to simply press down manually - you will preserve the strength in your
hands for much longer.
Useful tools include wooden spoons and wooden massage boards. The sea-
sickness bands, which can be used for nausea on the Inner Gate point (P6) or
under the foot on the Bubbling Spring (K1), and small combs that the birthing
woman can grip to stimulate the points in the hand are also very helpful.
The specific points for induction and pain relief

All the points do slightly different things within the body, so it really depends on
what the needs of the mother are. Labor can be delayed for a range of different
reasons and thus the acupoints for starting the labor will vary from mother to
mother. For some, treatment of the Bigger Rushing (LV3) gives quick results,
while others find the combination of the Adjoining Valley (LI4) and the Three Yin
Crossing (SP6) to be the most effective for them. Luckily, it’s easy to experiment
to find the best points for you - simply stimulate the points indicated in this guide
and see which ones bring you the desired result!
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For pain relief, again it depends - there are some birthing mothers who enjoy the
Bubbling Spring point (K1) on the sole of the foot being stimulated alone, and
others who need to change points regularly throughout the labor. It is essential
that, regardless of how others might advocate this or that point, you as the
birthing mother concentrate on what feels right for you. If within two contractions
you don’t feel any difference, ask your support person to try another point. Your
body knows how to give birth and it will let you know when the right spots are
being treated!
However, acupoints are divided into groups. The following chapters reveal the
best points for inducing labor, turning a posterior baby, getting and giving labor
pain relief, relaxation, vomiting, strengthening the contractions and dilating better
– overall helping you to have an easier, shorter and safer birth!
17
Induce labor
Stimulation of specific acupressure points has been scientifically shown to induce
labor effectively (Complement Ther Med. 2005). Thus simple acupressure
techniques, which you can do at home, remarkably reduce your risk of being
medically induced in a hospital.
Medical induction commonly results in several other medical interventions and up

to 50% of medically induced labors end up being cesarean sections. Thus, if your
doctor has estimated that the induction is necessary, you should start using
acupressure immediately.
Even if labor doesn’t start spontaneously, acupressure ripens your cervix and
helps it to dilate and descends the baby. This significantly increases your
chances of having a normal birthing experience with minimal medical
intervention.
The acupressure points shown below are the most efficient for inducing labor.
You don’t have to use them all. The labor may be delayed for a range of different
reasons and thus what is the most powerful combination of acupoints will vary
from mother to mother. Sometimes treating only one acupoint can kick-start your
labor.
Treat the acupoints that you feel work best for you every 2 hours during your
waking hours. If a medical induction is imminent you may stimulate the points
every half an hour, but be aware that the treated areas can become sore from
such frequent stimulation. Leave your body to work by itself at night.
Warning: Don’t practice acupressure treatment of these points before you are
well overdue, or you are booked for medical induction in 2-3 days time.
Acupressure points for inducing labor:
Shoulder Well (Jianjing, GB21)

Liao Point (Ciliao, BL32)
Big and High (Kunlun, BL60)
Three Yin Crossing (Sanyinjiao, SP6)
Adjoining Valley (Hegu, LI4)
Bigger Rushing (Taichong, LV3)
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Treating the Shoulder Well points gets the baby to descend into the pelvis (e.g.
to engage better) and put the necessary pressure on the cervix. This is an
essential factor in getting labor started, especially if you are having your first
baby. The descending effect of the Shoulder Well points is also very helpful
during the first and second stages of the labor. In addition to the descending
effect, the Shoulder Well points stimulate womb contractions.
Location:
The Shoulder Well points are on the thick roll of

muscle on top of both shoulders.
You will find the point midway between the outer

tip of your shoulder and the base of your neck.
The Shoulder Well points are tender in most

people, therefore start with medium pressure and
add more pressure later if necessary.
Treatment:
You can use your fingers, thumbs,

or knuckles to treat these points.
Locate the points on both

shoulders and apply firm downward
pressure on the mother’s Shoulder
Well acupoints while she is sitting
with relaxed shoulders.
Press firmly for a few seconds.

Release the pressure slowly and
then press again. Repeat eight to
twelve times. Remind the mother to breathe deeply and keep her shoulder
muscles relaxed all the time you are treating the Shoulder Well points.
19
Self-treatment:
To treat the Shoulder Well acupoints, sit down

and relax your shoulder muscles. Support your
index finger by crossing the middle finger on top
of it.
Locate the point and press firmly for a few

seconds. Release the pressure slowly and then
press again. Repeat eight times on both
shoulders. Remember to breathe deeply all the
time you are treating the Shoulder Well points.
Another technique for treating the Shoulder Well

points is to grasp your left shoulder muscle with
your right thumb, index and middle finger.
Squeeze the Shoulder Well point gently while you

