Using Acupuncture in Labor Pain and Childbirth-Related Issues: A Narrative Review

Abstract

BACKGROUNDLatent threats, such as prolonged labor duration and postpartum hemorrhage, endanger women and newborns during and post childbirth, which produce burdens on natal care and public health expenditures. Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical practice, has increasingly been used for labor delivery in various countries to cope with these problems.METHODThis narrative review searched 29 English and Chinese electronic databases. Thirty-one empirical studies, carried out in Asia, America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Australia were reviewed according to inclusion and exclusion criteria.RESULTSAcupuncture is adopted with positive signs toward labor pain relief, delivery mode, labor duration, postpartum hemorrhage, APGAR score (an evaluation for a neonatal evaluation), and birth weight.DISCUSSIONWith support of earlier studies, the satisfactory effects of acupuncture on labor delivery reviewed in this research have been noted by obstetric researchers and scholars, physicians, nurses, and midwives.CONCLUSIONThis review recommends the use of acupuncture in obstetric profession with respect to maternal-related healthcare.