It might! We need more research to say for sure. One study in the Cochrane Review (8) looked at the effect of acupressure on Bishop Score. These women were all 39-41 weeks pregnant and either performed acupressure on themselves, had it performed by a researcher or had usual care. Although all groups had increased cervical dilation, the groups getting acupressure had significantly greater improvements in their Bishop Scores at 48 hours after treatment began and upon presentation to the hospital. In this study’s protocol, acupressure was again applied to the point Spleen 6 intermittently for 20 minutes at a time, once daily. Your acupuncturist can guide you in correctly locating this point.

Two other studies (9, 10) on acupressure which showed a low risk of bias did not look at Bishop Scores. These studies showed no change in any other outcomes examined, including onset of labor, oxytocin use, infant outcome or whether there was a vaginal or cesarean delivery. A 2015 systematic review of 7 studies by Mollart et al (14) concluded that acupressure may reduce the duration of the first stage of labor but that there was insufficient evidence to make firm recommendations.

Although the first trial (8) did show a high or unclear risk of bias across all categories, it tells us that there is the potential for an increase in Bishop Score after acupressure stimulation. We need more trials that specifically look at acupressure and Bishops Score that are of lower risk of bias.