Labour 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.

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 treatment during labour--a randomised controlled trial.
Ramnero A, Hanson U, Kihlgren M., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orebro University Hospital, Sweden.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate acupuncture treatment during labour with regard to pain intensity, degree of relaxation and outcome of the delivery. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial.

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.