Category: Pregnancy

A small qualitative study carried out in a Swiss hospital, has found that women given acupuncture during labour, reported enhanced birthing experiences. Seven healthy women who had acupuncture during normal labour, were interviewed in the first month after the birth. They reported increased satisfaction with regard to pain relief and progress in labour, suggesting that midwives should discuss acupuncture with women during the antenatal period and offer it as an option during labour. The study provides a better understanding of this topic by midwives and other health professionals, and contributes to the further development of acupuncture practice during labour.

(Women’s Experiences of Acupuncture during Labour. British Journal of Midwifery, 4 April 2013.)

Researchers in Spain have concluded a large study which shows that the traditional acupuncturist’s technique of using moxa to turn a breech baby, is both safe and effective. (This is the burning of a stick of dried herb over a specific acupuncture point, in order to warm and stimulate the area.)

In a multi-centre, randomised, controlled trial, 406 low-risk pregnant women with a baby diagnosed by hospital ultrasound at 32 weeks as breech presentation, were assigned to one of three groups: moxibustion at the traditional point on the little toe, plus usual care; moxibustion at a sham point on the big toe, plus usual care; just usual care alone. The women were gathered from 58 local health centres across one region, and after instruction, were treated at home by a family member. Treatment with moxa was given for twenty minutes per day for two weeks; treatment was suspended and the patient’s midwife contacted, if she felt the baby had moved significantly. The treatment was found very acceptable, with only 4.2% of patients declining to take part.

In the group which received traditional moxibustion, 58% of the full-term presentations were cephalic (normal, head-down position for delivery), compared to 43% in the sham group, and 45% in the usual care group. No severe adverse effects were observed. The authors conclude that moxibustion is effective and safe to correct non-vertex presentation when used between 32 and 34?weeks of gestation. It is well-accepted by women and the straightforward nature of the procedure means it can be easily applied at home. Moxibustion therefore represents a treatment option that should be considered to achieve version of the non-vertex fetus.

(Using Moxibustion in Primary Healthcare to Correct Non-Vertex Presentation: A Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial. Acupuncture in Medicine, on-line 18 December 2012.)

Acupressure in labour applied at a point on the hand, has been shown in a randomised controlled trial to reduce the pain and duration of the process. The point, known as Hegu or LI-4, is traditionally used by acupuncturists to promote birth and assist with labour pain.

One hundred women were randomly divided into two equal groups. The first group received acupressure at Hegu for the duration of each uterine contraction, over a period of twenty minutes. The second group received only touch at this point, with no massage. The two groups displayed significant differences in labour pain scores both immediately, and at 20, 60 and 120 minutes after the intervention. Additionally, active phase duration (3-4cm dilation to full dilation) and second stage duration, were shorter in the acupressure group. This group also reported greater satisfaction with their care.

The researchers conclude that acupressure at Hegu was associated with labour of decreased pain and duration, greater satisfaction for the women involved, and without any adverse effects being noted.

(Effects of LI4 Acupressure on Labour Pain in the First Stage of Labour. Journal of Midwifery & Womens Health, 2 March 2012.)

A new American study has shown acupuncture to be effective for depression in pregnancy. A total of 150 pregnant women who had already been diagnosed with major depression, were randomly allocated to one of three groups: acupuncture treatment specifically for depression, control acupuncture, or massage, all delivered over eight weeks.

Women who received specific acupuncture, experienced a more rapid decrease in symptom severity compared to those in the control groups. They also showed a significantly greater overall response rate (63%) compared to control acupuncture alone (37%). The authors conclude that the results achieved with acupuncture, are similar to those achieved with standard depression treatments of similar duration.

(Acupuncture for Depression during Pregnancy: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Obstet & Gynaecol. March 2010.)