Pre-Birth | How to have an easier labour

Research shows that if you do acupuncture for the 4 weeks before your due date labours are easier and shorter, inductions rates are reduced, when induction is necessary the amount of oxytocin used is reduced, epidural rates are reduced, the number of emergency cesarian sections needed are reduced and the amount of normal vaginal births is increased. The research also showed there was no negative side effects to the pre-birth acupuncture treatments.

Pre-birth Acupuncture Treatment Research

Average labour time shortened by 2 hours with pre-birth acupuncture treatment group *
- from conclusions of research paper "In the pre-birth acupuncture treatment group not only were the labours shorter, more importantly the labours were much more efficient with much less panic, and women more in control and overall coping much better <than in the group that did not receive the acupuncture>"**

Medical interventions (C-sections) reduced from 27% to 18%. **

Epidural rates reduced from 50% to 34% **

Normal vaginal births increased from 71% to 78% **

Women receiving the pre-birth acupuncture did not give birth any earlier (#weeks) than the group that did not receive the acupuncture.

* Zeisler H, Tempfer C, Mayerhofe Kr, Barrada M, Husslein P. "Influence of acupuncture on duration of labour" Gynecological and Obstetric Investigation; 46:22 -5

** Betts D, Lennox S. (2006)"Acupuncture for Prebirth Treatment: An Observational Study of its use in Midwifer Practise" . Medical Acupuncture. V17 # 3