Bizarrely enough, in 1989 a patent for a device that mechanically stimulated the nipples of a pregnant woman was filled. Not my idea of fun, but if you’re anything like me, after 38 weeks pregnancy you’d give anything a go!

The science goes something like this.

Labor is stimulated naturally through the release of labor-inducing hormones in your body. These hormones are released into your blood supply and when they reach certain level, contractions will increase in rate and lead to a natural birth.

Nipple stimulation is believed to resemble breast feeding and trigger the release of oxytocin, one of the labor inducing hormones that occurs naturally.

This has been studied for years and an article in January 2011 monitored foetal heart rate, uterine activity and oxytocin levels in healthy full-term pregnant women who were in weeks 38 to 39 of pregnancy.

We need a little more information than that!

Midwives and some midwifery society have prescribed nipple stimulation because of the increase in oxytocin but medical folk will admit it’s somewhat aggressive compared with say acupressure to induce labor.

How to Induce Labor Using Nipple Stimulation

Step 1: Warm your nipples up using a damp cloth or gauze
Step 2: Gently massage your nipples using either the cloth of your fingers.
Step 3: Roll your nipples between your finger and thumb for several minutes
Step 4: Rest and repeat

The medical trials are typically very standardised, say stimulation of your nipples for one hour per day for three days consecutive days.

The key is to listen to your body. Sure you’d like to see your baby sooner but look after and listen to your body. Stop if you start to feel discomfort and be careful not to apply too much pressure.

Experiment with two to three minutes of nipple stimulation and then rest them for two to three minutes more before starting again.

The biggest downside (and something that pushed me towards acupressure) is how stimulation can lead to nipple irritation and discomfort. You might also experience some milk secretion during nipple stimulation.

This is something you might want to consider if you’re planning on breast feeding and want to avoid having sore nipples before your newborn arrives.

As you can imagine it’s quite hard to post a video on Nipple Stimulation (another reason you might want to try a different method)!  And of course if you’re worried about sore nipples?  Then click to find out more about Maternity Acupressure 

From spicy foods and castor oil to having sex and bouncing on ball. All they did was make me feel more uncomfortable, frustrated and irritable than before.

My feet were huge, my back was sore and even through everyone said I wasn’t huge… I sure didn’t feel that way. Getting a 4 hours sleep was a luxury and worst of all…

… I was losing my maternity leave. Time that would be better spent with my new born son.

For once my sports mad husband was useful. Picking up regular injuries he’s given up on doctors who tell him to take it easy or rest and resorted to natural remedies and acupuncture – taken from Chinese Medicine.

He gets such good relief he suggested that I give it a try or at least look into it.

So I went along to watch his next session and… didn’t really like the idea of sitting (uncomfortably) infront of another man with a load of needles sticking out of me.

Which is when we discovered and tried acupressure to induce labor at 40 weeks.

It’s similar to acupuncture, the theory is all the same BUT you use pressure applied with finger tips and massage instead of needles.

This was a lot more ‘like me’ as I could have my husband give me a massage and at the same time stimulate key points that would help induce my labor without medical intervention or feeling like a bloated animal anymore.

I could go into the science but it’s best descibed by Dr. Leno Leina right HERE.

The results?

Well right now I’m sitting with my 8 month old baby boy, Leo, who was born 37 hours later after a nice short labor!

Yay!

Chinese medicine – herbalists and acupunturists – have been helped women induce labor naturally for thousands of years using natural methods safe for mother and child.

When you’re post-term (eg. 40 weeks) and fed up with being pregnant, looking forward to meeting your baby and ready to be a mother – acupressure is well worth investigating.

You may be familiar with acupuncture which involves using needles to stimulate points around the body. Acupressure works on a similar principle (and the exact same science) to stimulate these same points using nothing other than pressure applied using your hands and fingers tips.

So what pressure points are good for inducing labor naturally?

Here are three of the most popularly stimulated ones.

Spleen 6 to Induce Labor

Spleen 6 can be located on your inside lower leg. Locate your ankle bone (or malleolous) and place three fingers above it – just off your shin bone. This pressure point is particularly sensitive in pregnant women and a great point to stimulate if you want to help inducing labor naturally.

