| Pregnancy Acupressure has been in use for | | | | begin pushing gently inward and upward, rolling |
| centuries. It allows you to begin labor at home, | | | | your thumb toward the big toe. Reflexology and |
| safely and naturally, easing yourself into the | | | | pregnancy go hand in hand, and this massage will |
| contractions and dilation that will result in the birth | | | | have the effect of soothing and calming your |
| of your baby. But the time you get to the | | | | partner. With the right pressure, and the right |
| hospital, your labor will already be half over. This | | | | direction, you can use this technique well into |
| leads to shorter delivery times, and an much | | | | childbirth to relax and keep your partner free |
| easier birthing process. Maternity acupressure | | | | from excess anxiety. It also makes a great |
| techniques also help increase blood flow, eliminate | | | | technique to use months and years afterward, |
| pain, and reduce stress on the mom-to-be, while | | | | any time you or your partner both need to |
| at the same time aiding in contractions, dilation, | | | | relieve stress. |
| and providing extra oxygen to the baby. All of | | | | * Hip (for pain, and to promote contractions) - |
| these benefits to reflexology for pregnancy have | | | | Your partner will need to be on her side for this |
| made it increasingly popular in delivery rooms | | | | one. Find the top of the buttocks crease, then |
| across the world. | | | | move in a perpendicular line toward her hipbone. |
| Massage during labor includes using the body's | | | | When you've gone about two-thirds this distance, |
| various pressure points to stimulate other parts | | | | press gently inwardly and upward toward the |
| of the body. Learning how to do maternity | | | | spine. This acupressure pregnancy point should be |
| acupressure is easy, and requires no prior | | | | immediately felt, and it should feel pretty good. |
| experience. It consists of gentle pressure applied | | | | Pressing and rolling this point will accomplish both |
| with fingertips, the ball of the thumb, and | | | | pain relief and the inducing/strengthening of |
| sometimes the palm or elbow. These pregnancy | | | | contractions. You can use this to both induce |
| massage therapy techniques are both safe and | | | | labor, and to aid in contractions once the onset of |
| natural, and can be used even after childbirth for | | | | labor has occurred. After childbirth, you can use |
| continued stress and pain-relief benefits. However, | | | | this point at any time to help break up trapped |
| these points should not be used during the | | | | pelvic stress and relax the lower body. |
| developing stages of pregnancy - on a pregnant | | | | * Lower back (to release endorphins for pain) - |
| woman this type of acupressure to induce labor | | | | For this acupressure point, your partner will need |
| should be reserved for helping to start | | | | to be pressing back against a firm object. Find the |
| contractions and for aiding in childbirth only. | | | | halfway point between the spine and the dimples |
| * Hand (to aid with contractions) - Place your own | | | | of your partner's gluteus. Pressing downward with |
| thumb on the meaty web between your partner's | | | | a slight twisting motion, do some probing until you |
| forefinger and thumb. Close your middle two or | | | | find the spot where your partner feels a very |
| three fingers upward to rest in her palm, and | | | | pleasant sensation of relief. This spot works |
| begin gently squeezing, concentrating on applying | | | | wonders for pregnancy pain, and it can also |
| downward pressure with the ball of your thumb. | | | | dissipate pent-up stress in the lower back and |
| This pressure point is important in pregnancy | | | | gluteus muscles. |
| reflexology in that it can be used to aid in | | | | * Shoulder (to stimulate contractions) -Find the |
| strengthening contractions. By timing your | | | | bump at the base of your partner's neck - this is |
| pressure with each contraction you can help the | | | | her C7 vertebrae. Now trace a line to the other |
| baby descend, pushing along with mom to move | | | | bump at the end of her shoulder. Right in |
| the child through the birth canal. | | | | between these two areas is another pressure |
| * Palm (to release endorphins for pain) - Look at | | | | point on the shoulder muscle itself, and applying |
| your partner's hand. In the center of the topmost | | | | pressure to this one can help greatly with uterine |
| crease on the palm, there's an acupressure point | | | | contractions (and it can later be used to stimulate |
| that can be used to force the body to release it's | | | | milk production as well). Stimulate this point during |
| natural painkillers: endorphins. Gentle pressure to | | | | initial stages of labor to help begin and promote |
| this region will produce anesthetizing feelings in the | | | | these contractions. |
| brain, but overly pressing it can cause pain so be | | | | These are the six most popular techniques of |
| careful how much pressure you use. If you have | | | | acupressure during labor, but note that most of |
| trouble finding this spot, tell your partner to close | | | | them can be very useful beyond childbirth. |
| her fingers until the tips of each finger are | | | | Pregnancy massage therapy methodology has |
| touching the palm, almost like a half-fist. The place | | | | been proven to have radical benefits in the |
| right below where her fingers are touching is | | | | delivery room and beyond. Massage during labor |
| where you want to apply pressure. | | | | itself can dramatically decrease the chances of |
| * Foot (to release tension and relax the body) - | | | | unwanted medical intervention or C-section during |
| Beneath the ball of the foot is a depression just | | | | the birthing process. Learn these techniques for a |
| as the arch of the foot begins. By placing your | | | | safer, faster delivery... and then use them on each |
| thumb here and wrapping your fingers around the | | | | other in the years to come to relieve stress, pain, |
| top of the foot for counter pressure, you can | | | | and pent-up tension in the body. |