References: Cho SH et al. Acupuncture for pain relief in labour: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG 2010;117(8):907-20. Lim CE et al. Effect of acupuncture on induction of labor. J Altern Complement Med 2009;15:1209-14. Vas J et al. Correction of nonvertex presentation with moxibustion: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;201:241-59.
Most people find acupuncture relaxing and often feel very calm after a treatment. You may feel a little tired or sleepy and should take this into account if you are planning to drive after your treatment.
References:
Most people find acupuncture relaxing and often feel very calm after a treatment. You may feel a little tired or sleepy and should take this into account if you are planning to drive after your treatment.
Generally the earlier acupuncture treatment begins the more effective the results. Let us look at pelvic pain or symphysis pubis pain, as an example. Experience has shown that if treated when symptoms initially present this can prevent the pain becoming more intense as the pregnancy progresses. Research by Elden in 2005 (1) concluded that when compared to standard physiotherapy and specialised physiotherapy exercises, acupuncture was the treatment of choice for patients with unilateral sacroiliac pain, unilateral sacroiliac pain combined with symphysis pubis pain and bilateral sacroiliac pain.
Reference
1. Elden H, Ladfors I, Fagevik Olsen M, Ostaard H, Hagberg H (2005) “Effects of acupuncture and stabilising exercises as adjunct to standard treatment in pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain: randomised single blind controlled trial”. British Medical Journal 330:761
Acupuncture can be used in conjunction with external manual version. Midwives have commented that in their opinion there appears to be a higher success rate in those women who have been able to have acupuncture and self-treatment for at least five days before the procedure. The New Zealand Evidence Based practice guidelines for care of women with Breech presentation (3) recommends that moxibustion may be offered to women from 33 weeks gestation. This follows research from Italy (4) that demonstrated moxibustion can have a significant effect in helping to turn breech babies. Later research has endorsed these earlier findings, concluding, “correction of a foetus in breech presentation in women at 33 weeks gestation, using Breech Version Acumoxa-Therapy on BL67, reduces the number of breech presentations at term, the number of caesarean sections and is less costly when compared to expectant management, including external cephalic version” (5). This research was based on the collation of cohort and Random Controlled Trials.
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References
References
Acupuncture has been used in China for over 3,000 years for women during pregnancy and postpartum recovery. It has been safely used in maternity wards in Europe, Australia and New Zealand and not too long ago in Devon (NHS cut-backs have resulted in the acupuncture service been closed – despite a huge campaign by ex-patients and midwives). Research shows that acupuncture is safe with no records of serious adverse events in the pregnancy-related systematic reviews (1,2,3).
References:
Most people find acupuncture relaxing and often feel very calm after a treatment. You may feel a little tired or sleepy and should take this into account if you are planning to drive after your treatment.
“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”.
Reference
Acupuncture has been used in China for over 3,000 years for women during pregnancy and postpartum recovery. It has been safely used in maternity wards in Europe, Australia and New Zealand and until recently in Devon (NHS cut-backs have resulted in the acupuncture service been closed – despite a huge campaign by ex-patients and midwives). Research shows that acupuncture is safe with no records of serious adverse events in the pregnancy-related systematic reviews (1,2,3).
References:
Most people find acupuncture relaxing and often feel very calm after a treatment. You may feel a little tired or sleepy and should take this into account if you are planning to drive after your treatment.
Usually the woman will receive her acupuncture in a seated position for encouraging labour. This allows better access to points and better positioning for birth.
“amazed that just one treatment could make should a big difference to my back pain”.
She reported only the occasional twinge towards the end of the day or after lifting her daughter. Her leg cramps were much reduced too.
“felt like a new woman”.
A year later she still reported no recurrence of her migraine.