The London Acupuncturist
  • Home
  • Fertility
  • Pregnancy & Birth
    • Breech Protocol
  • About
    • Locations & Booking
    • Testimonials
  • SHOP & Packages
  • Blog

Word. 

Put your banana in the fruit bowl.  Or how to ripen your cervix and avoid induction.

22/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
In the UK a quarter of women giving birth start their birth experience with a medical induction. 
 
I’m sorry, what was that?  A quarter, like 25%, you mean 1 in 4?  Erm, yep.  Given babies naturally only want to go one way (and no, Yazz, the only way isn’t up) and the very best, most efficient way to deliver most babies is by a woman going into labour spontaneously, the current rate of induction seems more than risk averse, it seems like some sci-fi Handmaid’s Tale kinda shit is going down. 
 
So as you might imagine, it’s no exaggeration to say I get enquiries every week from women looking for ‘induction’ with acupuncture, understandably keen as they are to avoid more intrusive procedures.   
 
So how can acupuncture help?  Well I will say now it’s not a magic bullet.   If a baby isn’t ready to make an appearance then one treatment a day before an induction is booked may not be enough to tip you into labour.   What we are trying to do when we meet women in the later stages of pregnancy is encourage her cervix to ripen.  And like all fruits when they ripen, well, you can imagine…
 
Things that might stop that happening?  Working up to the last minute, fear or anxiety, not feeling ready, home improvements (I can’t tell you the number of couples I know who are expecting a baby and then undertake major home renovation projects, or a house move) – basically anything that messes with your adrenalin and cortisol levels (ie stress) can affect the hormones that help your body transition to the next stage.
 
The very best way to help you avoid induction in my opinion is to support your body in the final weeks of pregnancy time with acupuncture, reflexology, or better still, both.   Pre-birth acupuncture from 38 weeks (see HERE for a dedicated post about this) is a wonderful way to support your body in the final weeks and encourage the ripening process.  It could also help you deal with sleeplessness, anxiety around the birth, or what happens after the birth (yes madam, that’s yours now, yes, you have to take it home and keep it alive), and any other shifts and changes that might be experienced. 
 
Now, please let me be clear, I don’t mind one way or the other if you choose induction.  It’s your right, your decision, your body, your baby and your birth experience.  So you get to choose.   And in some cases, for some women and their babies, it is absolutely the safest option.  For the rest of us, I say try acupuncture in the final weeks of pregnancy.  It’s like putting a banana in the fruit bowl. 
   
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Claire Dabreo

    Passionate about the pins.

    Subscribe to my newsletter here

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    May 2019
    March 2018
    September 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    September 2015
    July 2015
    March 2015
    September 2014
    February 2014
    September 2013
    March 2013
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012

    Categories

    All
    Childbirth

    RSS Feed

Please contact me if you would like to book a free telephone consultation.  You can also follow me on social media via the links below. 

​Sign up for my seasonal newsletter here and receive inspiration through the lens of the Five Elements, ideas for self-care and what to expect energetically from the season. 


Hours

Tues: 3pm-9pm  HOLBORN (PAUSED)
Weds: 2pm-9pm  CRYSTAL PALACE
Friday: 9am-2pm CRYSTAL PALACE
Saturday: 9am-2pm BRIXTON

Telephone

+44 (0) 7958 916722

Email

claire@thelondonacupuncturist.co.uk
Photos used under Creative Commons from twosheffs, yat86, Andrew Gustar, visual_paradox, Holly Norval, Pirate Alice, psd
  • Home
  • Fertility
  • Pregnancy & Birth
    • Breech Protocol
  • About
    • Locations & Booking
    • Testimonials
  • SHOP & Packages
  • Blog