exhale, and release slowly while inhaling. Repeat
eight times on the Shoulder Well points on each
side.
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The large bony area near your tailbone, called the sacrum, contains as many as
four pairs of important acupressure points that are helpful in labor. Massaging the
sacral acupressure points, especially the acupressure point pair called the Ciliao
(BL32) helps the pelvis to open, which is essential for the labor to start.
Location:
The sacral points are all on the base of the

spine, on the large bony area on both sides of
the lumbar spine.
The Ciliao points lie midway between the

dimples above the buttocks and the spine. If the
dimples are not visible, measure one length of
the mother’s index finger (appr. 2.6” or 7 cm)
above the top of the buttock crease and along
the spine.
The Ciliao points are one thumb’s width from

this point, on both sides of the spine. If the
mother is relatively slim, you can feel a small
depression in the sacral bone where the Ciliao
point is located.
Treatment:
The sacral points, including Ciliao, can be treated in various positions: when the
mother is standing, kneeling against a bed, sitting, or lying on her side.
The easiest way to treat all the Liao points on the sacral area is to rub the sacral
area briskly with your knuckles.
Rub the area vigorously enough
to stimulate these acupressure
points.
If you want to be more accurate,

locate the Ciliao points on both
sides of the spine and press them
firmly, or massage using small
rotating movements, with your
thumbs for up to 2 minutes.
When you are pressing on the

right spots, the mother feels
21
sensations of warmth, numbness, tingling or buzzing in that area. If she feels

sharp pain, you are pressing on the sacral bone instead of the acupressure point.
Self-treatment:
The easiest self-treatment method for stimulating

all the Liao points on the sacral area is to stand
with your back against a wall and massage the
sacral area with a tennis or hard rubber ball
pressed between your body and the wall. Lean
against the wall and rock back and forth a little bit
in order to apply pressure on the points.
Other option to treat these points is to rub the

sacral area briskly with your knuckles, with your
palms facing out. You can also localize the points
with your thumbs and massage them using firm
pressure.
Big and High (Kunlun, B60)
The Big and High acupressure points are effective in descending the baby, like
the Shoulder Well (GB21) points. Thus they are useful for inducing, and in the
first stage of labor as well.
Location:
There is one Big and High acupressure

point on the back of the both ankles.
The point is in the hollow between the
tarsal bone, i.e. the most prominent
bone on the outer side of the ankle, and
the Achilles tendon.
22
Treatment:
Apply firm pressure or small rotating

massage movements to the Big and
High acupressure points whilst gripping
the mother’s ankles. You can do this
when the mother is sitting or lying on
her side.
Repeatedly press firmly and then

release the points, or massage them
with small rotating movements for 1
minute.
You can either treat both ankles at the same time or focus on treating the Big and
High point on one ankle and then switch to the other.
Self-treatment:
Sit down and reach your ankle with your hand,

in whichever position is most convenient for
you.
Locate the Big and High point with your index

finger or thumb and then apply pressure to the
point. Repeatedly press firmly and release, for
1 minute, and then switch and treat the Big and
High point on your other ankle.
23
The Three Yin Crossing point helps the cervix to dilate and labor to get started.
Mothers having their first baby and mothers whose cervix hasn’t dilated efficiently
in a previous labor should find this point especially useful.
Location:
The Three Yin Crossing point is on the inner side of

the lower leg, four of the mother’s finger-widths
above her inner anklebone. The acupressure point is
next to the back of the shinbone.
The Three Yin Crossing points are usually very sore,

so the tenderness of the points confirms that you are
working on the right spot.
Treatment:
Grip the mother’s lower legs when she

is sitting, or on her knees leaning
against a chair or bed.
Press the points with your thumbs firmly

for a few seconds. When you are
treating these points to induce labor
use only medium pressure.
Release the pressure slowly and then

press again. Repeat eight to twelve
times. Remind the mother to breathe
deeply during the treatment.
24
Self-treatment:
Sit down and bend your right leg over your left, so
that you can reach your lower leg with your hand.
Locate the Three Yin Crossing point with your

right thumb and then use your thumb or knuckle
to apply pressure on the acupressure point.
Repeatedly press firmly and release, for 1 minute,

and then switch and treat the Three Yin Crossing
point on your left leg.
Treating the Adjoining Valley point has proved to be successful in getting the
womb to contract and in strengthening the contractions during labor when
necessary. In addition, the Adjoining Valley acupressure point is also one of the
most effective points for sedating pain and calming the mind.
Location:
The Adjoining Valley acupressure point

is in the webbing between the thumb
and index finger.
The easiest way to locate this powerful

point is to bring the thumb and index
finger close together, so that a fleshy
mound pops up next to the thumb.
The Adjoining Valley acupressure point is on the highest spot, in the middle of
the mound. Squeeze in the center of the mound with the tip of your thumb. The
soreness of the point confirms that you are working on the right spot.
25
Treatment:
Press the Adjoining Valley acupressure

