Using acupressure to minimize discomforts during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE To describe responses issued by pregnant women, and the improvement of the gravidic discomforts after the use of the acupressure technique. METHOD Qualitative and descriptive study conducted with 15 pregnant women between November 2013 and February 2014 in a Basic Health Unit in Natal, RN, Brazil. The data were collected through unstructured interviews and depositions that were then transcribed and treated according to Minayo's operative proposal, carefully read, compared and organized into two groups. RESULTS The categories that resulted were: Positive effects of acupressure, and the recommended use of acupressure. According to pregnant women, the discomforts of pregnancy cramps, fatigue in the legs, lower back pain and headaches decreased with the use of acupressure. CONCLUSIONS Based on the results, acupressure should be introduced by the nurse in pre-natal care as a therapeutic resource for the pregnant woman's well-being.