Acupuncture to Induce Labor – How Does It Work?

Acupuncture, an ancient, natural pain relief technique, involves the insertion of thin needles into various pressure points to release pain and alleviate pressure. In recent years, it has gained popularity not only for pain management but also as a method to help initiate labor. Studies suggest that women who had undergone acupuncture during pregnancy were more likely to go into labor naturally, reducing their need for a cesarean delivery. The connection between acupuncture and inducing labor has led many women to explore it as a holistic option. Applying acupuncture for birth induction is usually straightforward and, when done by a professional, can be highly effective. This approach provides a natural alternative to medically inducing labor, offering a gentle way to encourage labor without relying on a medical ‘push’.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is one of the earliest known healthcare systems in the world. Originated in China, it is an alternative medical practice that works on the belief that life energy flows through the body and any blockage which interrupts this energy flow can result in pain or disease. According to traditional Chinese medicine, health is a harmonious equilibrium of complementary life force extremes, “yin” and “yang”. Any imbalance of these life forces can cause illness. Practitioners inject very thin needles to different depths at specific body points to relieve pressure, clear blockages and facilitate the flow of energy. The resultant balancing of energy helps boost one’s well-being and brings relief from pain and health issues like headaches, whooping cough, and blood pressure problems.

Is Acupuncture Safe to Induce Labor?

The acupuncture points can be helpful during childbirth. It may be a subtle and harmless way to induce labor without side effects. The limited studies conducted till date reveal that the use of acupuncture is safe in order to induce labor, and no known harmful effects to the expectant mother and her unborn child have been recorded. However, more research is required to study in detail its efficiency to prompt labor and ascertain all the likely risks. Insufficient evidence makes it tough to guarantee its safety.

It is advisable to use acupuncture to induce labor only if the expectant mother is 40 weeks pregnant – it may be inherently dangerous to apply it earlier as it might encourage labor too early. Also, it is important to allow a trained and skilled acupuncturist to perform it instead of trying it on one’s own. The use of disposable, pre-sterilised needles and maintaining strict hygiene is essential to avoid any probable infections later on.

How Does Acupuncture Work During Labor?

Acupuncture and labor may have a strong connection. Acupuncture can stimulate a pregnant woman’s body once she has completed the gestation period to get ready for labor. Needling can trigger her body to release prostaglandins, which ripen the cervix, and Oxycontin, which generates contractions. The production of hormones naturally develops a gradual start of labor rather than a traumatic one, and the expectant mom is more likely to have a smooth and easy delivery. Some doctors like to call acupuncture “labor preparation” as it prepares the mother and baby for the childbirth process by relaxing the body and activating hormone release, followed by uterine contractions. In any case, the therapy helps pregnant women relax and feel good.

Benefits of Acupuncture to Induce Labor

Some of the possible benefits of acupuncture to induce labor can be:

• Pregnant women are less likely to experience extreme pain and ask for epidurals for pain relief because of acupuncture therapy
• It may induce adequate relaxation and calmness which can help pregnant women during labor. Relaxed muscles can translate into a feeling of less pain in labor
• Being calm can result in the release of Oxycontin, which is responsible for producing contractions, thereby averting unnecessary intervention
• At times, the childbirth process may take a lot of time, causing much distress. In such scenarios, acupuncture for starting labor can be most helpful

Can Acupuncture Relieve Labor Pain?

There are two primary theories about how acupuncture can help relieve labor pain. One is built on neuroscience, which believes that needling stimulates nerves, connective tissues and muscles which enhances blood flow and signals the brain to release the body’s natural painkillers – endorphins. Endorphins are believed to be more potent than the popular narcotic, morphine, in diminishing even severe pain. Another theory states that an acupuncture birth may help in decreasing the body’s inflammatory proteins causing reduction in pain and inflammation.

Most mainstream doctors are accepting of the therapy’s technique for pain relief particularly when conventional medicine isn’t useful. However, acupuncture continues to be controversial in Western medical science. It is hard to establish investigations using scientific controls owing to the invasive nature of the technique; therefore, it remains unclear how acupuncture may work scientifically to benefit with pain relief during labor.

