Labour positions

Think about mobilizing during labour, staying upright, changing your position to what feels comfortable for you. Remember your options are kneeling, squatting, lying down, shower, swiss ball and using the support of your birthing partner. Try to stay relaxed and allow labour to progress. Your own hormones are being released to help you relax and your uterus to contract. Consciously relax your shoulders, and jaw, abdomen and legs. Trust your instincts.

labour your way

Alternative therapies

There is a large bath in the delivery room, swiss balls, and birthing mats. Bring in your own TENS machine if you would like to use it. Massage, hypnotherapy, acupuncture and homeopathy are all recognised forms of therapies during your birth which you must research and take advice from relevant professional with regard to your own special needs and circumstance. Talk your ideas over with your midwife.

Acupressure

See the link below for a useful booklet with some acupressure points that can really help with pain in labour.

acupressure and pain

Acupuncture

Some of the Domino Midwives offer pre birth acupuncture from around 36/37 wks. A koha for this service is appreciated. We don’t always have time to give acupuncture in the antenatal appointments but you can ask your midwife if they have any recommendations for an acupuncturist in your area.

Ngaio Natural Health have acupuncturists that are experienced in pregnancy acupuncture ngaiohealth.co.nz.

Tao clinic in town also does pregnancy acupuncture https://www.taoclinic.co.nz/

There is a community maternity acupuncture clinic run in Newtown led by Debra Betts who is a world leader in pregnancy acupuncture newtownacupuncture.co.nz.

For acupuncture at a reduced cost try the student clinics at NZ School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine nzschoolofacupuncureandtcm.