Acupressure and Pains of Pregnancy.

Acupressure, an ancient Oriental massage technique similar to acupuncture, was developed in China more than 2,000 years ago from the Chinese religion Taoism. Taoists believe that chi, life-energy, flows through the body. When the chi is blocked the result is illness or pain.

The points used in acupuncture and acupressure are called gateways--areas where chi flow is closest to the surface of the body. Acupuncture needles, heat, cold, or pressure restores the correct flow, which results in pain or illness relief.

Western scientists believe that the acu-points usually contain a concentrated amount of nerve endings, which helps explain some of its effectiveness. Acupuncture and acupressure also increase the production of endorphins, the body's natural chemicals that relieve pain and tension.

According to the book The Pregnant Woman's Comfort Guide, by Sherry L. M. Jimenez (Avery, 1992), there are specific acupressure points that can relieve the aches and pains of pregnancy. Although pregnant women can do this to themselves, acupressure is more effective when a partner or labor assistant is performing the massage. Acupressurists do not recommend using any oils, lotions, or powders. Both the acupressurist's hands and the skin of the one receiving the massage should be clean and dry.

Here are a few:

Lower back pain/Sciatica:

Women experience more back pain as pregnancy progresses, usually in the lower back or sciatica--sharp pains that shoot from buttocks to thighs to calves. These types of back pains are the result of the increasing weight of the baby and the shifting of the pelvis.

To relieve either, Jimenez recommends stimulating waist points. To locate these points, place your hands on your waist, your thumbs in front, with the rest of your fingers pointing toward the spine. Slide fingers toward the spine until they reach a groove on either side. Apply firm, steady pressure with fingertips or knuckles or by pressing in small circles.

Use this technique during labor to help relieve the pain of back labor.

Nausea/Vomiting:

Stimulating wrist points can be effective against morning sickness. Place the middle three fingers of one hand on the inside of the opposite wrist. The outside edge of the ring finger should just touch the wrist crease at the base of the hand. Directly under your index finger you'll feel two tendons running up and down. Apply steady pressure between the two tendons.

Labor pain:

To induce or strengthen labor, in addition to reducing labor pain, use the ankle point acu-point. Place a hand on the inside of the opposite ankle. Your pinkie should be resting on the upper edge of the ankle bone. The acu-point is under the second joint of your index finger, just behind the shin bone. Use your thumb to firmly press in toward the shin bone.

Labor pain/Breech baby/ Inducing contractions:

Put your thumb on the skin at the base of your smallest toenail, off to the corner where the outer side of the nail meets the skin. Press firmly with the tip of the thumbnail, vibrating the nail back and forth while pressing. If necessary, use the pad of the thumb.

The author reminds us that, with a little practice, acupressure is simple to learn and safe to use. The Western medical community is starting to embrace the practice as a legitimate and effective treatment for many health-related problems. Acupressure should not be used on red or irritated skin, or on the inner thigh (where a small number of women may develop a blood clot).

--American Baby, April 1998

Editor's Note: I recently learned to relieve the pain of contractions using pressure points on the base of the feet. While the laboring woman is sitting or laying, sit at her feet. Cross your arms in front of you and grasp her feet so your palms are across the top of her feet, your knuckles are pointing away, and your fingers are on the bottom of her feet. Apply pressure to the ball of her feet where there is the delineation between her big toe and the rest of her toes. I was fortunate enough to have a receptive client to try this out with the first time and she said it was extremely helpful during her contractions.