You can press and massage it for up to 10 minutes at a time to help stimulate labor.

Bladder 60 for Inducing Labor Naturally

The bladder 60 pressure point is particularly useful for inducing labor when your baby hasn’t dropped yet. It is one of the more well know acupressure points found between your ankle and achilles tendon.

Include the application of pressure to this point to help your baby decend lower.

Bladder 67 Maternity Acupressure Point

An easily found (and very small point) on your little toe or pinky toe. Stimulating the outside edge of your toe (applying pressure with a painless pinch).

This is very good for mothers-to-be who’ve been feeling stressed and anxious as they approach 40 weeks in addition to helping you baby drop lower.

Final Tips to Help Induce Labor Naturally

Babies are never and should never arrive before your body is ready to give birth… but at the same time when your due day has come (and maybe gone) it’s safe for him or her to make their way into the world.

And if you dont help your own labor trying all naturally means and methods available to you – not only do you slowly lose your precious maternity leave – you run the risk of medical intervention.

Simple tips and investments of your time are well worth it. The feeling of control from applying techniques such as maternity acupressure (which has a lot of evidence supporting it) are all worth while.

Other simple techniques include massaging and rubbing the instep of your foot, creating heat, helping your body to relax and helping to stimulate your naturally birth. This is also very welcome for anyone who’s suffering from water retention during pregnancy (and a nice bit of attention when your feet ache and husband asks if there is anything he can do – now there is)!

To find out more about maternity acupressure and which pressure points induce labor naturally I recommend you check out this website and dowload the report.

A simple guide that does much much more than help you with your birth – it’s knowledge that will stay with you (maybe for future pregnancies), to help friends, family and maybe – one day – with your grandchildren!

Until then – goodluck with your labor, enjoy being a mother and don’t forget to check out these pressures points for inducing labor naturally!

The amazing thing is seeing the ladies reaction as soon as her partner pressures the right maternity acupressure points.

Personally I liked the method so much I’ve decided to add this video to the side of my blog so EVERYONE can get to see it a little easier (before it was hidden away on this little blog post)!

Learn more about inducing labor naturally using ancient Chinese Pressure points right HERE

As much as I loved the feeling of being pregnant with my new born – life was just uncomfortable, I felt fat and just wanted to see the new man in my life (we already knew ‘it’ was a boy).

So I started looking around for ways to induce labor naturally – eating spicy foods and drinking castor oil – to having sex.

None of which have been proven and some had me a little bit worried!

My new husband has always been a fan of ‘the alternative’ and regular uses Chinese Medicine (acupuncture in particular) to treat aches and pains from physical work and sport.

Quite often he books himself an appointment with our local acupuncturist and has had massive success with some very old and painful injuries. And that’s when I discovered a very old, tried and tested method called Maternity Acupressure.

It’s a little similar to reflexology, visiting the chiropractor or having acupuncture… without the needles!

Dotted around the body are points which can be stimulated to help the body heal and relieve natural tension. During an acupuncture session needles are pushed into this points (only a handful at a time) which stimulates the body.

Acupressure works in exactly the same way – but instead of using needles – you apply pressure directly to your body using your finger tips.

To stimulate the acupressure points (to aid inducing labor naturally) you simply press the acupressure point firmly and then rub in a circular motion.

You can tell you’ve found the right point because they are usually very sensitive and once you’ve applied pressure you’ll start to feel the muscle contractions at that point.

Does Maternity Acupressure work?

Well first off you’ll never give birth unless your body is ready to… but within a few days of trying these methods the new guy in my life had arrived!

He may have come anyway – you can never be 100% sure – it was definately worth the extra effort to try and speed things up.

For the sake of a few minutes everyday versus waiting another week or two was a good investment of my time as far as I’m concerned!

Plus it’s a safe method for mother and baby – which can never be said for drinking caster oil or taking various herbs.

The best source of information on finding a safe way to induce labor naturally using acupressure for comes from Dr. Lena Leino – author of Easier, Shorter and Safer Birth.