Hantoushzadeh S et al, Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2007 Feb;47(1):26-30.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
A reduction in pain and in labour duration was observed in women receiving acupuncture in this trial which involved 144 women giving birth for the first time.
Aghdam S, Daryabakhsh A, IJOG, 2012;15(27):14-20
Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility.
Using simple acupressure on an acupuncture point in the hand was shown to help women in labour in this trial in Iran. The women who received acupressure to point Hegu, or LI 4, found they had shorter labours and experienced less pain at the end of first stage and beginning of second stage, than did the women who had pressure applied to other areas of the hand. Read more
Fan Qu and Jue Zhou, eCAM 2007;4(1)125–130
Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
A group of women (36) about to give birth to their first child were divided into an electro-acupuncture group or a control group and the intensity of the pain. The acupuncture group were seen to be more relaxed and had less pain.
Gaudernack LC1, Forbord S, Hole E. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2006;85(11):1348-53.
Acta Obstetrica et Gynecologica Scandinavica
100 women with spontaneous rupture of membranes were ramdomly assigned to have acupuncture or not. The authors found that acupuncture was an effective method of augmenting labour in this situation, and appeared to help the progression of labour.
