Practical tools for birth, for you and your birth partner.
Preparing for birth is about more than packing your hospital bag. It's also about feeling informed, supported and equipped with simple tools to help you navigate labour.
Acupressure is a gentle, hands-on technique drawn from Traditional Chinese Medicine. It involves applying pressure to specific points on the body to encourage relaxation, ease discomfort and support wellbeing.
Our Birth & Labour Acupressure Preparation Session is a practical, hands-on appointment designed to teach you and your birth partner techniques that can be used in the final weeks of pregnancy and throughout labour.
Whether you're planning a vaginal birth, VBAC, or simply exploring additional comfort measures for labour, this session can be tailored to your individual circumstances and birth preferences.
How can acupressure support labour?
Acupressure has traditionally been used during pregnancy and childbirth to support the body's natural processes.
During labour, it may offer a useful way to:
Encourage relaxation and help manage feelings of anxiety or overwhelm.
Provide comfort during contractions.
Ease tension and discomfort through the lower back, hips and sacrum.
Support breathing, grounding and a sense of calm.
Give birth partners practical ways to provide physical and emotional support.
Acupressure can be used alongside other labour comfort measures, including movement, breathing techniques, massage, water immersion and medical pain relief.
Research into acupressure for labour pain and birth outcomes is still developing. While some women find it helpful, it cannot guarantee pain relief, spontaneous labour or a particular birth outcome.
Bringing your birth partner
Your birth partner is warmly encouraged to attend!
One of the most valuable parts of this session is helping your birth partner feel confident and involved in supporting you during labour.
Whether your support person is your partner, a family member, friend or doula, we'll work together to practise the techniques so they feel comfortable applying them when the time comes.
You'll learn how to locate the points, how much pressure to apply, when different techniques may be useful, and how to adapt them to your comfort and preferences.
What happens during the session?
This is a dedicated 60-minute educational appointment, allowing plenty of time for demonstration, practice and questions.
Together, we'll cover:
Acupressure point locations: Commonly used points for birth preparation, relaxation and labour comfort.
Hands-on demonstrations: How to apply pressure safely and comfortably.
Labour positions: Ways to use acupressure while standing, leaning forward, kneeling, side-lying or resting.
Birth partner practice: Guided opportunities for your support person to practise the techniques.
When to use acupressure: Understanding the difference between techniques used in late pregnancy and those reserved for labour.
Take-home guidance: Simple instructions and reference material to help you feel confident practising at home.
No previous experience with acupuncture or Chinese medicine is necessary.
When should I book?
We generally recommend booking your session at around 35–36 weeks of pregnancy.
This allows time for you and your birth partner to learn and become familiar with the techniques before labour begins.
Some acupressure points are traditionally used to encourage uterine activity, so these should only be introduced at the appropriate stage of pregnancy and in consultation with your maternity care team.
If you have a planned induction, previous caesarean birth, pregnancy complications or specific birth considerations, please let us know so we can tailor the session appropriately.
Do I need to be receiving acupuncture?
Not at all!
This is a standalone educational session, and you do not need to be an existing patient or receive regular acupuncture treatments to attend.
There are no acupuncture needles used during this appointment. The focus is entirely on learning practical acupressure techniques that you and your birth partner can use together.
Feeling prepared, supported and connected
Labour is an individual experience, and there is no single right way to move through it.
Our hope is that you leave feeling a little more prepared, with a collection of practical tools, a greater understanding of how acupressure may support you, and a birth partner who feels confident in offering hands-on comfort and care.
Ready to prepare together?
Book your Birth & Labour Acupressure Preparation Session, or get in touch if you have any questions about whether this appointment is suitable for you.
Session duration: 60 minutes
Birth partner: Encouraged to attend
Recommended timing: From approximately 35–36 weeks
Previous acupuncture experience: Not required
Acupressure is complementary care and does not replace the advice or care provided by your midwife, obstetrician or maternity team.