Acupuncture in Pregnancy
(Adapted from the British Acupuncture Council website)
Is Acupuncture Safe?
Acupuncture is very safe to have during pregnancy and is an effective option at a time when many women choose to avoid taking medicine for minor ailments. It is essential that you choose an acupuncturist who is trained and a member of a professional body such as the British Acupuncture Council.
How can acupuncture help during pregnancy?
Many conditions which routinely crop up during pregnancy would benefit from a natural solution. Acupuncture, when provided by a trained practitioner, can give relief for a range of pregnancy related conditions:
- Morning sickness
- Tiredness
- Constipation
- Migraine and other headaches
- Back ache
- Pelvic pain (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction)
Research into acupuncture and pregnancy related conditions
- Acupuncture has been proven to reduce the symptoms of morning sickness. (2002, Adelaide University).
- Acupuncture has been proven to reduce pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy (2005, Institute for the health of Women and Children, Sahlgrenska Academy Gothernburg, Sweden).
70% of women responded postively to treatment with acupuncture for depression during pregnancy. (2004, Stanford University)
Acupuncture for induction of labour
Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles into specific points of the body and has been used to help ripen the cervix, induce labour and reduce labour pains. it is enjoying increasing popularity as women with uncomplicated pregnancies seek to avoid conventional medical induction, imposition of medical timeframes, and the cascade of interventions that often follow.
Current Research
In 2008 the Cochrane Collaboration reviewed three overseas trials of 212 women comparing acupuncture used for third trimester cervical ripening/labour induction with a placebo/no treatment or other methods.
The review of two of these trials suggested that women receiving acupuncture required less use of other induction methods compared with women receiving standard care alone.
The Collaboration noted that the studies were of moderate methodological quality, included small numbers of subjects and were inadequately reported; in other words, not of high quality.
The authors concluded that acupuncture had no adverse side effects and that there was a need for a well designed, randomised controlled trial to evaluate the role of acupuncture to induce labour, and for trials to assess clinically meaningful outcomes.