/ Health Concerns / Pregnancy Care

Nausea (Morning Sickness)

Chinese Medicine Basics

In Chinese Medicine theory, labor begins when three key factors align: Yang activity replaces Yin growth, Qi flows freely and moves blood, and the "door" of the uterus opens. When Qi flows smoothly and blood circulates well, labor proceeds harmoniously, marked by the onset of contractions, cervical dilation, rupture of the amniotic sac, and the expulsion of the fetus. The following acupuncture points can help promote labor: Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Ciliao (BL32). For detailed acupressure guidelines, please refer to the patient resource section by Dr. Debra Betts.

Acupressure shows potential for reducing labor duration, particularly in the first stage. While evidence suggests acupuncture may aid in labor induction (Mollart 2015 – systematic review of 7 RCTs), acupuncture and acupressure are considered promising for pain management during labor induction.