 Labour is an extraordinary time. In the very real sense of this word, it is extra ordinary, like no other experience in a woman's life. Every woman wants this to be a special experience and every woman hopes that she will be able to accomplish this enormous task.
The first labour is especially important to a woman, as it is her first step out of her womanhood and into her motherhood. Subsequent labours are also special, but it is the first one that tests a woman's fortitude, stepping into the unknown. Acupuncture attendance in labour brings an extra level of support, helping women to feel more confident about their ability to labour well.
The training that Jani has received through her work with the Acupuncture Childbirth Team Oxfordshire has given her a wide range of experience of many different birth settings, and an excellent understanding of obstetric procedures and protocols. Her training has prepared her to act as an adjunct to the midwifery and/or consultant care, adding the acupuncture where appropriate and enhancing the potential for a natural labour.
Bringing acupuncture to a labour can offer an alternative to some of the interventions that may be suggested, and can often create time and space for the labour to progress of its own natural accord.
In circumstances where an intervention is appropriate many parents find they appreciate the extra support of the acupuncture to smooth the experience in a way that results in a good labour. Acupuncture attendance can provide an excellent continuity of care as parents may experience several shift changes during a labour.
Acupuncture in Labour can help with:
- augmenting contractions (promoting stronger more frequent contractions)
- for pain relief, increasing endorphin release to help calm anxiety or fears, promoting the mother’s ability to labour well
- smoothing the transition between the 1st and 2nd stage of labour
- for stamina and energy during a long labour
- to help reduce shock in a fast labour
- to help arrest bleeding in haemorrhage, to prevent excessive blood loss
- to promote delivery of a retained placenta
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