ACUPUNCTURE AND CHILDBIRTH PREPARATION

introduction

The acupuncture for birth preparation from age 36 Week of pregnancy Performed by a gynecologist or midwife 1-2 times a week. Both must have completed appropriate advanced training with a final exam. A total of at least three treatments should be carried out, four are common. If the date is exceeded, further meetings are also possible.

Also read our topic: Acupuncture in Pregnancy

execution

The Pregnant women lie during the acupuncture in a quiet room for 20 to 30 minutes and relax significantly. First and foremost, be Acupuncture points to the Legs and arms applied. The location of the acupuncture points is precisely defined. To Birth preparation (birth) will be on each side of the body 4 points treated:

below the Knees,

in the area of the inner ankle of the Foot,

on the upper lateral calf

and on the outside of the little toe.

complement

In addition to the Birth preparation a Head point be punctured, which has a generally calming effect and at Anxiety symptoms helps. The midwife or the Gynecologist feel in the corresponding area until the patient signals a pressure-sensitive point. The needle (Acupuncture needles) is brought in a first step quickly and without rotating movement to a depth of about 0.5 cm. Since the Standard needle is only 0.3 mm thick, the puncture is usually painless. The needles are made of flexible steel that can be bent but not broken. After that, the needle is under a rapid rotational movement until the triggering of the so-called "De-Qi feeling" advanced. That can feel like Warmth, numbness, pressure, heaviness, tingling sensation or like a tiny, painless electric shock be. But that differs from patient to patient. The stitch depth depends on the position of the points and can vary between 5mm and several centimeters. According to the traditional chinese medicine is birth by one strong polarity marked. On the one hand between very strong yang forces of the uterushaving an intense expectorant activity during the Labor pains unfold and on the other hand between the structural yin forces of the birth canalthat are not yet sufficiently opened. This polarity between strong, active yang and sustaining yin creates a temporary stasis of qi and blood, both of which are due to the absence of the rule are in abundance, and this leads to the predominant ones Labor pains. The pre-birth acupuncture helps with the maturation of the cervix and harmonizes the Yin forces that hold it by 4 Weeks before the birth promotes the flow of qi. A more targeted one Labor in the opening phaseThe result is the time it takes for the cervix to open completely.

forecast

Clinical research confirms the effectiveness of acupuncture in preparing for and making birth easier in numerous studies. The best-known study by the University Women's Clinic in Mannheim showed that 4-8 acupuncture treatments in the last four weeks of pregnancy made the birth significantly easier. In 300 acupuncturized first-time mothers, the time of birth was shortened by 20% from 10 to 8 hours. A control group of 224 women without therapy had a delivery time of 10 hours. Clinical findings showed that the uterus "maturity" was significantly better in the pregnant women treated with acupuncture.The shortening effect of acupuncture is only triggered when the woman's body is naturally mature for childbirth. The treatment therefore has no effect on the due date and does not lead to premature labor.
Other studies show the effectiveness of acupuncture in relieving pain, making labor easier and relaxing during childbirth. It is used for the first severe complaints; usually with a cervix opening of 4-5 cm. The acupuncture points for pain relief are in the area of the lower abdomen or the back of the woman. It is also used in the event of problems with the detachment of the placenta (so-called Plaster cake) used after the birth of the child.
It is now accepted that acupuncture does not endanger pregnancy.

Read more on the topic: How can I relieve birth pains? and breathing at birth