Acupuncture for Labor Induction

Looking for a natural, gentle way to encourage labor and avoid medical induction or c-section? Acupuncture helps prepare your body for a smoother, quicker vaginal delivery while reducing labor time and supporting a healthier birth.

 

Since 2004, we've helped hundreds of patients achieve safe and timely natural births.

Our licensed San Diego acupuncturists have repeatedly witnessed firsthand the benefits of using specific pregnancy acupuncture points to induce labor​.

 
 
 

We can help if you are:

Approaching (or past) your due date and want to avoid medical induction.

Experiencing mild contractions that aren’t progressing and want a gentle approach to encourage your body to move toward birth, naturally.

Needing help turning a breech baby or helping your baby move into a more optimal position before birth.

Feeling anxious about childbirth and need support to calm your nervous system and find emotional balance.

Wanting to feel more prepared for labor and delivery, using a holistic and natural approach.

 

How we can help

  • Mom with newborn baby to show labor and birth and newborn

    Acupuncture for labor induction

    Relax and prepare for the transition into labor with a gentle one-hour acupuncture session, focusing on points proven to encourage cervical ripening, relaxation, and optimal positioning, helping reduce the need for medical interventions.

  • Close up of an acupuncturist taking the pulse of a patient.

    Pregnancy acupressure points to use at home

    Learn specific acupressure points that you can easily stimulate at home yourself, to help your body prepare for labor. These points can also be used during labor to help manage pain and contractions.

  • Close up of a heat therapy and herbs for moxibustion

    Moxibustion to turn a breech baby

    Is your baby in a less-than-ideal position? Moxibustion is a gentle heat therapy that relaxes the muscles and creates more space in the womb, encouraging the baby to move into a better position for birth.

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Pre-birth acupuncture often leads to shorter labors

Acupuncture in the final weeks of pregnancy helps prepare the body for labor by ripening and relaxing the cervix, improving blood flow and circulation, and balancing hormones. Studies show this can shorten labor, with those receiving pre-birth acupuncture averaging 6 hours 36 minutes in labor, compared to 8 hours 2 minutes for those without treatment.

Kind Words

  • "My waters broke three hours after my appointment!"

    "I came in to see Dr Tamara at 40 weeks and my waters broke three hours after my appointment! Felt so relaxed and brand new after the session. I highly recommend Dr Tamara!"

    — Hailey P, Poway CA

  • "I went into labor five hours after I left her office!"

    "At 40 weeks pregnant, Tamara helped me prepare for my labor, and I went into labor five hours after I left her office! She has also been helping me during my postpartum recovery. I highly recommend her. She's the best.”

    — Daisy C, San Diego CA

  • "Some weeks, these appointments were the only reason I got off the couch."

    “I have been getting seen every month throughout the pregnancy to help with stress, nausea, and fatigue. Some weeks, these appointments were the only reason I got off the couch. Both Tamara and Dr. Allison offered so much wisdom and care outside of "just" acupuncture to help get me through the worst of it. I love Bloom and feel so cared for here. Tamara and Allison are both so passionate and are a wealth of knowledge, positivity, and hope.”

    — Danielle B, San Diego CA

  • "I had my first contraction during our 3rd session."

    “I started acupuncture with Dr. Allison to try to induce labor. I was 39 weeks and was scheduled for medical induction at 40w5d, which I was trying to avoid. I had my first contraction during our 3rd session. Maybe it was coincidence, but I think the acupuncture helped me avoid a medical induction, and I now have a very happy, healthy 7.5 month old. Dr. Allison was kind and comforting and the experience was very relaxing each time. I would definitely do it again.”

    — Emily I, San Diego CA

  • "I continued with her through the end of my pregnancy and cannot praise her level of care and kindness enough."

    “Tamara is a compassionate, kind practitioner who works miracles (she helped me conceive in just 3 short months). I instantly felt comfortable with Tamara and started looking forward to our weekly sessions as a de-stressor. I continued with her through the end of my pregnancy and cannot praise her level of care and kindness enough. Now that I'm postpartum, I can't wait to visit her again.”

