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Acupuncture shortens Labour

Canadian researchers have investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture for assisting in the initiation and duration of labour.

Sixteen pregnant women at full term, were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture either at sites traditionally used to bring on labour, or at nearby sham sites. The results showed that women in the true acupuncture group on average went into labour 62 hours ahead of the sham group, and also experienced labours which were on average two hours and twenty minutes shorter.

(Effectiveness of Acupuncture for the Initiation of Labour at Term: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial. Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology of Canada Dec 2008)

Acupuncture-type Treatment for Breech Presentation

For breech presentation of a baby in the later stages of pregnancy, a common treatment from the acupuncturist’s stable of techniques, is to warm a specific acupuncture point on the foot, using a herb called moxa. The method is known as moxibustion, and if a case is suitable, I instruct a woman in how to do this herself or with her partner’s help.

A systematic review from Holland has compared the effects of such techniques, with normal management. Researchers looked at six randomised, controlled trials plus three cohort studies, and found that the proportion of breech presentations remaining after treatment averaged 28%, whereas in the control groups, it averaged 56%.

(Effectiveness of Acupuncture-type Interventions versus Expectant Management to correct Breech Presentation: a Systematic Review, Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2008 April.)

Acupuncture for Pelvic & Back Pain in Pregnancy

A review of three trials looking at the effectiveness of acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy, has shown promising results. The authors examined two small trials on mixed back and pelvic pain, and one large, high-quality trial on pelvic pain. They concluded that the current evidence supports the use of acupuncture to treat these conditions, although further research is needed.

(American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2008 March)

Depression in Pregnancy

A randomised controlled study of acupuncture for depression during pregnancy, and involving 61 women, concluded that eight weeks of depression-specific acupuncture treatment, was significantly more effective than either non-specific acupuncture or massage, in reducing the symptoms of depression.

(Acupuncture: A Promising Treatment for Depression during Pregnancy. Journal of Affect Disorders, 2004 Nov.)