point firmly with the tip of your thumb,
towards the bone of the index finger.
Maintain pressure for around 1 minute

and then repeat the treatment on the
other hand.
Tell the mother to breathe deeply while

you press the points.
Self-treatment:
Due to its location on the hand, the

Adjoining Valley acupressure point is
one of the easiest points to treat by
yourself.
Locate the point and press it firmly with

the tip of your thumb, towards the bone
of the index finger.
Hold the pressure while you breathe

deeply, twelve times. Repeat the
treatment on the other hand.
The Bigger Rushing point might not be the most commonly used for inducing
labor, but it works wonders for some pregnant women.
Location:
The Bigger Rushing point is two finger-widths up from

the web between the big toe and the second toe.
26
Treatment:
Apply firm pressure on the spot with your thumbs or

knuckles. Make a small rubbing movement towards
the bone for around a minute to stimulate the point.
Self-treatment:
If you can, bend your leg over the other one, reach your foot with your hand and
rub the Bigger Rushing point using your thumb. If this is too difficult you can also
apply pressure on the point with your heel or big toe.
27
Turning a posterior baby before labor
Many difficult labors result from malpresentation, where the baby's position
makes it hard for the head to move through the pelvis. The ideal position for the
birth is when the baby is head down and facing your back (the 'occiput anterior'
position). In this position, the baby's chin is tucked onto his chest, so that the
smallest part of his head will be applied to the cervix first.
When the baby is head down, but facing your tummy, the position is called the
'occiput posterior'. Often posterior babies do not engage (descend into the
pelvis), which means that it's harder for labor to start naturally.
If your baby is posterior, you might suffer from bad backache during late
pregnancy, because the baby’s back is being pressed against your spine (of
course, many pregnant women suffer from backache anyway).
So, when your baby starts to engage during the last six weeks, if it’s your first
pregnancy, or the last two or three weeks of subsequent pregnancies, pay
attention to his position. If your baby is in posterior position, use acupressure to
help him to move into the right position.
Traditionally, posterior babies have been helped to turn by stimulating the

Reaching Inside point with heat, in a procedure called ‘moxibustion’. Good
results, however, have also been achieved by simply placing pressure on the
point. The stimulation of the Reaching Inside point can be safely started weeks
before the due date.
Reaching Inside (Zhiyin, BL67)
Location:
The Reaching Inside acupressure point

is on the outside of the little toe, at the
base of the toenail.
28
Treatment:
Locate the point and apply pressure to it

with fingernail or with a small blunt
object, like a ballpoint pen.
Stimulate the Reaching Inside point for

up to 5 minutes, several times a day,
until the baby has turned.
Turning a posterior baby during labor
Note: Don’t use the Big and High (BL60) and Three Yin Crossing (SP6) points
for turning the baby before the labor starts, or before your pregnancy is well
beyond full term!
If the baby is in posterior position when the labor starts, the baby can be helped
to turn using the Big and High and Three Yin Crossing points together, in addition
to the Reaching Inside point.
First, treat the Big and High (BL60) point in the mother’s ankles and then the
Three Yin Crossing (SP6) point in her lower legs. As well as being effective in
turning the posterior baby, treating the Big and High and Three Yin Crossing
points will reduce the back pain commonly caused by the posterior position of the
baby.
Location:
The Big and High acupressure point is
on the back of the outer ankle, in the
depression between the ankle bone
and the Achilles tendon.
29
Treatment:
The positions which give the baby

space to turn are where the mother is
on all fours or kneeling against a bed or
a chair. The points can also be treated
when the mother is lying on her side.
In order to help the baby to turn, press

the Big and High points on both ankles
firmly, for up to 2 minutes.
Alternatively, you can massage the points deeply with small rotating movements.
After treating the Big and High points, treat the Three Yin Crossing points.
Location:
The Three Yin Crossing point is on the inner side of the

lower leg, four of the mother’s finger-widths above the
anklebone. The acupressure point is next to the back of
the shinbone.
The Three Yin Crossing points are usually very sore, so

the tenderness of the point confirms that you are
Treatment:
Grip the mother’s lower legs when she is on

all fours or kneeling against a bed or a chair.
Press the points firmly with your thumbs for

up to 2 minutes. Remind the mother to
breathe deeply during the treatment. You can
repeat the procedure in 30 minutes’ time.
30
Pain relief during labor

