5 Acupressure Points for Natural Pain Relief During Labor: An Acupuncturist's Guide for Partners and Doulas

You have access to something that hospital labor wards rarely teach: a 3,000-year-old set of acupressure points that birth partners, doulas, and midwives can use to take the edge off contractions, help labor progress, and keep you grounded in your body.

This is a brief, practical guide to the five points I most often teach in pre-birth visits. Watch the video, then read the notes underneath — together they form a set you can practice in the weeks leading up to your due date and put to use the day labor begins.

Watch: 5 Acupressure Points for Natural Pain Relief During Labor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjg1PtR2kTA

Video by Bronwyn Ayla, L.Ac.

The Five Points, In Order of When You'll Use Them

1. Gallbladder 21 (GB21 / Jianjing) — for upper-body tension and "holding"

Location: the highest point of the trapezius muscle, halfway between the base of the neck and the tip of the shoulder. You will usually feel a tender knot there.

Technique: partner stands behind, presses straight down on both sides at once with the pads of the thumbs. Steady, firm, sustained pressure for 60 seconds, then release.

When to use: early labor, especially if the laboring person is gripping their shoulders, holding their breath, or stuck in their head. GB21 drops energy down out of the head and shoulders and into the pelvis, which is exactly where it needs to go.

Caution: GB21 is contraindicated during pregnancy because it can stimulate contractions. Only use it once labor has actually started.

2. Large Intestine 4 (LI4 / Hegu) — the master point for pain

Location: on the back of the hand, in the webbing between the thumb and index finger. Pinch the webbing — the sore spot is the point.

Technique: partner squeezes the webbing firmly between thumb and index finger, angling pressure toward the second metacarpal bone. Hold 30–60 seconds per hand, alternating, throughout active labor.

When to use: active labor and transition. LI4 has documented analgesic effects across the body — research has examined it for labor pain, dental pain, and headache.

Caution: LI4 is also strongly contraindicated during pregnancy for the same reason as GB21 — it moves and descends qi. Once labor is underway, this is exactly what you want.

3. Bladder 32 (BL32 / Ciliao) — the sacral powerhouse

Location: the second sacral foramen — the small dimples on either side of the sacrum, about an inch out from the midline. Many people have visible "dimples of Venus" right at this spot.

Technique: partner uses both thumbs or the heels of both hands to press firmly into the sacral dimples during a contraction. The laboring person leans forward — hands and knees, draped over a birth ball, or against a wall. Pressure must match the intensity of the contraction: very firm, sometimes very firm indeed.

When to use: any contraction that is felt strongly in the back. BL32 is the single most-requested point in back labor.

4. Kidney 1 (KI1 / Yongquan) — the grounding point

Location: the bottom of the foot, in the depression that forms when you curl the toes — about one-third of the way down from the base of the toes to the heel.

Technique: partner uses a thumb or knuckle to press firmly into the point, one foot at a time, between contractions. Hold 1–2 minutes per side.

When to use: anytime the laboring person feels lightheaded, panicky, dissociated, or floating up out of their body. KI1 is the lowest point on the body in Chinese medicine — it pulls energy down through the soles of the feet and back into contact with the ground. Particularly useful in transition, when fear and overwhelm spike.

5. Bladder 60 (BL60 / Kunlun) — the labor-progressing point

Location: on the outer ankle, in the depression between the prominence of the lateral malleolus and the Achilles tendon.

Technique: partner presses firmly with the thumb on both ankles. Hold 30–60 seconds per side.

When to use: when contractions are strong but not productive, when labor stalls, or when the baby seems stuck high in the pelvis. BL60 helps the baby descend.

Caution: contraindicated during pregnancy. Use only once labor has begun.

How to Practice Before Labor Starts

These points work because the pressure is firm, well-located, and sustained. None of that happens for the first time at 4 a.m. on the labor ward. Practice with your partner or doula at least once a week for the last six weeks of pregnancy — pressing each point for 30 seconds while you read the location aloud and they find it on you. By labor day, their hands will know where to go.

Ten minutes a week. That is the whole protocol.

If You Are in Labor

Most hospitals welcome doulas and birth partners using non-pharmacological comfort measures. So do home-birth midwives and birth centers. Acupressure is non-invasive, leaves no marks, and doesn't interfere with monitoring or epidurals if you choose them later. You can do all five points lying in a hospital bed, sitting on a birth ball, in a tub, or on hands and knees.

If you have an epidural in place, KI1 and GB21 are still useful — both for the laboring person and for keeping the partner connected and doing something concrete. The other three points are best used before the epidural goes in, or on the side that has more sensation if the block is uneven.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does acupressure actually reduce labor pain?

There is a meaningful body of clinical research — including several randomized controlled trials and a Cochrane systematic review — showing that acupressure during labor reduces self-reported pain, shortens the active phase, and reduces the need for synthetic oxytocin. It is not a replacement for an epidural if you want one. It is a tool that meaningfully softens the experience and gives the people in the room something to do.

Can my partner do this if they have no medical training?

Yes. These five points are forgiving, non-invasive, and require pressure rather than precise needle placement. The video shows exactly where to press. A short pre-birth session with you and your partner together is the fastest way to build their confidence.

Are there points to avoid during pregnancy?

Yes — and three of the five points in this video are on that list. LI4, BL32, and BL60 are all classically contraindicated during pregnancy because they move qi downward and can stimulate contractions. Once labor has actually started, that is the goal. Never press these three points before 39 weeks unless you are working with a licensed acupuncturist for a specific reason.

Where can I learn this in person?

I teach pre-birth acupressure to couples one-on-one in 60-minute sessions. The session includes hands-on practice, a printed cheat-sheet for the partner, and time for questions about your specific situation. Book at bronwynayla.com/online.

What about acupuncture itself before birth?

Pre-birth acupuncture is a separate, well-studied treatment. Most clients begin weekly sessions at 36 weeks, six visits total, ending around 41 weeks if needed. Studies from New Zealand and the UK show meaningful reductions in medical induction rates, in cesarean rates, and in time spent in active labor. It is not the same as the labor-induction point work covered in the second video in this series.

Important Safety Note

This article is educational and is not a substitute for medical care. Talk with your midwife, OB-GYN, or licensed acupuncturist before using any of these techniques, especially if you have a high-risk pregnancy, are managing gestational hypertension or diabetes, have placenta previa, or have been advised against vaginal birth. Stop immediately and contact your provider if you experience bleeding, decreased fetal movement, severe pain, or any symptom that concerns you.

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Work With Bronwyn

Pre-birth acupuncture sessions starting at 36 weeks are some of the most-requested visits at my clinic. They prepare the cervix, soften ligaments, calm the nervous system, and give your partner or doula a chance to learn these acupressure points in person — with hands-on coaching specific to your body.

You can work with me online, wherever you are: bronwynayla.com/online.

About the Author

Bronwyn Ayla, L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist and primary care provider, Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Reiki Master Teacher, and certified Rosen Method practitioner. She comes from a family lineage of midwives and has supported pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care for over twenty years.