Acupuncture and Cervical Ripening

Written by Dr. Field

What is Cervical Ripening?

During pregnancy your cervix is firm and closed. Once you begin labour your cervix changes and becomes soft and distended so that it can dilate and open. This change to the cervix is referred to as cervical ripening.

What Do The Studies Say?

A 2011 study by Gribele et. al. compared the drug misoprostol to acupuncture and found “acupuncture is effective at obtaining cervical ripening with a significantly higher frequency of vaginal deliveries and without occurrence of obstetric complications.”

In 1998 Zeisler et al. concluded that acupuncture treatment had a positive effect on the duration of labour by shortening the first stage of labour, defined as the time between 3cm cervical dilation and complete dilation. The acupuncture group were treated from 36 weeks gestation and had a median duration of 196 minutes compared to the control group time of 321 minutes.

In 1974 Kubista and Kucera concluded that acupuncture once per week from 37 weeks gestation was successful in reducing the mean labour time in the women treated.

Conclusion:

As a result of these studies, Naturopathic Doctors and Acupuncturists offer this therapy to pregnant women as part of their prenatal care. The general recommendation is to have weekly acupuncture treatments beginning at 36 weeks through to your due date.

To book an appointment please call (250) 504-0090 or book online

References:

Betts D and Lennox S (2006). “Acupuncture For Prebirth Treatment: An Observational Study Of Its Use In Midwifery Practice.” Med Acup; 17(3): 16–19.

Gribele G.P.C., Coca-Velarde LG, Moreira de Sa RA. (2011). “Electroacupuncture for cervical ripening prior to labor induction: a randomized clinical trial.” Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics; 283(6): 1233-1238.

Kubista E ,Kucera H (1974). [On the use of acupuncture in the preparation for delivery]. Geburtshilfe Perinatol; 178: 224-9.

Rabl M, Ahner R, Bitschnau M, Zeisler H, Husslein P (2001). “Acupuncture for cervical ripening and induction of labour at term – a randomised controlled trail.” Wien Klin Wochenschr; 113(23-24): 942-6.

Zeisler H, Tempfer C, Mayerhofer Kr, Barrada M, Husslein P (1998). “Influence of acupuncture on duration of labour.” Obstet Gynecol; 92(2): 245-8.