Parents pages

What is shiatsu?
Shiatsu is a form of healing through touch, originally developed thousands of years ago in Japan. Shiatsu shares much of its background theory with acupuncture and it has been referred to as acupuncture without needles.

Midwives learn Shiatsu to help mums in labour
The latest course aimed at enabling midwives to use Shiatsu techniques to help mums in labour has been enthusiastically received by nursing staff in Sussex.

Shiatsu can help dads play a vital part in childbirth
Bristol mum Nina Edmonds found a way to help her husband Vern feel closer to their unborn children while she was pregnant as well as enabling her to feel more in control and aware of what was going on in her body.

Answers to commonly asked questions
When can I have massage or shiatsu? Is it safe in the first trimester? I am overdue, will it help me go into labour? Can shiatsu help with fertility?

Find a practitioner
Well Mother Register of Midwives, Massage Therapists and Shiatsu Practitioners

Practical tips

• Exercise for relieving backache and helping to get your baby in the anterior position
• Baby breathing
• Touch exercise with partner
• Symphysis Pubis Instability
• Working the Labour points - from the book Beautiful Birth (pdf, 1.4MB)
• Techniques for labour - from the book Beautiful Birth (pdf, 2.4MB)

Whilst every effort is made to ensure that all suggestions here are simple, safe and clearly explained, the responsibility is yours to take care, listen to your body and baby, and/or check with your midwife or health practitioner regarding any doubts you may have.