Pregnancy & Acupuncture

Turning Breech Babies

Watch a video using Moxabustion for turning a breech baby presentation

JAMA 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1580-4

Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation: a randomized controlled trial.

Cardini F, Weixin H

Commentary by Debra Betts

Conclusion

Although the research by Lyrendas et all appears to contradict the findings of both Kubista and Kucera and Tempfer the full paper by Lyrendas et all contains interesting details. A control group with twice the number of women in it from the acupuncture group, taking the most subjective time for onset of labour as presentation to delivery suite and a recruiting process that asks women in the acupuncture group to have an invasive medical procedure such as a lumber puncture raises concerns that this study may not be an accurate representation of the benefits of prebirth acupuncture.
Treatment method

Non-stress test changes during acupuncture plus moxibustion on BL67 point in breech presentation.

Neri I, Fazzio M, Menghini S, Volpe A, Facchinetti F., Clinica Ostetrica, Universita di Roma-Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed fetal heart variability and activity using a computerized non-stress test (NST) during acupuncture plus moxibustion on the BL67 point. For comparison, the same changes were assessed during placebo acupuncture (minimal acupuncture) in the same subjects.

Influence of acupuncture on duration of labor.

Zeisler H, Tempfer C, Mayerhofer K, Barrada M, Husslein P., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vienna, AKH, Austria.

The aim of this case control study was to evaluate the thus far controversially discussed influence of acupuncture (AP) on the duration of labor. Fifty-seven women with AP treatment (group A) were included in our study after spontaneous vaginal full-term delivery. The control group included 63 women (group B). Median duration of the first stage of labor was 196 min in group A and 321 min in group B (Wilcoxon 2-sample test, p < 0.0001). Median duration of the second stage of labor was 57 min in group A and 57 min in group B (Wilcoxon 2-sample test, p = 0.82). Thirty women had a premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), in group A 66.7% and in group B 33.3% (chi2 test, p = 0.02). Women without AP (group B) received significantly more often oxytocin during the first stage of labor compared with group A women (85 and 15%, respectively, chi2 test, p = 0.01) as well as during the second stage of labor (72 and 28%, respectively, chi2 test, p = 0.03). Our study suggests that AP treatment is a recommendable form of childbirth preparation due to its positive effect on the duration of labor, namely by shortening the first stage of labor.

Comparing ginger and vitamin B6 for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: a randomised controlled trial.

Acupuncture turns Breech babies

Fetal Diagn Ther. 2003 Nov-Dec;18(6):418-21.
Acupuncture conversion of fetal breech presentation.

Habek D, Cerkez Habek J, Jagust M.

Clinical Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Hospital Osijek, Osijek, Croatia.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the value of acupuncture (AP) in the conversion of fetal breech presentation into vertex presentation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized prospective controlled clinical study included 67 pregnant women with fetal breech presentation: 34 women with singleton pregnancies treated with manual AP (urinary bladder 67, Zhiyin) and a control group which included 33 women with singleton pregnancies without AP treatment. The AP treatment lasted 30 min a day, and was conducted during and after 34 weeks of pregnancy with simultaneous cardiotocography. RESULTS: The success rate of the AP correction of fetal breech presentation is 76.4% (26 women), and spontaneous conversion without AP in vertex presentation is observed in 15 women (45.4%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We believe that AP correction of fetal malpresentation is a relatively simple, efficacious and inexpensive method associated with a lower percentage of operatively completed deliveries, which definitely reflects in improved parameters of vital and perinatal statistics. Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel

Acupuncture plus moxibustion to resolve breech presentation: a randomized controlled study.

Neri I, Airola G, Contu G, Allais G, Facchinetti F, Benedetto C., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Modena-Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: In many Western countries breech presentation is an indication for elective Cesarean section. In order to correct fetal presentation, the stimulation of the acupuncture point BL67 by moxibustion, acupuncture or both has been proposed. Since no studies had previously been carried out on Western populations, pregnant Italian women at 33-35 weeks gestational age carrying a fetus in breech presentation were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial involving an active BL67 point stimulation and an observation group.

Acupuncture for cervical ripening and induction of labor at term--a randomized controlled trial.

Rabl M, Ahner R, Bitschnau M, Zeisler H, Husslein P., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vienna, Austria.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether acupuncture at term can influence cervical ripening, induce labor and thus reduce the need for postdates induction.

Acupuncture during labor can reduce the use of meperidine: a controlled clinical study.

Nesheim BI, Kinge R, Berg B, Alfredsson B, Allgot E, Hove G, Johnsen W, Jorsett I, Skei S, Solberg S., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ulleval University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture as an analgesic during labor. DESIGN: A randomized, unblinded, controlled study.

Commentary by Debra Betts

Conclusion

Acupuncture was superior to stabilising exercisers in the management of pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy. With acupuncture the treatment of choice for patients with one sided sacroiliac pain, one sided sacroiliac pain combined with symphysis pubis pain and double sided sacroiliac pain.