Pressure Points and Labor Pain

A potential pain-management technique for pregnant women in labor involves a tool you probably already have in your house: a simple hair comb. According to some women who’ve tried it, gripping a comb in your hands during labor can help distract from contractions.

Moms who hope to have an unmedicated birth (without pain relief drugs) frequently use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) techniques like these to try to manage labor pain. Even if you're not planning on an unmedicated birth, you still may want to try them to cope with pain during the early stages of labor.

Here’s what experts have to say about activating pressure points during labor and how it may help you. 

What is acupressure?

Acupressure involves using fingers, hands, elbows or other tools to apply pressure and stimulate certain points on the body. It’s one drug-free technique some moms try during pregnancy — for nausea, headaches, lower back pain and more — as well as labor. 

The idea is that hitting these pressure points triggers the release of brain chemicals like endorphins, which help block pain signals. Gripping a comb — or having a doula or partner squeeze your hand during labor — could, in theory, activate some pressure points. 

Does activating pressure points help with labor pain?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that drug-free relaxation techniques like acupuncture and massage do not adversely affect pregnant women or their babies during labor and they may help reduce pain. Of course, drug-free strategies won't provide the level of pain relief that medications do, and more research is still needed on how helpful techniques like acupuncture and acupressure can be with labor pain. 

Acupressure-inspired techniques like gripping a comb may work because they distract you and give you something else to focus on, OB/GYNs say. Whatever approach allows you to relax and cope with the pain of uterine contractions can prove useful when the time comes. 

Another strategy? Visualizing a relaxing place — like a beautiful sunset or a favorite vacation spot — can also help divert your attention from the pain of labor.

How to use pressure points during labor

As you near your due date, review your birth plan with your doctor and discuss all your pain-relief options. Many moms say complementary strategies were helpful whether or not they ended up also using medications like an epidural.

If you’d like to try using pressure points during labor, a few good ones to target can be found in the center of your palm. When you make a fist, one is located where the tip of your pinky finger lies, while another is where the tip of your middle finger meets your palm.

And remember: There’s no "right" way to have a baby. You should choose the method you and your doctor decide is right for you, and that includes your pain-management strategies.