Acupressure gives immediate relief from labor pains. The best results are
achieved when acupressure is used from early on in the labor. This gives the
body plenty of time to build-up endorphins and natural pain-relieving chemicals.
So, as soon as labor begins, start experimenting with the various points to work
out what feels good. And, because all you need is a pair of helping hands,
acupressure can be applied wherever you are – it’s very flexible.
Acupressure is so effective that the contractions may feel like they have
diminished but it is just that your body is coping better with the sensation.
Acupressure never works against your body, so it would never inhibit labor in a
birthing woman.
The seven acupressure points demonstrated in this guide have been found to be
the most effective ones in relieving labor pains. However, different acupressure
points might give more effective pain relief in different stages of labor. In addition
to this, these points may vary from one birthing mother to another. You may only
want to have one of the points stimulated, while someone else utilizes them all
during her labor.
Trying the different points during labor and finding whichever one is most
effective at a particular stage and then switching to another as the labor
proceeds, usually gives the most effective pain relief.
Acupoints for labor pain relief:

Handpoints
Circling Jump (Huantiao, GB30)
Bubbling Spring (Yongquan, K1)
31
The large bony area near the tailbone, called the sacrum, contains as many as
four pairs of important acupressure points that are helpful in labor. One of these
four Liao points, called the Ciliao, is one of the most commonly used acupressure
points during labor. Stimulation of the Ciliao point effectively suppresses the pain
that is caused by contractions.
Location:
The sacral points are all on the base of the spine,

on the large bony area on both sides of the lumbar
spine.
The Ciliao points lie midway between the dimples

above the buttocks and the spine. If the dimples
are not visible, measure one length of the mother’s
index finger above the top of the buttock crease,
along the spine.
The Ciliao points are one thumb’s width from this

spot, on both sides of the spine. If the mother is
relatively slim, you can feel a small depression in
the sacral bone where the Ciliao point is located.
Treatment:
The sacral points, including Ciliao, can be treated when the mother is on her
knees leaning against a birthing ball, bed or the wall of the birthing pool. Other
possible positions are when she is leaning against a wall or lying on her side on a
bed.
The easiest way to treat all the Liao points on the sacral area is to rub the area
briskly with your knuckles. Rub vigorously enough to stimulate these acupressure
points.
If you want to be more accurate, locate

the Ciliao points on both sides of the
spine and press them firmly with your
thumbs.
32
When you are pressing on the right spot, the mother

feels sensations of warmth, numbness, tingling or
buzzing in that area. If she feels sharp pain, you are
pressing on the sacral bone instead of the
acupressure point.
When the birthing mother tells you that the contraction
is beginning, press the Ciliao points firmly. Listen to
the mother regarding whether or not she wants you to
add to the pressure during the contraction. After the
contraction subsides, usually in 60 seconds’ time,
either decrease or totally release the pressure.
As the labor proceeds, the other Liao points below the

Ciliao usually become more effective. You’ll find the
next Liao point by moving down the spine one thumb’s width from the Ciliao point
and slightly closer to the spine. If the birthing mother tells you that the Ciliao point
doesn’t feel efficient, try the next Liao points by moving one thumb’s width down
at a time.
The Bubbling Spring point alone can be very useful during labor for pain relief.
This point also relaxes the perineum, which eases the birth of the baby and might
help to avoid tears and episiotomy. What’s more, stimulating the Bubbling Spring
point can have a powerful calming effect.
Location:
The Bubbling Spring point is located in the center of the sole of the foot, a third of
the way down from the toes. The point can be easily located when the toes are
pulled towards the sole, as the point lies in the depression that is then formed.
33
Treatment:
Press the points firmly inwards and

towards the big toe with your knuckles
for a few seconds and then release the
pressure. Repeat this eight to twelve
deeply throughout the treatment.
The Bubbling Spring points can be treated with

sea sickness wristbands as well. You can buy
these bands from a chemist’s.
Instead of wearing the band on your arm, put it on

your foot (in the appropriate position, as
demonstrated) and walk around. The plastic
button on the band will stimulate the acupoint as
you walk.
Big and High (Kunlun, BL60) and the Big Stream (Taixi, K3)
The Big and High and the Big Stream acupressure points are effective in giving
pain relief, especially for pain in the lower back and hip area, and in activating
blood circulation. Treating them both can assist with a difficult labor.
Massaging these two acupressure points simultaneously maximizes the effect of

the treatment. Double treatment is easy, because both points are located in the
ankle: the Big and High point is on the outer side of the ankle, while the Big
Stream acupressure point is opposite it, on the inner side of the ankle.
34
Location:
The Big and High acupoint is behind the

prominent ankle bone in the depression
on the outer side of the ankle.
The Big Stream point is in the hollow

between the tip of your ankle bone and
the Achilles tendon, on the inner side of
the ankle.
Treatment:
Locate these ankle points while the

birthing mother is kneeling against a
bed, birthing ball or the wall of a birthing
pool.
Massage the acupoints with a firm

rotating movement using your thumb
and fingertips, for 1 minute on both
ankles.
Treating the Shoulder Well points has a pain-relieving effect, although it’s useful
in descending the baby and stimulating the womb contractions as well.
Location:
The Shoulder Well points are on the thick roll of

muscle on top of both shoulders.
You will find the point midway between the outer

tip of the shoulder and the base of the neck.
35
Treatment:
You can use your fingers, thumbs, or

knuckles to treat these points.
Remember to support your index finger

by crossing the middle finger on top of it
or using your thumb with your index
finger. Apply firm downward pressure
on the mother’s Shoulder Well
acupoints while she is kneeling against
a bed or a birthing ball.
Press firmly until the contraction subsides or use a press-release technique.

