Effect of acupuncture at Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) on labor stage in primiparas.
10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240405-k0001
- Author:
Zixiao CHENG
1
;
Ziyun SONG
1
;
Xiaoli FENG
1
;
Xiaoli CAO
2
;
Yanlong XU
3
;
Zhirong DAI
4
;
Qianqian ZHANG
4
Author Information
1. School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Gansu University of CM, Lanzhou 730030, China.
2. Third Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University.
3. First Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Gansu Provincial Hospital of TCM, Lanzhou
4. Gansu Provincial Central Hospital.
- Publication Type:English Abstract
- Keywords:
acupuncture;
labor stage;
primipara;
randomized controlled trial (RCT)
- MeSH:
Humans;
Female;
Pregnancy;
Acupuncture Points;
Acupuncture Therapy;
Adult;
Young Adult;
Labor, Obstetric;
Parity
- From:
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion
2025;45(7):927-931
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of acupuncture at Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) on pain, anxiety, intrapartum blood loss, labor stage, and neonatal outcomes in primiparas.
METHODS:One hundred primiparas were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (50 cases, 1 case was eliminated) and a control group (50 cases). The conventional obstetrical nursing was given in the control group. On the basis of the intervention in the control group, acupuncture was applied at bilateral Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) in the acupuncture group. The delivery mode and labor stage, the scores of visual analogue scale (VAS) for uterine contraction pain and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) before and after acupuncture, the intrapartum/postpartum blood loss and massive hemorrhage, as well as the neonatal Apgar score after 1, 5, and 10 min of birth, were compared in the two groups.
RESULTS:The cesarean section rate was 4.1% (2/49) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 10.0% (5/50) in the control group (P<0.05). In the acupuncture group, the time of latent phase of 2-cm cervical dilation, active phase, first and second stages of labor, and total labor stage was shorter than that in the control group (P<0.001), the intrapartum blood loss and massive hemorrhage rate were lower than those in the control group (P<0.001, P<0.05). After acupuncture, the VAS and HAMA scores were decreased compared with those before acupuncture in the acupuncture group (P<0.001), the VAS and HAMA scores were increased compared with those before acupuncture in the control group (P<0.001). In the acupuncture group, the VAS and HAMA scores after acupuncture were lower than those in the control group (P<0.001), the changes of the VAS and HAMA scores before and after acupuncture were larger than those in the control group (P<0.001). There were no statistical differences in neonatal Apgar scores between the two groups (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION:Acupuncture at Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) can effectively alleviate the pain and anxiety, shorten the labor stage, reduce the intrapartum blood loss and incidence rate of massive hemorrhage, and promote spontaneous delivery, thereby enhancing maternal comfort and safety in primiparas.
