Why An Acupuncture Pre Birth Treatment Plan Is Most Effective For Labour And Delivery.
By Kari Pettersen
Acupuncture is well known for being able to help induce labour and it is by far the most requested treatment in my practice. I get it ladies, by the time you reach the end of the third trimester you are done and ready to get on with it! But what if I were to tell you there is a better treatment plan for inducing labour then just calling your acupuncturist when you ‘re overdo!? That you could also have a shorter and more efficient labour with reduced chances of intervention rates like medical inductions or cesarean! I mean, who wouldn’t want that!?If this peaks your interest then read on dear friend.
After years of her own clinical practice and running courses for midwives, Debra Betts, author of the Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth, started to get feedback from her patients and midwives about treatments starting at 36-37 weeks. Midwives were consistently seeing an increase of women experiencing a natural efficient labour. They noted that women were spending shorter times in active labour than women who did not receive treatment and pre birth acupuncture had contributed to reduced intervention rates, including medical inductions and caesarean sections. They also found that when doing induction acupuncture treatments after the due date, although successfully in inducing labour, some of the women were having more difficult and stressful labours compared to the women who did the pre-birth treatments.
Encouraged by these observations, Debra Betts together with Sue Lennox, a midwife, decided to conducted a study in 2004 of 169 women. These women received pre birth acupuncture care. They compared local population rates for gestation at onset of labour, incidence of medical induction, length of labour, use of analgesia and type of delivery.
In the acupuncture group comparing all caregivers (including midwives, GP’s and specialists) there was an overall 35% reduction in the number of inductions (for women having their first baby this was a 43% reduction) and a 31% reduction in the epidural rate. When comparing midwifery only care there was a 32% reduction in emergency caesarean delivery and a 9 % increase in normal vaginal births.
Another study, done in1974, by Kubista and Kucera, calculated that women who had acupuncture starting in the final weeks of pregnancy on average took 4 hours and 57 minutes between when they were 3-4 cm dilated to when they delivered. This is compared to 5 hours and 54 minutes in the control (non-acupuncture) group. They also measured the time between the onset of 10-15 minute contraction and delivery, and by that measure the acupuncture group averaged 6 hours 36 minutes, versus 8 hours and 2 minutes in the control group.
Aright, so now that we get there is actual studies and data to back up acupuncture then what exactly is a pre birth treatment? It is a series of weekly acupuncture treatments starting at weeks 36-37 of pregnancy. Treatments are aimed at making sure the body is in harmony by decreasing stress, preparing the cervix and pelvis for labour, and addressing symptoms such as heart burn etc... Treatments can be done to help turn a breech baby if necessary.
One way it is believed that pre birth acupuncture is so effective is by helping encourage the body to produce the natural hormone oxytocin and B-endorphins. Oxytocin promotes feelings of wellbeing and belonging. It is produced when we feel safe and relaxed. It also helps the uterus contract for labour and makes contractions strong and efficient. These powerful contractions that help to thin and open (dilate) the cervix, move the baby down and out of the birth canal and push out the placenta. Maternal oxytocin is released at 32 weeks. Myometrial oxytocin receptors in the uterus gradually start increasing up to 36 weeks and after 36 weeks there is a rapid increase, reaching peak levels just before labour.
B-endorphins also increase significantly in the third trimester. B-endorphins increase the threshold for pain and discomfort and keep the body motivated to keep going despite the pain. High endorphin levels during labor and birth can produce an altered state of consciousness sometimes referred to as a “spaced out feeling” that can help you deal with the process of giving birth, even if it is long and challenging. Increasing and high endorphin levels can make you feel alert, attentive and even euphoric (very happy) after birth.
Feeling fear, unsafe, stress or pain can cause high adrenaline spikes which can interfere with oxytocin and B-endorphin release. Adrenaline is the "fight or flight" hormone that humans produce to help ensure survival. Adrenaline can cause contractions to stop, slow of have an erratic pattern thus lengthening labour and cause more panic and pain during labour. This was helpful back in cave man days as it would allow a women to stop labour to get to safety but not as helpful today as day to day stress can trigger this response even if we are not in danger.
Acupuncture down regulates ( shuts off) the sympathetic nervous system that is activated when stressed or fearful thus giving the body space to produce oxytocin and B-endorphins naturally. Weekly treatments allow the body and mind space to feel safe, calm and ready to take on labour while addressing any pain / symptoms that might be causing stress physically.
Looking for more information on how acupuncture can help during pregnancy? Click here to read some FAQ
References
1 Betts D. (2006). The Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth. Hove, UK: The Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications.
Childbirth Connection. 2021. The Role of Hormones in Childbirth. accessed Jan 17, 2021, Retrieved from http://www.childbirthconnection.org/maternity-care/role-of-hormones/#:~:text=Oxytocin%20stimulates%20powerful%20contractions%20that,the%20site%20of%20the%20placenta.