Remind the mother to breathe deeply and keep her shoulder muscles relaxed all
the time you are treating the Shoulder Well points.
The Adjoining Valley acupressure point is one of the most effective in sedating
pain. In addition, the Adjoining Valley point is also useful in getting the womb to
contract and in strengthening the contractions during labor when necessary.
Location:
The Adjoining Valley acupressure point

is in the webbing between the thumb
and index finger.
The easiest way to locate this powerful

point is to bring the thumb and index
finger close together, so that a fleshy
mound pops up next to the thumb.
The Adjoining Valley acupressure point is on the highest spot, in the middle of
the mound. Squeeze in the center of the mound with the tip of your thumb. The
soreness of the point confirms that you are working on the right spot.
36
Treatment:
Press the Adjoining Valley acupressure

point firmly with the tip of your thumb,
towards the bone of the index finger.
Hold the pressure for around 1 minute

and then repeat the treatment on the
other hand. Tell the mother to breathe
deeply while you press the points.
Hand Points
Stimulating the hand points for pain relief is incredibly easy and the birthing
mother can do it without a supporting partner. In contrast to the other
acupressure techniques, you need a tool for this one - two ordinary combs (small
enough to hold in your hands) - in order to stimulate the hand points.
Location:
The hand points are along the hand’s crease

where the fingers join the palm. Hold a comb
in both hands so that the comb’s teeth touch
the crease.
Treatment:
Grip the combs when the contraction begins

and hold them with whatever strength feels
best for you. Relieve the pressure as the
contraction subsides.
37
The Three Yin Crossing point is helpful in producing a pleasant “anaesthetizing”

effect on the contraction pains.
Location:
The Three Yin Crossing point is on the inner side of the

lower leg, four of the mother’s finger-widths above the
anklebone. The acupressure point is next to the back of
the shinbone.
The Three Yin Crossing points are usually very sore, so

the tenderness of the points confirms that you are
Treatment:
Grip the mother’s lower legs when

she is on her knees, leaning against
a birthing ball or a bed.
When the birthing mother tells you

that the contraction is beginning,
press the Three Yin Crossing points
firmly.
Listen to the mother regarding

whether or not she wants you to add
to the pressure during the
contraction.
Remind the mother to breathe deeply during the contraction. After the contraction
subsides, usually in 60 seconds’ time, either decrease or totally release the
pressure.
38
Circling Jump (Huantiao, GB 30)
The Circling Jump point on the buttock can be used when the mother enters
transition phase in labor. It’s beneficial to combine the use of strong downward
massage of the Liao points on the sacral area with the stimulation of the Circling
Jump points.
Location:
The point is located in the center of each buttock, about

a third of the distance between the hip bone and the
tailbone and at the same level as the most prominent
part of the upper thigh bone.
Treatment:
Place your hands on the mother’s hips while she is kneeling against a birthing
ball or bed. Press the Circling Jump points on each buttock with your knuckles or
fists when the contraction begins. The Circling Jump point is hidden under the
overlying muscle and fat padding, so, depending on the thickness of the covering
tissues, you might have to press this point quite hard.
You can help the mother to make rotating movements during the contraction
while pressing these points, if she finds the movement helpful.
39
Anxiety and nervousness

The more relaxed the birthing mother is the better the experience will be for her.
The Bubbling Spring point (K1) on the sole of the foot seems to be particularly
useful for inducing calm. The acupressure point called the Inner Gate (P6) on the
wrist can also alleviate symptoms of stress, particularly nausea and palpitations.
The only acupressure point located on the sole of the foot is the Bubbling Spring
point. It has a powerful relaxing and calming effect, and can be used at any time
during your labor – or before it - when you might feel anxious or nervous.
Location:
The Bubbling Spring point is located in the center of the sole of the foot, a third of
the way down from the toes. The point can be easily located when the toes are
pulled towards the sole, as the point lies in the depression that is then formed.
Treatment:
Press the points firmly inwards and

towards the big toe with your knuckles
for few seconds and then release the
pressure. Repeat this eight to twelve
deeply throughout the treatment.
40
The Bubbling Spring points can be treated with

sea sickness wristbands as well. You can buy
these bands from a chemist’s.
Instead of wearing the band on your arm, put it on

your foot (in the appropriate position, as
demonstrated) and walk around. The plastic
button on the band will stimulate the acupoint as
you walk.
Inner Gate (Neiguan, P6)
The Inner Gate point on the wrist gives relief from feelings of stress and
nervousness, especially when the heart is pumping too fast. This point is also
very efficient in alleviating nausea as a symptom of stress, as well as
palpitations.
Location:
The Inner Gate point is on the inside of

the wrist, three finger-widths below the
wrist line, in the hollow between the two
bones of the forearm.
41
Treatment:
Measure three finger-widths, equal to the

mother’s fingers, from her wrist line and place
your thumb between the bones.
Locate the slightly sore point in the middle of the

tendons and press the point firmly as the mother
breathes out slowly.
Release the pressure when she inhales. Repeat

this eight to twelve times on each wrist.
Another option is to place pressure on the Inner

Gate point and hold it for up to 2 minutes.
Relaxation
Tension works against labor. The neck is an area of the body where tension
easily accumulates, causing discomfort- a literal “pain in the neck”. The following
acupoints relieve tension and thus help the labor to proceed smoothly.
Wind Pond (Fengchi, GB20)
Acupressure can be remarkably beneficial in releasing tension in the neck area,

whatever the initial cause is. A pair of acupressure points called the Wind Pond
points are very effective in treating all kinds of neck tensions.
Location:
These acupressure points are located in the

hollows between the two large upright neck
muscles, at three finger-widths’ distance from the
earlobes. You can find the Wind Pond points in
these depressions, at the edge of the skull.
42
Treatment:
Use your thumb and middle finger to

treat these acupressure points.
Avoid applying too much pressure,

because the Wind Pond points are
against the bone and respond well to
light pressure.
Tell the mother to breathe deeply

and calmly while you massage these
points for up to 2 minutes with a
gentle rotating movement.
Heavenly Pillar (Tianzhu, BL10)
Tension shortens the neck muscles and tense neck muscles diminish energy
levels, thus causing fatigue. Massaging the important Heavenly Pillar
acupressure points in the neck will relieve any stiffness and help release the
body’s energy resources.
Location:
There is a thick, ropy muscle on both

sides of the neck. The Heavenly Pillar
points are in the middle of these neck
muscles, about three finger-widths below
the base of the skull.
43
Treatment:
Ask the mother to bend her head backwards

slightly, so that her neck muscles are relaxed.
Massage the Heavenly Pillar points with your

thumb and fingertips using a small rotating
movement.
Because these acupoints are in the middle of

muscle tissue, use firm pressure in order to
stimulate them effectively.
One Hundred Meeting Point (Baihai, GV20)
Massaging the One Hundred Meeting point is great for the mother when she is
relaxing in the birthing pool or resting. This acupoint is wonderful for inspiring
relaxation and in encouraging the body to recover, thus restoring its energy,
during the labor.
Location:
The One Hundred Meeting point is on the top of

the head. Locate the point by following an
imaginary line from the highest point of the ears
upwards and slightly backwards until these lines
meet on the top of the head in a swallow hollow.
44
Treatment:
Massage the point with small circular movements

for up to 2 minutes. If the mother is sitting,
support her head throughout the treatment.
Nausea and vomiting

Inner Gate (Neiguan, P6)
The Inner Gate point is amazingly helpful for the feelings of nausea and vomiting
which sometimes occur during labor. This technique works by blocking the
signals that trigger the nausea response.
Location:
The Inner Gate point is on the inside of

the wrist, three finger-widths below the
wrist line, on the hollow between the
two bones of the forearm.
45
Treatment:
Measure three finger-widths, equal to the

mother’s fingers, from her wrist line and place
your thumb between the bones.
Locate the slightly sore point in the middle of the

tendons and press the point firmly as the mother
breathes out slowly.
Release the pressure when she inhales. Repeat

this eight to twelve times on each wrist.
Another option is to place pressure on the Inner

Gate point and hold it for up to 2 minutes.
The feelings of nausea usually stop in 5 to 10 minutes. If necessary, you can

repeat the treatment.
For some types of nausea the Bigger Rushing point is the most effective one. Try
treating this point alone or in combination with the Inner Gate (P6) point for relief
from nausea and vomiting.
Location:
The Bigger Rushing point is two finger-widths up from

the web between the big toe and the second toe.
46
Treatment:
Apply firm pressure on the Bigger Rushing points

with your thumbs or knuckles. Make a small rubbing
movement towards the bone for around a minute to
stimulate the point.
Big Stream (Taixi, K3) and Big and High (Kunlun, BL60)
In addition to giving relief from nausea, the Big Stream point is effective in
relieving lower back pain especially when treated together with the Big and High
point. The Big Stream acupressure point is opposite the Big and High point on
the inner side of your ankle. Massaging these two acupressure points
simultaneously maximizes the effectiveness of the treatment.
Location:
The Big and High acupoint is behind the

prominent ankle bone in the depression on
the outer side of the ankle.
The Big Stream point is in this hollow

between the tip of your ankle bone and the
Achilles tendon on the inner side on the
ankle.
Treatment:
Massage the acupoints, using a firm rotating

movement, with your thumb and fingertips for
1 minute in any position that the birthing
mother feels comfortable in and that enables
you to reach the points easily.
You can either treat the Big Stream and the
Big and High points on both ankles at the
same time or focus on one ankle and then
the other.
47
Make better progress with labor
Strengthen contractions
In cases where the labor is not progressing, even though the baby is in the right
position and has descended well into the pelvis, using a combination of the
Adjoining Valley (LI4) and the Three Yin Crossing (SP6) points helps make the
contractions stronger and more frequent.
Treat the Adjoining Valley point on one hand, while at the same time stimulating
the Three Yin Crossing point on the opposite leg for several minutes. If
simultaneous treatment is not possible, focus on the Adjoining Valley point first,
followed by the Three Yin Crossing point.
If necessary, repeat the treatment after 10 minutes for the other Adjoining Valley
- Three Yin Crossing point combination.
The Adjoining Valley acupressure point is in the webbing between the thumb and
index finger, in middle of the fleshy mound that is formed when the thumb is
brought next to the index finger. Squeeze in the center of the mound with the tip
of your thumb. The soreness of the point confirms that you are working on the
right spot.
Press the Adjoining Valley acupressure point firmly with the tip of your thumb
towards the bone of the index finger. Tell the mother to breathe deeply while you
press the points.
The Three Yin Crossing point is on the inner side of the lower leg, four of the
mother’s finger-widths above the anklebone. The acupressure point is next to the
back of the shinbone. The Three Yin Crossing points are usually very sore, so
the tenderness of the points confirms that you are working on the right spot.
48
Press the Three Yin Crossing points firmly inwards and towards the shinbone
Listen to the mother regarding whether or not she wants you to add to the
pressure. Remind the mother to breathe deeply during the treatment.
Dilate better
If it happens that the birthing mother feels the urge to push, but the cervix is not
yet fully dilated, the combination of the Three Yin Crossing point (SP6) and the
Ciliao point (BL32) can solve the problem (especially when the cervix has formed
a swollen “lip”, making it difficult to achieve a full dilation.)
Stimulate the Ciliao points in the lower back using the knuckles and applying firm
pressure, for up to 10 minutes, while at the same time treating the Three Yin
Crossing points in the lower legs. If simultaneous treatment is not possible, treat
the Ciliao points first, followed by the Three Yin Crossing points.
Ciliao Point (BL32)
The Ciliao points lie midway between the dimples above the buttocks and the
spine. If the dimples are not visible, measure one of the mother’s index finger
lengths (appr. 2.6” or 7 cm) above the top of the buttock crease. The Ciliao points
are one thumb’s width on both sides of this spot. If the mother is relatively slim,
you can feel a small depression in the sacral bone where the Ciliao point is
located.
Press firmly with your knuckles. When you are pressing on the right spots, the
mother feels sensations of warmth, numbness, tingling or buzzing in that area. If
she feels sharp pain, you are pressing on the sacral bone instead of the
acupressure point.
49

The Three Yin Crossing point is on the inner side of the lower leg, four of the
mother’s finger-widths above the anklebone. The acupressure point is next to the
back of the shinbone. The Three Yin Crossing points are usually very sore, so
the tenderness of the points confirms that you are working on the right spot.
Press the Three Yin Crossing points firmly inwards and towards the shinbone.
Remind the mother to breathe deeply during the treatment.
Better progress during the second stage
In cases where the cervix is fully dilated, but it’s difficult to push the baby through
the birth canal use a combination of the Shoulder Well (GB21) and Adjoining
Valley (LI4) points in order to move the baby downwards and strengthen the
contractions.
50
Apply firm pressure to the Shoulder Well points while the Adjoining Valley point
on the hand is treated as well. If possible, stimulate the Adjoining Valley points
and the Shoulder Well points simultaneously, for up to 10 minutes.

The Shoulder Well points are on the thick roll of muscle on top of both shoulders,
midway between the outer tip of the shoulder and the base of the neck.
Press the mother’s Shoulder Well acupoints firmly with your thumbs and
knuckles. Remind the mother to breathe deeply and keep her shoulder muscles
relaxed all the time you are treating the Shoulder Well points.

