Nurturing Your Path to Birth

 

As you draw closer to your due date, your body begins its wise and wonderful preparations. We want you to know that you have so many options for gently and naturally encouraging this process.

With the compassionate team at PUSH San Diego, you can expect the dedicated, nurturing care you deserve for a positive and empowered labor and birth experience. We are here to support you, listen to you, and honor your journey.

We invite you to find out more about our natural birth support. You can book a consultation through our website or feel a sense of connection by calling to schedule over the phone with our San Diego-based practice.

 

Your Birth Journey: Q & A

 

How can I prepare for an empowered birth experience?

At PUSH San Diego, we are devoted to helping your birthing experience feel as gentle and supported as possible, for both you and your precious baby. Our team works with your body, using personalized acupuncture treatments to gently invite the onset of labor when your body and baby are ready.

Acupuncture doesn't force; it encourages and harmonizes. We thoughtfully tailor each treatment to your body's unique needs, gently adjusting our approach based on your specific circumstances as your pregnancy progresses.

What are the benefits of acupuncture before labor and birth?

Think of acupuncture as a way of whispering to your body, encouraging it to do what it already knows how to do. This gentle support helps your body release its own natural hormones, like prostaglandins, to help your cervix soften and open, and oxytocin to help you feel calm and relaxed.

Acupuncture has also been shown to:

  • Help maintain healthy blood pressure

  • Reduce the rate of medical interventions

  • Shorten the duration of active labor

  • Help gently turn a malpositioned baby

  • Minimize stress and anxiety, bringing a sense of peace

  • Boost your vital energy

  • Naturally reduce pain

This loving preparation is wonderfully beneficial for a vaginal birth after a Cesarean (VBAC), as it supports the body in softening and opening.

Coming to PUSH San Diego for regular treatments is a deeply relaxing, pain-free experience. It’s a quiet, sacred time for you—a chance to rest, restore, and connect with a team of women’s health experts who are here to answer all your questions as you approach your big day.

When is the best time to begin acupuncture for birth?

We welcome you at any point in your pregnancy journey. Ideally, this is a wonderful time to begin your birth preparation plan between weeks 36-38. We generally recommend gentle, supportive sessions once a week during this time.

Beginning at week 38, you can increase to twice a week to offer your body more encouragement. And if your baby is simply taking a little extra time and you've passed your due date, you are welcome to come in daily or every other day between weeks 40-42. This consistent, gentle support helps your body produce its own hormones, allowing labor to unfold in the most natural and gradual way possible.

How does acupuncture work during labor?

One of our greatest joys is empowering both you and your partner by teaching you loving acupressure techniques to use in preparation for and during your labor.

If you desire acupuncture during labor, your caring provider can offer treatments to help reduce pain and keep you centered and calm. As your labor progresses, your practitioner will flow with the rhythm of your surges, perhaps incorporating massage, gentle auricular (ear) acupuncture, or electrical stimulation to help you navigate sensation and manage discomfort, supporting you beautifuly as you bring your baby into the world.