    — Arwa Z, San Diego CA

When to start acupuncture for labor induction

We love supporting people in the final phases of your pregnancy. For optimal results, we recommend beginning weekly acupuncture treatments 4-6 weeks before your due date. This allows time to gradually prepare your body for labor, while also calming your nervous system and helping your baby move into the best position for birth. 

However, if you’re already at 40 weeks or beyond, acupuncture can still be highly effective in encouraging labor progression and reducing the need for medical induction or c-section.

If you're past 40 weeks and seeking an alternative to medical induction, we may recommend multiple treatments in close succession to help encourage labor naturally.

Rather than forcing labor, acupuncture gently supports your body’s natural birthing process. Our approach includes:

  • Acupuncture treatments to promote cervical ripening, relaxation, increased circulation and hormonal balance.

  • Acupressure techniques to induce labor that you and your partner can use at home.

  • Gentle exercises, movement guidance, and moxibustion (heat therapy) to optimize baby’s positioning.

  • Dietary and lifestyle recommendations to enhance labor readiness.

  • Stress management techniques to calm the nervous system and support oxytocin production.

Whether you want to proactively prepare for birth or avoid a medical induction, we’re here to support you with compassionate, evidence-based care.

 

 
 

What to expect during acupuncture for labor induction

Your acupuncture session will be a gentle, relaxing experience designed to support your body’s natural labor process. We use small, sterile needles placed in targeted areas across your body — but never in the belly or abdomen — to help soften the cervix, relax the pelvic girdle, and ease anxiety. (This is completely safe and risk-free for both you and your baby.)

Treatments are typically done with you lying on your side, supported by pillows for comfort. You’ll remain fully clothed, with access to blankets if desired.

Depending on your needs, we may also incorporate e-stim (gentle electrical stimulation), massage, or moxibustion (heat therapy) to enhance the effects. The experience is calming and comfortable, encouraging your body to prepare for labor naturally.

 

Book Your Appointment

Book Your Appointment

Pricing

  • Pregnancy and pre-birth acupuncture

    1 hour — $95

    Includes targeted acupuncture to help soften the cervix, relax the pelvic girdle and ease anxiety. We may also incorporate additional holistic health therapies, such as e-stim, massage and moxibustion.

Book your appointment

Our location

Our integrative wellness clinic is conveniently located in Mission Valley, San Diego, right off the 8 freeway and Texas Street. On-site parking is available.

2525 Camino Del Rio S #225 San Diego, CA 92108

 

Pregnancy acupuncture FAQs

  • We use specific pregnancy acupressure points to induce labor​, which promote cervical ripening, balance hormones, and help the baby move into an optimal position. This also reduces stress and tension, which can support labor progression.

  • Yes. Acupuncture is a gentle, non-invasive method that works with your body’s natural rhythms. It does not force labor but instead encourages your body to prepare for birth at the right time.

  • To help prepare for a smooth labor, we recommend beginning weekly treatments from around 36 weeks, which allows for optimal effect of the treatments.  However, if you’re already at or past your due date, acupuncture can still help encourage labor naturally.

  • While some people may respond quickly, labor preparation usually works best over multiple sessions — we recommend one to two sessions a week from around 36 weeks. If you are at or past your due date, more frequent treatments may be recommended.

  • Acupuncture is generally painless, with most patients finding it relaxing. The needles are very thin, and any sensation is usually mild and brief.

  • Yes, specific acupuncture points along with moxibustion (heat therapy) can help relax the muscles and create more space in the womb, encouraging the baby to move into a better position for birth. This treatment is typically most effective in the later stages of pregnancy. You can learn more about moxibustion and breech babies here.

  • You can wear whatever you are comfortable in. The treatments are often done with you lying on your side and supported with pillows to provide extra comfort.

  • In addition to acupuncture, we may recommend acupressure, gentle exercises, stress management techniques, and dietary support to help your body prepare for labor.

  • ABORM is an international organization pioneering best practices in acupuncture and traditional Chinese reproductive medicine. All ABORM Certified Acupuncturists must complete hundreds of hours of study and a rigorous certification exam. All of our acupuncturists are ABORM certified.