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Labor Preparation at Acupuncture Denver
Prebirth Acupuncture treatments begin weekly at 36 to 37 weeks gestation to prepare the pelvis and cervix. Focus is on relaxing the tendons and ligaments in the pelvic area, ripening the cervix, increasing stamina, positioning baby for labor,and relaxing the mind and spirit. Research indicates the potential for a more efficient active stage of labor and a reduction in women requiring medical intervention, including medical induction and caesarean section.
Research information provided by Debra Betts’ website http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz
Research on the use of acupuncture to prepare women for labour first appeared in 1974 with a study by Kubista and Kucera.[1] Their research concluded that acupuncture once a week from 37 weeks gestation using the acupuncture points Zusanli ST-36, Yanglingquan GB-34, Jiaoxin KID-8 and Shenmai BL-62 was successful in reducing the mean labour time of the women treated.
They calculated the labour time in two ways. The first was the mean time between a cervical dilation of 3-4 cm and delivery. In the acupuncture group this was 4 hours and 57 minutes compared to five hours and 54 minutes in the control group. The second was the mean subjective time of labour, taken from the onset of regular (10-15 minute) contractions until delivery.
The acupuncture group had a labour time of 6 hours and 36 minutes compared to eight hours and 2 minutes in the controls.
In 1998 Zeisler et al.[2] used the acupuncture points Baihui DU-20, Shenmen HE-7 and Neiguan P-6, treating from 36 weeks gestation.
This study concluded that acupuncture treatment had a positive effect on the duration of labour by shortening the first stage of labour, defined as the time between 3cm cervical dilation and complete dilation.
The acupuncture group had a median duration of 196 minutes compared to the control group time of 321 minutes.
In 2004 I was involved in an observational study looking at the effect of prebirth acupuncture together with Sue Lennox, a midwife[3].
169 women who received prebirth acupuncture were compared to local population rates for gestation at onset of labour, incidence of medical induction, length of labour, use of analgesia and type of delivery
In the acupuncture group there was an overall 35% reduction in the number of inductions (for women having their first baby this was a 43% reduction), 31% reduction in the epidural rate.
When comparing midwifery only care there was a 32% reduction in emergency caesarean delivery and a 9% increase in normal vaginal births.
Our conclusion was that prebirth acupuncture appeared to provide some promising therapeutic benefits in assisting women to have normal vaginal births and that a further randomized controlled study is warranted.
[1] Kubista E, Kucera H. Geburtshilfe Perinatol 1974; 178 224-9.
[2] Zeisler H, Tempfer C, Mayerhofe Kr, Barrada M, Husslein P. Influence of acupuncture on duration of labour Gynecol Obstet Invest 1998; 46:22-5.
[3] Betts D, Lennox S. Acupuncture for prebirth treatment: An observational study of its use in midwifery practice. Medical acupuncture 2006 May; 17(3):17-20
Recently, The Expectant Mother’s Guide to Denver published an article written by Jane Gregorie about the effectiveness of acupuncture during pregnancy. Check it out below!
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been used for thousands of years to help women enhance their fertility, enjoy a healthy pregnancy, and avoid the postpartum blues. Ancient Chinese medical literature detailing treatments for pregnancy, post-partum, and gynecological diseases dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) when the TCM treatise Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Coffer was written by Zhāng Jī. It was the first Chinese medical text to include distinct chapters on women’s health and covers theory, methods, and herbal remedies. For centuries thereafter, Chinese medical physicians continued to develop the fields of Chinese medical obstetrics and gynecology, giving modern TCM practitioners a wealth of time-tested treatments that are still in use today.
Even though acupuncture has become more and more popular in the West in recent years, many people still wonder whether or not it is safe treatment to receive during pregnancy. Acupuncture has been shown to be not only safe, but also highly effective for a wide variety of pregnancy-related health issues, including morning sickness, depression, and pain. In addition to thousands of years of Chinese medical literature devoted to the treatment of pregnant women with acupuncture, modern research has also demonstrated acupuncture’s efficacy for various pregnancy-related ailments.
In terms of preparing for pregnancy, acupuncture and TCM (including herbal formulas, dietary therapy, and lifestyle modifications) are ideal for optimizing fertility naturally and safely. The cycle of folliculogenesis, or the time it takes for a primordial follicle to become an antral follicle in the ovaries, spans about 90-150 days. During this time follicles go through protein synthesis and a tonic growth phase, when egg quality can be compromised due to impaired circulation or hormonal imbalance. Increasing blood flow to the ovaries with acupuncture and improving cellular health through nutrition, diet, and herbs during the three months prior to conception all have a positive impact on egg quality. Numerous studies published in the past decade attest to the positive effects of acupuncture on ovarian and uterine blood flow, hormonal regulation, and positive outcomes for women undergoing fertility treatments like in-vitro fertilization.
Once pregnant, acupuncture can treat a host of pregnancy-related conditions, including nausea and vomiting. A 2002 Australian study published in the journal Birth showed acupuncture to be highly effective in relieving nausea and morning sickness when administered on a regular basis. The study included 600 women in their first trimester who received weekly acupuncture treatments for four weeks; these women experienced nausea less frequently and for a shorter duration than women who did not receive acupuncture treatments.
Acupuncture is also a very effective, drug-free method for treating depression, insomnia, and anxiety during pregnancy. A study published in March 2010 from Stanford University found that depressed women who were treated with individualized acupuncture protocols responded very favorably to the treatment. Sixty-three percent of the women in the depression-specific acupuncture group had marked relief, compared to only forty-four percent in the massage/non-specific acupuncture group. This research is groundbreaking in terms of offering pregnant women a safe, effective alternative to anti-depressant drug therapy.
Moxibustion, or the burning of the herb artemesia vulgaris on or near acupuncture points, has also been used for centuries to turn breech presentation babies during the final trimester of pregnancy. The ideal time frame for turning a breech baby with moxa is between 32-34 weeks, but it is best to consult with your doctor before trying this method. Acupuncture can also help soften the cervix, alleviate pain, and shorten labor time during childbirth. While most hospital settings do not allow acupuncture on-site, having frequent treatments during the final weeks of pregnancy is a wonderful way to move into this transition with more ease and less pain.
In addition to these conditions, acupuncture and TCM can also relieve a multitude of other pregnancy-related ailments, including fatigue, headaches, back and pelvic pain, heartburn, stress and anxiety. Acupuncture is also wonderful for treating and resolving post-partum issues, including excessive bleeding, hormonal imbalances, postpartum depression, and pain associated with labor and delivery. Sleep deprived mothers in the post-partum phase benefit more than anyone from the restorative, relaxing and calming effects of acupuncture treatment. In TCM, there is an ancient tradition called “mother-warming” that includes restorative dietary therapy and warming the uterus with moxa to heal and re-balance in the post-partum phase. This is a beautiful way to restore health and vitality after pregnancy and childbirth.
While acupuncture and other modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine can be beneficial at any stage of pregnancy, it is ideal to find an acupuncturist who specializes in women’s health to ensure that you receive the safest, highest standard of care during this time. I encourage women who are looking for an acupuncturist to make sure that their practitioner has a Masters-level education in Oriental Medicine as well as a National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (www.nccaom.org) and a Diplomate of Acupuncture board certification. As of 2008, practitioners who specialize in fertility and reproductive health also have the opportunity to be certified through The American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (www.aborm.org). Most acupuncturists who are women’s health specialists with advanced training in reproductive medicine have attained this designation of ABORM Fellow. In addition to degrees and board certifications, it is also essential to find a practitioner who will empower, educate and support you on your family-building journey and who takes a body-mind-spirit approach.
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