Influence of Acupuncture on Duration of Labor

Abstract

The aim of this case control study was to evaluate the thus far controversially discussed influence of acupuncture (AP) on the duration of labor. Fifty-seven women with AP treatment (group A) were included in our study after spontaneous vaginal full-term delivery. The control group included 63 women (group B). Median duration of the first stage of labor was 196 min in group A and 321 min in group B (Wilcoxon 2-sample test, p < 0.0001). Median duration of the second stage of labor was 57 min in group A and 57 min in group B (Wilcoxon 2-sample test, p = 0.82). Thirty women had a premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), in group A 66.7% and in group B 33.3% (χ² test, p = 0.02). Women without AP (group B) received significantly more often oxytocin during the first stage of labor compared with group A women (85 and 15%, respectively, χ² test, p = 0.01) as well as during the second stage of labor (72 and 28%, respectively, χ² test, p = 0.03). Our study suggests that AP treatment is a recommendable form of childbirth preparation due to its positive effect on the duration of labor, namely by shortening the first stage of labor.

Influence of acupuncture on Doppler ultrasound in pregnant women

“…Acupuncture has been used in the treatment of various obstetric and gynecological disorders including female infertility, dysmenorrhea, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and in antepartum treatment to shorten delivery time [1][2][3][4] .…”

Effect of Acupuncture Treatment on Uterine Motility and Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Pregnant Rats

“…Acupuncture treatments using multiple acupoints were practiced for centuries with therapeutic purpose for increasing contractility of the uterus to induce labor. Several human studies have successfully described and reviewed the usefulness of acupuncture stimulation in inducing or inhibiting labor [16][17][18]. However, these studies were mainly based on animal experiments without any elucidation of the cellular mechanisms involved.…”

Acupuncture in obstetrics

“…Als ein weiteres Einsatzgebiet der Akupunktur unter der Geburt ist die Wehenkoordinierung zu nennen [22,23]. So kön-nen Intensität sowie Regelmäßigkeit der Wehen durch Akupunktur verbessert und der Einsatz von Oxytocin reduziert werden [21,31].…”