How Many Acupuncture Treatments Are Required to Induce Labor

Acupuncture is simply a means to spark the progression of natural labor. It may work differently for different people and in different situations. In instances where pregnant women have completed full gestation, they may require between one and three acupuncture treatments before labor commences. Several studies indicate that labor normally starts 6 to 48 hours after an acupuncture session. In case a pregnant woman is overdue, she may like to receive treatment every alternate day to provoke labor. On an average, things may progress for most pregnant women after 2 to 3 treatments. However, it is advisable to speak to a doctor before seeking acupuncture treatments while pregnant.

How Quickly and Effectively Will Acupuncture Work to Induce Labor?

An acupuncturist may not be able to use all the pressure points when dealing with pregnant women because of their stimulating impact on the body. Some points, like the lower back or upper shoulders may already be sore due to pregnancy. Thus, the treatment can comfort and soothe some of the aches and pains which in turn may provide an additional boost of energy that is much needed at the time of labor and delivery.

Further studies show that pregnant women who received 2 to 3 acupuncture sessions advanced into labor naturally compared to women who received only standard care. But needling may not cause labor if the body is not ready for it. Research reports that in cases where mothers are overdue, the success rate of acupuncture to bring on labor is almost 88 %.

Therefore, the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in bringing relief from pain at various stages of labor may be promising, but its effect or usefulness in causing labor is not definitive.

FAQs

Some of the frequently asked questions about acupuncture are:

1. Should I consult an acupuncturist who specialises in pregnancy?

Every individual may have a different requirement of acupuncture. Also, most maternity hospitals do not support this practice. Therefore, pregnant women who want to opt for acupuncture may have to look for  private acupuncturists who are experts in managing such cases. It is important to consider one’s finances as it can be expensive.

2. Should I get acupuncture before 35 weeks of pregnancy?

No, you should not attempt to start labor before 35 weeks of pregnancy. The topic of early induction has generated much discussion. Almost all doctors agree that the delivery process should not be hastened by acupuncture except if it is medically compulsory.

3. Can acupuncture be used to turn a breech baby?

Yes, some acupuncturists claim that acupuncture, along with moxibustion, may help turn a breech baby by stimulating specific points believed to encourage fetal movement. However, this should only be done under the guidance of a healthcare provider and a trained acupuncturist.

4. Does acupuncture help with post-labor recovery?

Yes, acupuncture can also be used after childbirth to aid in recovery. It may help with pain relief, reduce postpartum bleeding, and promote emotional well-being by balancing hormones. However, consulting a specialist in postnatal acupuncture is recommended for safety and efficacy.

Acupuncture treatments may have many advantages for expectant moms. Some women may prefer to explore alternative medicine to incite labor to avoid the use of drugs and their side effects. But more conclusive research is required for acupuncture to be accepted in mainstream medical practices. Someday, it can benefit more women to give birth naturally (vaginally).

References/Resources:

1. Betts. D, Lenox. S; Acupuncture For Prebirth Treatment: An Observational Study Of Its Use In Midwifery Practice (Journal of Chinese Medicine); ResearchGate; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284625163_Acupuncture_For_Prebirth_Treatment_An_Observational_Study_Of_Its_Use_In_Midwifery_Practice; January 2006

2. Alimoradi. Z, Kazemi. F, Valiani. M, Gorji. M; Comparing the effect of auricular acupressure and body acupressure on pain and duration of the first stage of labor: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial; BMC; https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-019-3896-0; December 2019

3. Betts. D; Inducing Labour with Acupuncture–Crucial Considerations; ResearchGate; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228804647_Inducing_Labour_with_Acupuncture-Crucial_Considerations; July 2009

4. Wheeler. V, Hoffman. A, Bybel. M; Cervical Ripening and Induction of Labor; American Family Physician; https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2022/0200/p177.html; February 2022

5. Labor Induction: FAQs; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/labor-induction

6. Acupuncture; Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/about/pac-20392763

7. Acupuncture; Cleveland Clinic; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/4767-acupuncture

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