Acupuncture for Labour Preparation

What is Chinese Medicine?

For over 2,500 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been one of the world’s most popular forms of healthcare.  It is a unique, systematic, comprehensive and non-invasive medical system that takes a holistic approach to healthcare.  It is an art & science for disease diagnosis, treatment & prevention using natural therapies and gentle techniques.
TCM is based on the concept of Qi (energy), and is defined as the essential life through invisible pathways through the body, circulating through invisible pathways called meridians. 

Labour Preparation

Three to four weeks prior to the due date a treatment to prepare the pelvis and cervix can be commenced. This is followed by one treatment per week until labour begins.
Research from Germany (1) indicated the potential for a more efficient active stage of labour A New Zealand study with midwives (2) indicated a reduction in women requiring medical intervention, including medical induction and caesarean section.

Pain Relief during Labour

Acupuncture offers drug free alternatives for pain relief during labour (4) Acupressure provides similar results (5) with the advantage that support people can use it during labour. A free booklet on using acupressure can be down loaded here.

Labour Induction

Acupuncture can provide a gentle inducement to labour if the baby is overdue and can be an effective alternative to a medical induction. Research from Norway (3) on the use of acupuncture for women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) concluded that “Ideally acupuncture treatment should be offered to all women with PROM and other women who wish to use this method to facilitate their birth and keep it normal.

References:
1 Kubista E, Kucera H. (1974). On the use of acupuncture in the preparation for delivery, Geburtshilfe Perinatol; 178(3):224-9.
2 Betts D Lenox S ( 2006) Acupuncture For Prebirth Treatment: An Observational Study of its use in Midwifery practice. Medical Acupuncture. Vo 17 No 3
3 Gaudernack L, Forbord S, Hole E. (2007) Acupuncture administered after spontaneous rupture of membranes at term significantly reduces the length of birth and use of oxytocin . A randomised controlled trial. Midirs Midwifery Digest. Vol 17, No 2.
4 Hantoushzadeh S. Alhusseini N. Lebaschi A. (2007) The effects of Acupuncture during Labour on Nulliparous Women: A Randomised Controlled trial. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 47:26-30
5 Chung UL J.( 2003) Effects of LI 4and BL 67 Acupressure on Labour Pain and Uterine Contractions in the First Stage of Labour. Nurs Res. 11(4):251-60
Information for this flyer from www.acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz

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