What is acupressure?

Acupressure is based on the same theory as acupuncture, but instead of using needles, acupressure is delivered in a noninvasive way using fingers, thumbs, knuckles or other tools to put firm pressure on different areas of the body. Sometimes, only a few areas need that firm pressure in order to induce a sense of relaxation or pain relief. Unlike acupuncture, which must be delivered by a licensed provider, acupressure could be used by anyone, such as a midwife in an out-of-hospital birth setting. https://evidencebasedbirth.com/acupuncture-and-acupressure-for-pain-relief-during-labor/ Acupressure can be used to provide pain relief and calm the birthing woman as well as encourage an efficient labor. If you plan on using acupressure during your labor, practice it beforehand – and often. All the points are safe from week 37 on, but you’ll want to use less pressure than you would during your labor. https://www.mamanatural.com/how-to-do-acupressure-when-youre-in-labor/