Acupuncture and Expecting Mothers

Caycee Jones, LAc

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine have been used in treating expectant mothers successfully for thousands of years. Acupuncture is a viable component in the care of women and has proven beneficial for prenatal and postpartum diseases. Chinese Medicine has the following applications in Pregnancy (* indicates the most common):

1. Morning Sickness*
2. Threatened Miscarriage
3. Analgesia during Child Birth
4. Fetus in Breech Position*
5. Prenatal Care
6. Post-Partum Syndrome
7. Induction of Labor*
8. Hemorrhoids associated with Pregnancy
9. Constipation associated with Pregnancy
10. Headaches associated with Pregnancy
11. Insufficient Lactation
12. Regulation of Menstrual Cycle after Child Birth
13. Urinary Incontinence associated with Pregnancy
14. Anxiety related to Pregnancy
15. Back pain associated with Pregnancy

In the paragraphs to follow, please find information on the above listings for the most common uses for Acupuncture with expectant mothers.

In a Consensus Statement on Acupuncture in 1997, the National Institute of Health states: “There is clear evidence that needle acupuncture treatment is effective for postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting, nausea of pregnancy, and postoperative dental pain.”

The most widely known/acknowledged Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment of expectant mothers is the prevention of Breech Birth. A study published in the November 11th issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association tested the treatment’s efficacy. Dr. Francesco Cardini, a private practitioner in Verona Italy, and Dr.Huang Weixin of Jianxi Women’s Hospital in Nanchang China studied 260 Chinese women who were about to deliver their first babies. The women were in their 33rd week of pregnancy (a point at which the fetus has usually turned so it is in a head-down position) and ultrasound scans showed these women’s fetuses still in a head-up position. In the study, 130 of the women had either one or two half-hour treatments every day for a week. The treatments consisted of burning herbs (mugwort is the herb used for burning and referred to as “moxibustion”) over an acupuncture point (heating the point activates it) on the mother’s toe. If the fetus still had not turned so it was head-down after one week, the mother received a second week of treatment. The other 130 women received no treatment for breech position during those two weeks. Women in both groups were asked to count fetal movements for one hour per day during the first week of the study. Mothers who had moxibustion treatment reported an average of 48.5 fetal movements, while those who received no treatment reported an average of 35.35 movements. At the 35th week of pregnancy, 75.4% of the fetuses whose mothers had moxibustion treatments had turned and were head-down, compared with 47.7% of those whose mothers had not had the treatment. No adverse side effects were noticed from the treatments. This is one of the reasons acupuncture can be seen as the most effective solution when it comes to turning a baby in breech position.

If intended, acupuncture can be used to facilitate birth in the presence of an overdue fetus. Acupuncture can increase uterine activity, strengthen contractions and therefore hasten delivery.

The three questions below were sent to state licensing agencies in states that contain the densest population of practicing acupuncturists:

1. Have there been any complaints, grievances, or claims registered with the Licensing Board that directly relate to treatment rendered by a licensed acupuncturist to a mother to be? If there have been any complaints/claims, were any of them founded? What actions were taken?
2. Does the state have any parameters in place within the Acupuncture Laws and Regulations in regards to the treatment of a mother to be?
3. Does the Licensing Board require the use of “informed consent”, “release of liability”, or “disclosure” forms? If so, is there any wording associated with the treatment of a mother to be?

From the states who responded: The state of New York answered “NO” to all of the above questions. The state of New Mexico answered “NO” to all of the above questions. The state of Texas answered “NO” to all of the above questions. The state of Florida answered “NO” to all of the above questions. The state of Washington answered “NO” to all of the above questions. The state of Maryland answered “NO” to all of the above questions. The state of California answered “YES” as they received one complaint from a mother to be regarding a moxibustion burn.

Question number one (1) above was asked to the American Acupuncture Council, the largest malpractice carrier in regards to the number of Acupuncturists covered. Their answer was also “NO”. AAC has never had a claim related to Acupuncture and the treatment of expectant mothers.

All texts listed for study by the National Certification Committee on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine containing information on acupuncture points specifically state the points that are contraindicated for expectant mothers. In addition, acupuncture points on the abdomen and the lower back are always contraindicated during pregnancy.

For women who seek a drug-free treatment for the conditions of pregnancy, this ancient Chinese Healing Art is undeniably safe, and has much to offer.

Thanks to Caycee Jones, of New Health Care Management Group (ASNY member discount provider of professional liability insurance) for providing this article.

Caycee Jones, LAc, Professional Liability Director for NHCMG
phone: 888.774.2422 extension 107
fax: 800.967.7851
email: cayceej@newhealthcaremg.com