The Adjoining Valley acupressure point is in the webbing between the thumb and
index finger, in middle of the fleshy mound that is formed when the thumb is
brought next to the index finger. Squeeze in the center of the mound with the tip
of your thumb. The soreness of the point confirms that you are working on the
right spot.
Press the Adjoining Valley acupressure point firmly with the tip of your thumb
towards the bone of the index finger. Tell the mother to breathe deeply while you
press the points.
51
References:
Betts D (1999) Acupressure analgesia for use in labour. Journal of Chinese Medicine 59:
25.
Betts D (2003) Natural pain relief techniques for childbirth using acupressure: promoting
a natural labour and partner involvement, 22 p.
Betts D (2006) Acupressure for non-professionals. Interview by Tervonen V, 50 min.
Betts D (2006) The essential guide to acupuncture in pregnancy & childbirth. Edited by
Peter Deadman & Inga Heese. Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications, Hove, 320 p.
Cardini F & Weixin H (1998) Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation. JAMA
280: 1580-1584.
Chung U et al. (2003) Effects of LI4 and BL67 acupressure on labor pain and uterine
contractions in the first stage of labor. J Nurs Res 11: 251-260.
Ingram J et al. (2005) The effects of shiatsu on post-term pregnancy. Complement Ther
Med 13: 11-15.
Lee M et al. (2004) Effects of SP6 acupressure on labor pain and length of delivery time
in women during labor. J Altern Complement Med 10: 959-965.
Maslow A & Sweeny A (2000) Elective induction of labor as a risk factor for Cesarean
delivery among low-risk women at term. Obstet Gynecol 95: 917 - 922.
Rabl M et al. (2001) Acupuncture for cervical ripening and induction of labour at term – a
randomised controlled trial. Wien Klin Wochenschr 113: 942-946.
Seyb S et al. (1999) Risk of Cesarean delivery with elective induction of labor at term in
nulliparous women. Obstetrics & Gynecology 94: 600-607.
Tempfer C et al. (1998) Influence of acupuncture on duration of labour. Gynecol Obstet

Invest 46:22-25.
Tsuei J et al. (1974) Induction of labor by acupuncture and electrical stimulation.

Obstetrics and Gynecology 43: 337-342.
Waters B & Raisler J (2003) Ice massage for the reduction of labor pain. J Midwifery
Womens Health 48: 317-321.
Yates S. (2006) Shiatsu - an ancient art. Pract Midwife 9: 30.
Zeisler H et al. (1998) Influence of acupuncture on duration of labor. Gynecologic and

Obstetric Investigation 46: 22-25.
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November 2006, Singapore

Remarkable benefits of Labor Acupressure

About Labor Acupressure

hormones, antibodies, interferon, etc. Chinese medicine is founded on the idea

Is it safe for the mother and the baby?

On the contrary, experienced midwives have been amazed at how helpful

High blood pressure and diabetes of the mother

Furthermore, in the case of a woman who is being induced because of high-

VBAC and acupressure

Medical induction, pain medication and acupressure

Acupressure, however, is used to increase the flow of nutritious and oxygen-rich

Stimulation of specific acupressure points has been scientifically shown to induce

When a medical induction is unavoidable, acupressure ripens your cervix and

Pain management during labor is an important issue that should be thought

Thus, in cases where some medical interventions are unavoidable, labor

Acupressure and medical doctors

Appropriate time to induce labor using acupressure

How fast does it work?

Turning the baby:

What if I don’t have any experience in acupressure?

It is possible to stimulate your own acupoints, but it is certainly more satisfying

Please note that the measurement of a

One finger-width is as much as the thickness

Stimulation of labor-inducing acupoints is felt as a contraction, especially when

points doesn’t necessarily cause strong immediate sensations. However, this

How much pressure should be applied?

Applying acupressure: the technique

In addition to this, it’s important to save your

When you are using fingertips, always back up the

Some acupressure points can be treated using the

Pressure applying techniques

The pressure-release procedure

The specific points for induction and pain relief

Medical induction commonly results in several other medical interventions and up

Acupressure points for inducing labor:

Shoulder Well (Jianjing, GB21)

Shoulder Well (Jianjing, GB21)

The Shoulder Well points are on the thick roll of

You will find the point midway between the outer

The Shoulder Well points are tender in most

You can use your fingers, thumbs,

Locate the points on both

Press firmly for a few seconds.

To treat the Shoulder Well acupoints, sit down

Locate the point and press firmly for a few

Another technique for treating the Shoulder Well

Squeeze the Shoulder Well point gently while you

Liao Point (Ciliao, BL32)

The sacral points are all on the base of the

The Ciliao points lie midway between the

The Ciliao points are one thumb’s width from

If you want to be more accurate,

When you are pressing on the

sensations of warmth, numbness, tingling or buzzing in that area. If she feels

The easiest self-treatment method for stimulating

Other option to treat these points is to rub the

Big and High (Kunlun, B60)

There is one Big and High acupressure