Learn acupressure to encourage an optimum natural birth from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Apply simple but effective acupressure techniques to help manage pain during labour
Encourage a baby to turn into the correct position
Encourage contractions to re-start or become stronger
Help calm the birthing woman

Help reduce nausea during labour
Reduce afterpains and encourage initial milk flow
Help with post-natal recovery

Apply simple but effective acupressure techniques to help manage pain during labour
Encourage a baby to turn into the correct position
Encourage contractions to re-start or become stronger
Help calm the birthing woman
Help reduce nausea during labour
Reduce afterpains and encourage initial milk flow
Help with post-natal recovery

Syllabus

Introduction

A disclaimer about the use of acupressure before and during labour.

Written instructions on how to use some of the techniques discussed in the video series. This booklet has been available as a free download from Debra's website for several years, and its popularity is what inspired us to make this video series.

An introduction to the course, including testimonials from women and their support people. In this lecture, you will learn:

what acupressure is, and understand some of its potential benefits

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How to practice and use these techniques safely and appropriately. In this lecture, you will learn:

which settings acupressure can be used in
when it's best to start using acupressure
how to integrate acupressure with other forms of pain relief
about the potential risks of acupressure, and how to avoid them
how to practice safely

Words of encouragement for people who will be supporting women during labour with these techniques, including messages from people who have used them. In this lecture, you will learn:

how to work with a woman during labour to maximise the benefits
about the transition stage of labour
more about the important role supprt people can play during labour when using these techniques

In this lecture, you will learn:

how to locate the shoulder point (known as GB-21 or Jianjing in acupuncture)

In this lecture, you will learn:

how to locate the lower back point (known as BL-32 or Ciliao in acupuncture)

In this lecture, you will learn:

how to locate the hand point (known as LI-4 or Hegu in acupuncture)

In this lecture, you will learn:

how to locate the sole of the foot point (known as KID-1 or Yongquan in acupuncture)

In this lecture, you will learn:

how to locate the outer ankle point (known as BL-60 or Kunlun in acupuncture)

In this lecture, you will learn:

how to locate the inner calf point (known as SP-6 or Sanyinjiao in acupuncture)

In this lecture, you will learn:

how to locate the wrist point (known as P-6 or Neiguan in acupuncture)

In this lecture, you will learn:

how to locate the little toe point (known as BL-67 or Zhiyin in acupuncture)

This lecture describes the 'nuts and bolts' of how to apply acupressure during labour. You will learn:

how to apply the correct type and level of pressure
how to use feedback to work as a team
how to find comfortable positions to apply and receive acupressure
how to use thumbs, knuckles, elbows, and other objects to apply pressure
how to find the most useful points

A more in-depth look at how and when to use these techniques for pain relief. In this lecture, you will learn:

When to start using acupressure
Which points are usually most effective for the different stages of labour
more about how to apply pressure effectively
How to use an ordinary hair comb to relieve pain

Things you can try if your baby is in a breech or posterior position. In this lecture, you will learn:

what breech and posterior positions are
how to safely use moxabustion to encourage the baby to turn
what the optimum time is to try this technique

What to do if contractions slow down, weaken, or stop during early labour. In this lecture, you will learn:

which points to use to encourage contractions
how to use them, and for how long

What to do to help calm the woman during labour. In this lecture, you will learn:

which point to use to help calm the woman
which stage of labour this is most useful during
how to use travel sickness bands on this point

What to do to help reduce nausea. In this lecture, you will learn:

which point to use to help reduce nausea
which stage of labour this is most useful during
how to use travel sickness bands on this point

What to do to help reduce afterpains and encourage milk flow. In this lecture, you will learn:

what afterpains are
which point to use for afterpains, and when to use it
which point to use to encourage milk flow

What you can do to help during the postnatal recovery phase. In this lecture, you'll learn:

how to safely use moxa to help women to recover their energy after childbirth
when to apply this technique

In this lecture, you will learn:

which other problems associated with pregnancy can potentially be helped by a qualified acupuncturist

In this lecture, Debra runs through some of the most things to remember about these techniques. You can also download and print out a 'cheat sheet' to use during labour.

Credits for the people involved in making this course.

Career center

Learners who complete Learn acupressure to encourage an optimum natural birth will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Doula

A Doula provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a birthing person before, during, and after childbirth. This course helps you to become an exceptionally skilled doula, equipping you with practical, non-pharmacological comfort techniques to enhance the birth experience. Learning acupressure techniques, as taught by leading expert Debra Betts, allows you to help manage pain, encourage a baby to turn, stimulate contractions, calm the birthing woman, and reduce nausea. Furthermore, you will gain an understanding of how to support post-natal recovery, including reducing afterpains and encouraging initial milk flow, making you a more comprehensive and highly valued support person. This course is ideal for doulas seeking to provide tangible and effective tools to their clients.

