Supporting Childbirth With Acupuncture

By Joshua Herr, L.Ac.

A documentary on the state of childbirth in the United States was released this year. “The Business of Being Born” was produced by Ricki Lake and directed by Abby Epstein. In 2006, CNN reported, “The US has the second worst newborn death rate in the developed world.” In all other countries, midwives attend 70-80% of births. In 2003, midwives attended approximately 8% of births in the United States.

The rate of cesarean section has increased as a result of the majority of births occurring in hospitals instead of birthing centers or homes. The pharmaceutical pitocin is often used in the hospital to speed the process of labor by increasing the strength and frequency of contractions. This induction of labor can be too soon or too strong for the mother or child and lead to cesarean as the next intervention. To help prevent this cascade of events, choose a care provider who induces labor only for medical reasons.

In 1998, the journal Gynecologic and Obstetrics Investigation published a study titled, “Influence of Acupuncture on Duration of Labor.” Beginning at week 36 of pregnancy, they gave 4 treatments once per week with acupuncture. The comparison group consisted of women who delivered closely before or after the women who were receiving acupuncture.

What they found was that the acupuncture group had a significantly shorter time of first stage of labor, which they defined as 3-cm dilation to full dilation. The average time of the first stage of labor for the acupuncture group was 196 minutes, which is a little over 3 hours. The average time of the first stage of labor in the group that did not receive acupuncture was 300 minutes, which is a little over 5 hours. There was no change in the duration of the second stage of labor, full dilation to delivery. This study suggests that acupuncture is useful in preparation for childbirth and can shorten Stage l of the laboring process.

We are grateful for many of the advancements in science and technology that have saved the lives of premature babies and mothers of high-risk pregnancies. However, the advancements in scientific knowledge do not replace the inherit knowing of the woman’s body.

Midwives recognize this inherit ability of the mother and know how to encourage it emotionally and spiritually during the process of labor. They are also trained on how to assess the need for medical intervention to ensure that the mother and newborn are not in danger during the birth process.

In Germany, many midwives are trained to perform acupuncture in the context of pregnancy and childbirth, because they recognize the benefits.

The practitioners at CAC are well equipped to work with pregnant patients and have many resources to offer including relieving pain during pregnancy, labor induction, assisting with turning a breech baby, and late stage acupuncture for preparation for child birth.

Native Plant Turns Fate of Breech Pregnancy

By Joshua Herr, L.Ac.

The cesarean rate for diagnosed breech presentations rose from 12% in 1970 to more than 95% today. A fetus that is in a breech position has its head at the top of the uterus instead of down against the cervix. This can create complications during delivery. For women who are planning on having a vaginal birth, this is a shocking statistic.

The trend began in 1959 when Dr. Ralph Wright called for mandatory cesareans for women with a baby in the breech position. The move towards mandatory cesareans for breech babies is affecting the clinical training of obstetricians and midwives, as fewer are having the chance to witness a vaginal breech birth. Coupled with the threat from malpractice insurance companies to not provide coverage for hospitals that permit planned vaginal breech births, the clinical skill is in jeopardy.

Acupuncturists are turning fate around for women with a breech presentation. A common plant found in the mountains and abandoned plots around North Carolina is the method of choice. The plant is called Artemisia vulgaris and has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years to stimulate acupuncture points with heat. The plant is dried and repeatedly ground and sifted until it forms into a soft, golden fluff called moxa.

Moxa is burned at a safe distance from the skin to gently stimulate selected acupuncture points. For women with a breech diagnosis, the point chosen is called Zhi Yin (Reaching Yin) and is found on the outside edge of the little toe.

In 1998, JAMA published a study led by Dr. Cardini, which demonstrated that moxibustion applied to Zhi Yin for 1-2 weeks beginning at the 33rd week of pregnancy resulted in the fetus turning head-first after treatment and at delivery. Cardini's group demonstrated over a 75% chance of success using the moxa technique.

Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for women during pregnancy. Acupuncture can resolve muscular pain that occurs during pregnancy and is a treatment of choice for a mother concerned about taking pharmaceuticals.

Women with severe morning sickness are also finding that the holistic approach of acupuncture is the best approach. Incorporating breathing and relaxation exercises along with acupuncture treatment, an expectant mother with morning sickness can keep food down and nourish her body, as well as her baby.

Induction of labor can also be performed with acupuncture. When using acupuncture to induce labor, contractions increase gradually, which gives the mother's body time to safely transition into active labor.

The current age of medicine has brought a tremendous wealth of skills and knowledge, both old and new. As science moves forward with new medical breakthroughs, it is also important to keep old methods of effective procedures alive. A medical community that thoughtfully integrates innovation with antiquity will have the resources available to meet the future's healthcare needs.