Acupuncture and Pregnancy» Induction of Labour

Don’t lose the path for the hill

Dawn Aarons — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:34:04 +0000

Our perspective determines what and how we see things.

Often, I work with women who are expecting their first babies. Their excitement about their upcoming labour is infectious. Really beautiful. I compare them to a cyclist approaching a steep hill. It’s big. It’s daunting. It’s all they can see.

In cases when a woman is still pregnant past her due date (and increasingly anxious and nervous in response to words like induction and C-Section) her innocent hopefulness can actually increase her anxiety. If someone is attached to a vision of how her labour must go, the possibility of having to detour from that imagined path can be incredibly difficult. At those times I reassure her, “no matter how your baby is born, as long as you and your baby are healthy, you will be delighted”. Most women understand that already; but if the woman is holding tightly to her original birth plan, it doesn’t bring much comfort.

What some don’t understand (fully) is that labour is a day or two of their lives. The big deal is the rest of their lives as parents!!!

I am not suggesting that women should not do everything in their power to have a natural birth. It is my work to help that to happen. It is also my work to help women accept what is not in their power and invite a new perspective.

Patients have described a type of blindness. “I just couldn’t see past the labour” one women explained to me postpartum. “I had hardly considered parenting. I was just consumed with the labour”.

So after the rise to the top of the hill (however that happens), a whole new world reveals itself. It’s a road with numerous ups and downs, twists and turns. But, ah, what a road it is!

Sometimes Post-Dates is right on time!

Dawn Aarons — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:27:48 +0000

It was my pleasure to treat Sarah twice late in her pregnancy. She went into labour the day after her 2nd treatment. It was bound to happen some time soon. As I explained to Sarah, an acupuncture “induction” treatment is just an invitation. We have no real control over the mystery of labour. Even so, treatments are also helpful to prepare and relax the mother. Sarah wrote me this update on her positive experience.

Our baby, named Vita Pope Cullen, was born on November 13th (9lbs1oz!). I ended up going into labour on my own on Saturday the 12th and arrived at the hospital one hour before my induction was scheduled! Amazing. The combination of things I did in the preceding days made a huge difference and really got things moving. I got to 7 cms on my own while walking the halls. Things weren’t progressing so I ended up having an epidural and oxytocin and slept for 5 hours. When I woke up I was fully dilated. They turned off the epidural so that I could feel the contractions and I pushed her out in about 30 minutes. No tearing. Easy! Thanks for fitting me in at the last minute!

Congratulations Sarah and family!

Acupuncture helps woman go into labour

Dawn Aarons — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:57:17 +0000

Women often book acupuncture appointments to address their eagerness to go into labour. In some cases, they are past their due dates. It may also be that their water has broken and contractions havn’t started.
I always explain that an “acupuncture induction treatment” is an invitation to the body to go into labour, but can not force something that is not meant to happen.
In Chinese Medicine, the two common reasons that labour can be delayed are
1) the woman is exhausted
2) the woman is stressed or anxious
Acupuncture treatment encourages labour (by stimulating points that direct energy downward and opening energy). Treatment also address the physical and mental emotional state of the woman at that moment – inviting her to feel both relaxed and energized.
I was pleased to receive an email from a patient a couple days ago. This woman came to see me last week pregnant with her 3rd child. Her first two children were born at home with midwives. She was disappointed that her water broke at 38 weeks with no sign of contractions and hoped to avoid a hospital induction. She came to see me at 11am. Her labour started at 2pm that same day and her baby was born at 5pm! She was thrilled.

Induction

Dawn Aarons — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:07:02 +0000

Acupuncture is used to encourage labour to start. Women often look to acupuncture for help when they are post dates or when their water has broken and contractions have not kicked in yet.

From a Chinese Medicine perspective, the onset on labour is an example of “Yin transforming to Yang”. After 9 months of maintaining the job of keeping the fetus safe and enclosed, the uterus suddenly begins to contract. The key terms become “opening” and “down”. Acupuncture points are chosen to support the downward and opening movement of energy. Some of the points used are from the classical “do not use in pregnancy” list – specifically because these points have downward and opening functions. Other points are chosen in relation to the specific needs of the woman at the time and with consideration to her constitution.

Induction treatments last 20-30 minutes and are very comfortable for the woman. Women often sleep while the needles are in, or at least relax deeply.

Treatment also allows the woman to discuss her situation and receive support in accepting and feeling comfortable with her current situation, and better understanding her options.

For details about a study on the effectiveness of Acupunucture for labour induction see:

http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab002962.html
Smith CA, Crowther CA. Acupuncture for induction of labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD002962. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002962.pub2.

This video offers a short and clear representation of the opening and downward motions in labour and birth.