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Acupressure Practitioner

An Acupressure Practitioner uses finger pressure on specific points to promote health and well-being. This course offers specialized, in-depth training directly applicable to your practice, focusing on techniques for an optimum natural birth experience. You will learn simple, professionally demonstrated techniques developed by leading expert Debra Betts, covering pain management during labor, encouraging optimal fetal positioning, stimulating contractions, calming the birthing woman, and reducing nausea. Furthermore, the course delves into postnatal recovery, including reducing afterpains and encouraging initial milk flow. This specific course allows you to expand your services into the highly specialized field of perinatal care, offering targeted support during a critical life stage.

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Shiatsu Practitioner

A Shiatsu Practitioner applies pressure with thumbs, fingers, and palms to specific points on the body to promote balance and healing. This course may be useful for a Shiatsu Practitioner looking to specialize in maternal health, particularly around childbirth. It provides a detailed explanation and demonstration of acupressure techniques specifically for labor and delivery support. You will learn how to apply pressure to points for managing pain, encouraging optimal fetal position, stimulating contractions, calming the birthing woman, and reducing nausea. The course also covers postnatal recovery, including afterpains and encouraging initial milk flow. This specialization can broaden your client base and equip you with targeted skills to support expectant and new mothers.

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Midwife

A Midwife is a healthcare professional who provides comprehensive care to women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, often requiring an advanced degree. Integrating the simple yet effective acupressure techniques from this course can significantly enhance your ability to offer holistic pain management and support. You will learn specific applications to help manage labor pain, encourage optimal fetal positioning, stimulate contractions, calm mothers, and reduce nausea. Additionally, the course addresses postnatal care, including reducing afterpains and encouraging initial milk flow, directly complementing midwifery practice. This course provides practical tools to integrate into your clinical toolkit, enabling you to promote a more natural and positive birth experience.

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Postpartum Doula

A Postpartum Doula provides invaluable support to new mothers and families in the weeks following childbirth, focusing on recovery and adjustment. This course is highly relevant, as it directly addresses crucial aspects of immediate postpartum care through acupressure. You will learn specific techniques to help reduce afterpains, a common discomfort experienced by new mothers, and encourage initial milk flow, vital for breastfeeding success. Furthermore, the course provides guidance on how to safely use moxa to help women recover energy after childbirth. Equipping yourself with these gentle, non-invasive methods allows you to offer more comprehensive, natural, and effective support, significantly enhancing the mother's comfort and well-being during the critical recovery phase.

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Acupressure Instructor

An Acupressure Instructor teaches individuals or groups how to effectively apply acupressure techniques for various health benefits. This course provides comprehensive, expert-led training specifically in acupressure for optimum natural birth, making it an ideal foundation for an Acupressure Instructor specializing in perinatal care. You will master simple techniques developed by Debra Betts for pain management during labor, encouraging optimal fetal positioning, stimulating contractions, calming the birthing woman, and reducing nausea. Furthermore, the course details postnatal recovery, including afterpains and encouraging initial milk flow. This deep dive into a specialized application equips you to confidently develop and deliver your own workshops, empowering others with these invaluable skills.

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Registered Nurse Labor and Delivery

A Registered Nurse in Labor and Delivery provides critical medical care, monitoring, and support to birthing individuals in a hospital setting, requiring an advanced degree in nursing. This course may be useful for a Registered Nurse in Labor and Delivery seeking to integrate non-pharmacological comfort techniques to complement clinical practice. You will learn simple acupressure methods to assist with pain management, encourage optimal fetal positioning, stimulate contractions, and calm the birthing person. The course also covers ways to reduce nausea during labor. These techniques can enhance patient comfort and satisfaction, offering additional support within the scope of your nursing care.

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Massage Therapist

A Massage Therapist manipulates the body's soft tissues to improve circulation, relaxation, and overall well-being. This course may be useful for a Massage Therapist interested in expanding expertise into prenatal and postnatal care, offering specialized comfort measures during childbirth. Acupressure shares principles of therapeutic touch and pressure application. You will learn simple yet effective techniques to help manage pain during labor, encourage optimal fetal positioning, stimulate contractions, calm the birthing woman, and reduce nausea. Additionally, the course provides guidance on reducing afterpains and encouraging initial milk flow, enabling you to offer a more comprehensive support package to expectant mothers and new parents seeking a natural birth approach.

