Pressure points for labor are areas people discuss using acupressure, but pressing them is not a dependable way to start labor. You can treat acupressure as a possible comfort measure only if your care team agrees it is appropriate for you; it should not replace their guidance. [1] [2]
Commonly discussed areas include the hands, legs, feet, shoulders, and lower back. [1] [3] [4] The exact point and technique matter, so get guidance before trying pressure, and keep the experience comfortable and wanted. For example, you might ask your care team to show your support person how to apply gentle pressure to an area you find soothing, then check in as you go.
Acupressure comes up in conversations about both labor comfort and attempts to encourage labor, but those are different goals. Evidence in this overview does not establish that pressing a point will start labor, so avoid treating a point as a trigger or a substitute for individualized care. [1] [2] If pressure feels uncomfortable or you no longer want it, stop; you do not need to continue to get a particular result.
This overview explains which areas are commonly discussed, how to approach them with guidance, and what to keep in mind before trying them. Start by bringing your questions to your pregnancy care team, especially if you are unsure which area or method is right for you.
What to know before trying acupressure
Before you try acupressure, ask your pregnancy care team whether it fits your situation, and be clear about what you hope it will do. A quick conversation can help you decide whether to try it for comfort during labor or because you are hoping to encourage labor to begin. Those are different goals, so name yours rather than assuming the same technique will have the same effect.
Talk through your goal
You might ask, “Could acupressure be appropriate for me?” and then explain whether you are looking for comfort while labor is underway or hoping to encourage labor. That gives your care team a chance to discuss the approach with your individual situation in mind. If you are not sure how to describe your goal, say what you are hoping to feel or what change you hope for, and ask what is reasonable to expect.
For example, you could ask about acupressure as one comfort measure while you are working through contractions. If your goal is to encourage labor, say so directly instead of treating that as interchangeable with comfort. Keep the conversation focused on what is appropriate for you, rather than relying on a general tip you heard from someone else.
Get help finding a point
If you are unsure where a point is, ask a trained practitioner or your pregnancy care team to show you. A name or description may not be enough for you to feel confident that you have found the intended spot, so it is fine to ask for a demonstration before trying anything. You could say, “Can you show me where you mean?” or ask a support person to listen so they can follow the guidance later.
You do not need to figure it out by guesswork. If a point still feels unclear after someone explains it, pause and ask again rather than pressing somewhere just to get started. A simple check-in before labor can make it easier to know what you are comfortable trying when the moment comes.
Where are the commonly discussed pressure points?
Commonly discussed labor pressure points include named spots on the hand, lower leg, foot, and lower back, along with broader comfort areas such as the shoulders. Knowing the general area can help you discuss what you have in mind, but a point’s name alone may not be enough to locate it accurately.
Hand: LI4
LI4 is in the webbing between your thumb and index finger. [2] [5] If you are talking it through with your support person, you can point to that webbed area on your hand; avoid assuming that a general description tells you exactly where or how to apply pressure.
Inner lower leg: SP6
SP6 is on the inner lower leg, but confirm its precise location with someone knowledgeable. [1] [4] You can ask your care team or a trained practitioner to show you the spot, rather than trying to identify it from the name alone.
Foot and lower back
BL60 is commonly named as a point near the foot or ankle, and BL32 is named near the lower back or sacrum. [1] [3] [6] These labels give you a starting place for a conversation, not a substitute for guidance on the exact location.
Broader comfort areas
Labor acupressure discussions also include the shoulders, hands, legs, and sacrum as areas where pressure may be used for comfort. [3] For example, you might tell your support person that you would like attention on your shoulders or lower back, then check that the touch feels comfortable to you. A broad area like the shoulders is not the same as a precisely identified point, so describe what feels helpful and ask for guidance if you want to try a named point.
The point names can be useful shorthand when you talk with your care team, but you do not need to memorize them. If a location is unclear, pause and ask someone knowledgeable to show you before trying pressure there.
How to approach pressure points during labor
Ask your care team ahead of time whether acupressure is appropriate for you. You can bring it up at a prenatal visit and ask what to keep in mind for your situation. If you are already in labor, check with the team caring for you before starting; their guidance can help you decide whether to try it.
Choose a point with guidance from your care team or a trained practitioner, especially if you are unsure where it is. For example, a practitioner can show your support person the intended spot and how to apply pressure there. A point’s name alone may not be enough to help you find the location, so ask for a demonstration rather than guessing.
Let your support person know what feels welcome. They should apply pressure only if you want it, and check in as they go. You might say, “That feels okay,” “Use less pressure,” or “Please stop.” You can also change your mind at any time; there is no need to keep going just because you agreed to try it.
Stop if the pressure becomes painful, uncomfortable, or unwelcome, and follow your care team’s advice. Tell your support person clearly if you want them to stop, even if the pressure felt fine a moment earlier. If you are unsure what to do next, pause and ask your care team rather than pushing through discomfort.
Keep the experience responsive to you: your comfort and consent should guide each attempt. A simple check-in—“Would you like me to continue?”—can make it easier to adjust or stop without needing to explain much. If you do not want pressure, it is fine to say no; your support person can offer another kind of support instead.
What to avoid when using pressure points
Keep acupressure comfortable, optional, and guided by your care team; don’t treat it as a way to start labor or as a replacement for their advice. [1] [2]
Don’t expect it to trigger labor
A pressure point’s name or reputation is not a promise of a particular outcome. If you are hoping pressure will start labor, pause and check in with your care team instead of relying on acupressure to do that. [1] [2]
You can also choose not to try it. For example, if you would rather focus on another comfort measure, tell your support person and ask your care team what they recommend for your situation.
Don’t push through discomfort
More pressure or a longer session is not a reason to expect a better result. Agree on a gentle, comfortable approach with your care team, and ask your support person to ease off if the pressure starts to feel unpleasant.
You do not need to tolerate pressure to satisfy someone else’s expectations. If you change your mind, say so; your support person should stop when you no longer want the touch or it feels uncomfortable.
Don’t guess at a point’s location
A name alone may not tell you exactly where to place your fingers. If you or your support person is unsure, pause and ask your care team or a trained practitioner for help rather than guessing.
For example, if someone suggests a point but cannot show you where it is, you can simply skip it until you have clear guidance. That keeps the choice practical and avoids turning an uncertain location into a reason to press harder.
Keep checking in
Before and during any attempt, make sure the pregnant person is comfortable with the plan and still wants the pressure. A quick question such as “Does this feel okay, or should I stop?” gives them an easy way to answer.
If the answer is to stop, stop. You can ask your care team for another option instead of trying to persuade the pregnant person to continue.
Keep comfort and guidance at the center
The main thing to remember is that acupressure should support your comfort, not become something you feel you have to do to start labor. Hands, legs, feet, shoulders, and the lower back are among the areas commonly discussed for labor acupressure. [1] [3] [4]
Before trying it, ask your care team which points and techniques are appropriate for you. You can make the question concrete: “If I want to try acupressure for comfort, where should my support person press, and how can we tell if the technique feels right?” Follow the guidance you receive rather than relying on a point’s name or a general description.
During labor, let the person receiving pressure lead. A support person can ask before touching, check in as they go, and stop as soon as the pressure is unwanted or uncomfortable. For example, you might want gentle pressure on your hand but prefer no touch on your lower back; your preferences can change, and it is fine to say so.
Keep the goal modest: use acupressure only if it feels comfortable and fits your care team’s guidance. Ask your care team about appropriate points and technique before you try it, so you have a clear, individualized plan rather than feeling pressure to make acupressure produce a particular outcome.