Raspberry leaf tea…hot curries…long walks…sex… you may have heard of these ways to help stimulate labour when you reach full term, but did you know that complementary therapies can help too?

Having planned a home birth and wanting to avoid a medical induction, my midwife recommended a complementary therapist to me when I went overdue with my first pregnancy. To my happy surprise, two acupressure-reflexology treatments kick-started my labour. And so, my love of complementary therapies was born – along with my baby girl!

Acupressure is an age-old practice that entails applying pressure to specific points on the body to stimulate uterine activity. Two 2017 reviews found acupressure could be helpful for making labour a little shorter and reducing pain. A 2016 review also found that acupressure could reduce the chance of having a caesarean. Studies have found that essential oil clary sage, which is a uterine tonic, massaged into acupressure points helped to initiate contractions and increase their strength and frequency.

During this soothing treatment, you will be made comfortable on my extra deep and wide electric therapy couch, with calming scents from the aromatherapy diffuser and relaxing music lulling you into a deep state of relaxation. After a short, guided meditation to help you switch off and focus on your breath, you will be given a full body aromatherapy acupressure massage using clary sage essential oil, followed by foot reflexology, focusing on specific reflex points on your feet and ankles to help to bring on labour.

Ask your practitioner’s approval before booking in.