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Childbirth Educator

A Childbirth Educator prepares expectant parents for labor, birth, and early parenthood. This course significantly enhances your curriculum by providing practical, demonstrated acupressure techniques that partners can use to support birthing women. You will learn methods to help manage pain, encourage optimal fetal positioning, stimulate contractions, and calm the birthing woman, along with ways to reduce nausea. The course also covers postnatal recovery, including reducing afterpains and encouraging initial milk flow. By incorporating these techniques into your classes, you empower couples with tangible tools for a better birth experience, promoting active partner involvement and offering a distinctive value proposition.

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Lactation Consultant

A Lactation Consultant provides expert support and education to breastfeeding mothers. This course is particularly relevant for a Lactation Consultant as it includes learning objectives directly focused on breastfeeding support. You will learn a specific acupressure technique to encourage initial milk flow, a valuable tool for mothers who may be experiencing delays or challenges in establishing lactation. While your primary role involves clinical assessment and education, having knowledge of complementary methods like acupressure can broaden your approach to supporting mothers. This course enables you to offer additional, non-pharmacological strategies to promote successful breastfeeding, enhancing your holistic support for new mothers and potentially improving early breastfeeding outcomes for your clients.

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Holistic Health Coach

A Holistic Health Coach guides clients towards overall well-being by addressing various aspects of their lifestyle, including physical, mental, and emotional health. This course may be useful for a Holistic Health Coach specializing in women's health or family wellness, supporting clients through pregnancy and postpartum. You will learn simple yet effective acupressure techniques for managing discomfort during labor, encouraging optimal fetal positioning, calming the birthing woman, and reducing nausea. The course also covers postnatal recovery. Understanding these tools allows you to recommend and explain non-pharmacological comfort measures, empowering clients to approach childbirth with greater confidence and a wider array of self-care strategies.

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Prenatal Yoga Instructor

A Prenatal Yoga Instructor guides expectant mothers through practices to support their bodies and minds during pregnancy and prepare for childbirth. This course may be useful for a Prenatal Yoga Instructor looking to incorporate additional, direct comfort measures into their offerings. You will learn simple acupressure techniques that can be taught to students and their partners for use during labor. These include methods for managing pain, encouraging optimal fetal positioning, stimulating contractions, calming the birthing woman, and reducing nausea. Integrating these techniques can enrich your classes, providing practical, hands-on tools that complement the physical and mental preparation offered by yoga, empowering your students with more comprehensive birth preparation strategies.

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Maternal Wellness Advocate

A Maternal Wellness Advocate supports expectant and new mothers in navigating their health journey, providing information and resources for physical and emotional well-being. This course may be useful for a Maternal Wellness Advocate looking to deepen their understanding of practical, non-pharmacological comfort measures during childbirth and postpartum. You will learn simple acupressure techniques to help manage pain during labor, encourage optimal fetal positioning, calm the birthing woman, and reduce nausea. It also covers postnatal care, including afterpains and enhancing milk flow. This knowledge empowers you to better inform and guide clients on effective natural comfort strategies, helping them feel more confident and prepared for a positive birth and recovery experience.

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Community Health Worker Maternal and Child Health

A Community Health Worker in Maternal and Child Health bridges communities and health services, providing culturally sensitive education, support, and advocacy. This course may be useful to gain practical knowledge of non-invasive comfort techniques for pregnant and postpartum individuals. You will learn simple acupressure techniques for managing labor pain, encouraging optimal fetal positioning, stimulating contractions, calming birthing women, and reducing nausea. The course also addresses postnatal recovery, including afterpains and milk flow. This understanding can help you better educate families on self-care strategies and inform them about natural birth support options, enhancing your ability to promote positive maternal and infant health outcomes.

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Perinatal Case Manager

A Perinatal Case Manager coordinates care and provides support to pregnant individuals and new parents, linking them to medical, social, and educational resources. This course may be useful for a Perinatal Case Manager to enhance their understanding of non-pharmacological comfort strategies and holistic support during childbirth and postpartum. You will learn about simple acupressure techniques for managing labor pain, encouraging optimal fetal positioning, calming the birthing woman, and reducing nausea, as well as methods for postnatal recovery like reducing afterpains and encouraging milk flow. This knowledge allows you to better inform clients about a wider array of comfort options and the potential benefits of natural birth support, enriching the comprehensive guidance you offer.

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