Acupuncture Induces Labor

A recent study has shown a significant difference in length of labor overall, amount of pitocin used, as well as the length of active labor when acupuncture was used.

Norwegian researchers have proven that there are effective ways to naturally induce labor when the mother's water has broken. A 2006 randomized control trial of 100 women whose water was broken at term were randomly assigned to an "acupuncture group" versus a "no acupuncture" group.

Results showed that the acupuncture group had a shorter duration of labor overall, they needed less pitocin to induce their labors and the active phase of labor was significantly shorter than the group receiving no acupuncture.

The results did not change when size of the baby, use of an epidural or whether the mother had given birth before were factored in.

These are remarkable findings that should help educate mothers about the options they have when their water is broken and they would prefer to induce labor with natural methods.

Be watching for my new series on inducing labor with more detailed instructions on using acupuressure and other methods to naturally induce labor.

Warmly,

Brenda