What is Acupressure?
Acupressure is a method that uses applied pressure from fingers and thumbs to stimulate different nerves in the body. By applying pressure to different skin and joint points on the body, acupressure is an all-natural method to helping relieve pain and induce labor contractions. Acupressure has been used for thousands of years, and has been a proven method to helping women induce labor if they are past their due date, or to help progress slow-moving labor.
In general, acupressure has rather quick reaction times on the body, usually in a matter of minutes. However using acupressure to help labor will take anywhere from an hour to a day.
How Acupressure Can Help Induce Labor
By applying pressure to various points on the body, a woman can actually help induce her own labor, or help progress slow-moving labor. There are three points that are believed to be the best in helping a woman with labor - "Adjoining Valley," "Shoulder Well" and "Big and High." The Adjoining Valley is the spot located in the area between the thumb and forefinger. In the webbing area in this spot, it will feel very tender when you press down. The Shoulder Well can be found by using four fingers to measure from the joint of your shoulder, moving in towards your neck. Apply pressure to the spot where the shoulder muscle is at its highest point. The Big and High point is located directly above the back of your heel between the Achilles' Tendon and your ankle bone. This area is very tender, but is also very effective in helping induce labor.
How Long Will it Take to Work?
In general, you should expect to feel a response from acupressure in anywhere from an hour to a day after first utilizing acupressure. Since the effects vary from person to person, you may have a stronger reaction when you use it. However, repeating acupressure techniques regularly will help speed up the process of labor in the designated spots. In addition, using acupressure during labor can help with pain management.
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