Preparing for Labour

Preparing for labour is a process that begins long before a woman reaches full term. I support women in this process throughout their pregnancy in how they take care of themselves physically, mentally and emotionally. Preparing for labour is a complex interplay between the physiological processes taking place within the body, mind and heart of the woman. All three of these things need to be tended before labour can commence, and aligned so that when labour begins, it progresses.

 Regular Acupuncture Support

I encourage women to have regular acupuncture throughout their pregnancy, and in the absence of any presenting concern. Regular acupuncture supports and maintains her health, and the health of the pregnancy. The strength of acupuncture is that, if received throughout pregnancy, helps supplement, regulate and harmonize the processes that are taking place so that a woman can come into right relationship in her body, thinking mind and feeling heart. The processes then unfold smoothly and unimpeded, which helps to foster the conditions that are necessary for labour to eventually start and progress naturally. 

Many of the women I see pre-book their appointments so that their treatments coincide with visits to their midwife or obstetrician, often the same day or within the same week. I encourage women to alternate their other treatments, such as massage and chiropractic, with acupuncture. This helps the body and mind to maximize the benefits of each treatment and integrate them more fully.

Women who have made their treatments a regular part of their healthcare routine during pregnancy have commented to me on how supported and empowered they feel knowing they are doing everything they need to have a good pregnancy and labour. Women I have seen through their first pregnancy often return to their supportive birth team when I see them for their second and third child.

Chinese Medicine and Labour

In Chinese Medicine, the effectiveness of acupuncture is based on its capacity to regulate and balance the network of energetic pathways, called meridians, which connect the surface of the body to the internal organs and processes. It regulates the flow of Qi (pronounced “chi”), blood and fluids. In a healthy person, Qi, blood and fluids are abundant and flow smoothly through the meridians. When the flow is improper, obstructed or weak, physiological functions and processes can become impaired impacting the body, mind and spirit.

Opening of the Baby Gate

Labour and delivery are not only physical processes, but also energetic processes. In Chinese Medicine, labour starts when the uterus, which has been passive during pregnancy, becomes active. We say that the Yang chases away the excess Yin, the Qi pushes the blood, and the door of the uterus opens. Qi must flow up and down smoothly. This ability of Qi to move up and down is key to activating and maintaining labour, and creating the conditions that baby needs in order to descend, and for labour to progress naturally.

If this mechanism is impaired, everything slows down and can stop. It is said that the opening and closing of the Baby Gate (the cervix) is governed by Qi and blood. When the blood is abundant, but the qi is debilitated, the baby can descend, but the gate does not open. When the Qi is abundant, but the blood is debilitated, the door can open, but the baby will not descend. It is the Qi that opens the door, and it is the blood that turns the baby. To have an easy delivery, Qi and blood must both be abundant and strong, and flowing correctly.

Emotions and Labour 

When the Qi is abundant and flowing appropriately, the mind is calm, and anxiety and fear are reduced. Emotions like fear make the spirit timid and timidity in turn makes the Qi descend and impairs its ability to ascend. The descending and ascending of Qi in tandem activate labour and to help baby descend. If fear arises, it can prevent labour from starting and continuing. It is so important to cultivate and maintain abundant Qi and blood during the pregnancy and ensure its smooth and easy flow so that not only the physical processes of the body are carried out, but also the mind and spirit are clear and calm. 

Labour Preparation from Week 36

Having acupuncture in the last month, beginning at Week 36, supports the ripening of the cervix, and the relaxing and softening of the pelvic ligaments and tendons so that the Baby Gate opens more easily, allowing baby greater ease of passage. Acupuncture regulates and strengthens the abundance and flow of Qi so that a woman has stamina to labour, and the internal conditions are optimal for baby to remain in a good position to turn and descend. Acupuncture also helps to keep her mind clear and her emotions calm.

Feeling Supported, Safe and Confident to Labour

In conversations I have with women throughout their pregnancy, we engage how they see themselves changing, their concerns and fears about labouring and becoming a mother, and what they know about and envision for their labour. I encourage them to learn as much as they can and need to about the process and the options available. This helps them to become more self aware and to work out for themselves what they need to have and do to feel supported, safe and confident to labour.

Many women do not initially realize that they have choices and a voice to advocate for themselves with their primary care providers. I encourage women to have conversations early on with their doctors and midwives about labour strategies. Over my years of practice, I’ve treated an increasing number of women whose doctor or midwife has told them to have acupuncture to see if it will get labour going before considering a medical induction.

Creating the conditions in which a woman feels safe, supported and empowered throughout her pregnancy go a long way to creating and sustaining the conditions in her body, mind and spirit necessary for the dance of mother and baby to unfold and continue naturally in labour.

This post is adapted from an article I wrote in Spring 2016 for Birth Issues, the magazine published by the Association for Safe Alternatives in Childbirth (ASAC). You can read the full article here beginning on page 56.