Acupuncture and Pregnancy Research

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Moxibustion for the correction of Breech Presentation
JAMA 1998; 280:1580-1584 Cardini F, Weixin H.
A randomized, controlled open clinical trial of 130 women (first baby) to evaluate the efficacy of stimulation of the point BL 67 to correct breech presentation.

  • Moxabustion was administered for one week, and then a further seven days if babies were still breech. The control group received no treatment.
  • Significant increase in foetal movement was recorded in the treatment group
  • At 35 weeks gestation 75.4% in the intervention group were cephalic (47.7% in the control).
  • Moxabustion for 1 or 2 weeks beginning at 33 weeks gestation significantly increased foetal movements and cephalic presentation at 35 weeks and delivery.

 

Effects of acupuncture and stabilising exercises as adjunct to standard treatment in pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain: randomised single blind controlled trial.
Elden H et al 2005 Jul 30;331(7511):249-50.
British Medical Journal

  • Pain levels were compared in three groups. A ‘standard’ treatment group (home exercises and a pelvic belt) a combined group (physio and acupuncture) and an acupuncture group (acupuncture alone)
  • Significant decrease in pain was recorded in the combined group (physio and acupuncture) and the acupuncture group.
  • The most significant pain reduction was in the acupuncture alone group.

 

Acupuncture for Depression During Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Manber R et al, Obst and Gynec 2010, 115 (3) 511 – 520
Obstetrics and Gynecology

  • The short acupuncture protocol demonstrated symptom reduction and a response rate comparable to those observed in standard depression treatments of similar length and could be a viable treatment option for depression during pregnancy.

 

Acupuncture For Prebirth Treatment: An Observational Study Of Its Use In Midwifery Practice
Betts D and Lennox S, Medical Acupuncture 2006, 17, (3) 16 – 19
Medical Acupuncture

  • Main Outcome Measures Gestation at onset of labour, incidence of medical induction, length of labor, use of analgesia, and type of delivery.
  • Results When compared with the local population rates, there was an overall
  • 35% reduction in the number of inductions (for primigravida women, this was a 43% reduction)
  • 31% reduction in the epidural rate
  • 32% reduction in emergency caesarean delivery
  • 9% increase in normal vaginal birth.
  • Conclusions Pre birth acupuncture appeared to provide some promising therapeutic benefits in assisting women to have a normal vaginal birth.
  • A further randomized controlled study is warranted.

 

Acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy: a systematic review.
Ee CC et al, . 2008 Am J Obstet Gynecol Mar;198(3):254-9.
American Jnl Obstetrics and Gynecology

  • We conclude that limited evidence supports acupuncture use in treating pregnancy-related pelvic and back pain.
  • Additional high-quality trials are needed to test the existing promising evidence for this relatively safe and popular complementary therapy.

 

Acupuncture and morning sickness
Smith et al in 2002 published two articles from their research on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. The first looked at the effectiveness of acupuncture [5] and the second at the safety of acupuncture treatment in early pregnancy [6]

A randomised controlled trial into the effects of acupuncture on cervical was published by Rabl 2001 [12].

  • So while all three acupuncture groups reported improvement with nausea and dry retching, it was the traditional acupuncture group that had the fastest response.
  • Patients receiving traditional acupuncture also reported improvement in five aspects of general health status (vitality, social function, physical function, mental health and emotional role function) compared to improvement in two aspects with the Neiguan P-6 and Sham acupuncture groups.
  • In assessing the safety of acupuncture in early pregnancy data was collected on perinatal outcome, congenital abnormalities, pregnancy complications and the newborn. No differences were found between study groups in the incidence of these outcomes suggesting that there are no serious adverse effects from the use of acupuncture treatment in early pregnancy.
  • Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy.