Acupuncture for Natural Labour induction.
Preparing for labour naturally, is a fantastic option for women and has been practiced by women in Asia for thousands of years. For natural labour induction, a trial showed that the average time from the Acupuncture induction treatment until delivery was 13.1 hours. The success rate to induce labour was around 70%. (Tsuei 1974). Ideally, treatment begins at 36 weeks aiming to strengthen the mother and prepare her for labour. At the 38 week point, the treatment focus shifts to bring on the labour. This is done by using acupuncture points which are normally forbidden during pregnancy because that are classically indicated to promote labour.
How does it work?
Acupuncture theory states that there are points which promote labour and send energy downwards. These theories come from thousands of years of clinical observation and is technically known as anecdotal evidence. As a side note modern medicine does not place much significance on this type evidence. There have been some medical trials conducted on the labour induction with acupuncture, one by (Tempfeer C, 1998) showed that acupuncture needles have the effect of “Nerve stimulation close to term has shown to increase uterine contractions either through parasympathetic stimulation or central hormone release”.