Study aim: To determine the effect of acupressure at the Hegu and Sanyinjiao points, and their combination, on the intensity of post-cesarean pain in mothers hospitalized in the post-cesarean ward. Design: This four-arm parallel randomized controlled trial will enroll eligible participants via consecutive sampling and allocate them by block randomization into three intervention groups (Hegu, Sanyinjiao, combined points) and one control group (1:1:1:1). The sample size is 32 per group (128 total), accounting for 95% confidence, 90% power, and 20% attrition. Settings and conduct: The study will enroll post-cesarean women from Al-Zahra and Kosar hospitals, assigning them via block randomization to three acupressure groups (Hegu, Sanyinjiao, combined) or a control group (1:1:1:1). Interventions start ≥2 hours post-cesarean, with acupressure applied bilaterally in 10-second pressure/2-second rest cycles for 20 minutes; controls receive touch only. All receive routine care. VAS pain is assessed before, immediately, and 1 hour after. The researcher is unblinded; participants and statistician are blinded. Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria: Women who have undergone cesarean section with VAS pain score ≥4, gestational age 37–42 weeks, live-born healthy neonate, literacy and Persian comprehension, willingness to participate, no sensory or psychiatric disorders, no prior acupressure experience, and no lesions at Hegu or Sanyinjiao points. Intervention groups: Three intervention groups (acupressure at the Hegu points, acupressure at the Sanyinjiao points, and acupressure at the combined Hegu and Sanyinjiao points). Main outcome variables: Primary outcome: Post-cesarean pain intensity