Induction of labor is offered to pregnant women when it is thought the outcome will be better for the mother or her baby if the pregnancy does not continue and the baby is born. Common reasons for induction include:
- pregnancy going beyond the due date
- pre‐term or pre‐labor rupture of the membranes
- pre‐eclampsia
- poor growth of the baby
Some women look to using complementary therapies alongside conventional medical practice for induction. There are indications that suggest that the application of acupuncture for favoring spontaneous labor onset could reduce the number of inductions and the adverse effects of the treatments traditionally used. The studies available demonstrate that acupuncture is a relatively safe treatment with minor and limited adverse events, such as pain, inflammation, hematoma, or bleeding at the injection site.
Acupuncture for labor pain
- A Cochrane review of 13 trials involving 1986 women, reported that acupuncture or acupressure may have a role with reducing pain, increasing satisfaction with pain management and reduced use of pharmacological management.
- A randomized controlled trial within an Indian public hospital to evaluate the effect of acupressure on a single acupoint SP6 (Sanyinjiao) on pain levels when administered during the active phase of labor with women having their first baby. A reduction of in-labor pain was found in the acupressure group and was most noticeable immediately after treatment. Retrospectively (2–24 hours after birth), the women in the acupuncture group remembered having had less pain during labor and said they coped better with their labor pain compared with the standard care Compared to the women in the touch group, those in the acupuncture group remembered having coped better with the pain
Acupuncture and acupressure for induction of labor (IOL)
The mechanism underlying IOL by acupuncture involves stimulation of the uterus by hormonal changes or the nervous system. Stimulation of acupuncture points is known to increase the discharge of thalamic nuclei and the hypothalamic anterior pituitary system.
Acupuncture may increase uterine contractility by the release of central oxytocin or parasympathetic stimulation of the uterus without influencing locally active factors such as interleukin-8 and prostaglandin.
Multiple studies have shown Acupuncture to be effective in labor induction.
- A study found that women who received Acupuncture 4 days prior to their induction of labor increased admission for spontaneous onset of labor and premature rupture of membranes before the induction of labor date.
- A review of seven clinical trials of seven clinical trials involving 748 women explored the effects of acupressure using various points and techniques. The findings suggest that acupressure—especially when applied to key points like SP6 (Sanyinjiao) and LI4 (Hegu)—may help shorten the duration of labor, particularly during the first stage.
- The meta-analysis of 17 studies including 3262 women of 17 studies including 3262 women, showed no statistically significant differences between for outcomes comparing acupuncture vs sham acupuncture, one potential explanation for this phenomenon is the nuanced nature of sham acupuncture, which encompasses a range of both invasive and noninvasive techniques. Among the invasive approaches are superficial needle insertions at acupuncture points, needle placement near genuine acupuncture points, or puncturing areas or points traditionally regarded as inert. Nonetheless, it is important to note that some some researchers view these methods as modified acupuncture procedures, which may still activate, albeit to a lesser degree, the same physiological mechanisms as genuine acupuncture view these methods as modified acupuncture procedures, which may still activate, albeit to a lesser degree, the same physiological mechanisms as genuine acupuncture. However, there was a statistically significant increase in the spontaneous onset of labor rate favoring acupuncture vs no acupuncture.
- A Cochrane review showed an increase in cervical maturation and shorter length of labor in Acupuncture group.
Points to consider when receiving acupuncture for labor induction
The effectiveness of Acupuncture for labor induction depends on variety of factors such as:
- Maternal age
- Number of previous pregnancies
- Number of acupuncture sessions
- Overall maternal health
- Pregnancy complications such as cervical stenosis
- Previous C-sections
- Placenta previa
- Uterine rupture
When to start Acupuncture for labor induction
Pre-Birth (or Labor Prep) Acupuncture is a series of 4-5 weekly treatments beginning at week 34-36 of your pregnancy that are designed to help your body go into labor on time and to labor to progress normally and without complication.
Please note during your Pre-birth treatments, the acupuncture points that are used are to induce relaxation, relief back pain, enhance cervical ripening, improve sleep quality. Once you are closer to your due date, special protocols involving acupuncture with electrical stimulation may help with labor induction.
