CASE STUDY : Natural Labour Induction

Introduction

Natural labour can be induced by placing thin needles at specific points in the body to treat physical pain, and as a modality to induce labour. When the conditions are medically beneficial, acupuncture can work well for induction.

Presentation

A 32-year-old client came to see me, it was her first pregnancy, and she was 36+3/40 weeks. Her last scan at 36/40 showed the placenta was redistributing extra blood to the babies brain, the doctor thought this could reflect placenta deterioration. All other result came up as normal. The obstetrician said he wanted to medically induce her later that week.

Treatment

My client felt emotionally shocked and unprepared by this news. She managed to 'buy more time' and for the next two weeks I gave her two acupuncture treatments a week. I worked on calming the spirit, ripening her cervix, encouraging the baby to descend and get the contractions started.

She said the acupuncture really helped her relax, and she could feel that the baby had dropped. At 38/40 weeks, her cervix had dilated 3 cm and she was having intermittent contractions. The midwife did a membrane sweep and the mucous plug came out. The obstetrician booked her in for an induction at 38+5/40. She felt ready, calm and happy that she was already 3 cm dilated at 38 weeks. The doctors broke her waters, and then she had a natural, efficient labour and a healthy baby boy that day.