Inducing labour naturally July 21, 2010

There are many ways you can naturally help to induce your labour. Many are commonly known such as having sex, eating fresh pineapple, taking long walks and eating spicy curries. Going into labour, however, is not always something that you can control, as the old Chinese saying goes “‘When the fruit is ready, it will fall off the vine” which means the baby will come when it’s good and ready! Fortunately there are also a few more natural methods you can try including acupuncture, herbal supplements and raspberry leaf tea, which all have good side effects and help promote a healthy birth.

Acupuncture can be an effective means to induce labour. Sometimes only one treatment is needed to kick-start the process, but occasionally two or three treatments might be beneficial. However, it is not always an immediate process. Women who start having acupuncture prior to the seventh month or throughout their pregnancy have better effectiveness and generally have an easier birth. The side-effects are minimal, and therefore the risk to the baby is very low. Lisa Errol is an independent midwife who offers acupuncture widely in her practise. She says “The use of acupuncture has allowed a greater number of women to achieve normal, more natural births and so a more positive birth experience overall.” (Source http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/pregnancy-midwifery.aspx)

She adds “Women who have had acupuncture preparation in the pregnancy are likely to have significantly shorter labours. This is particularly noticeable with first labours where the average length of established labour is between four and six hours. It seems that acupuncture helps to regulate contractions and women appear to labour more efficiently. The beneficial effects increase with an increased number of treatments.”

Evening Primrose Oil is another ‘cervix ripening’ method. EPO helps by imitating prostaglandin can be used orally and/or internally.

Black Cohosh is a herb used to encourage contractions and facilitate labour. It should be avoided in pregnancy and is better taken in early labour.
Raspberry Leaf Tea is a uterine tonic, which also has added benefits after the birth for breastmilk production. There is no evidence to show that red raspberry leaf will encourage labour to begin. However, an Australian study has shown that it speeded up the second stage of labour and reduced the need for a forceps delivery (Simpson et al 2001).
It’s generally recommended anytime after 12 weeks in a healthy pregnancy – make sure you check with your therapist or GP for doses and to see if it’s appropriate for you. It is very important not to use raspberry leaves until the last two months of pregnancy because of their stimulating effect on the uterus. If you want to help to prepare the uterine muscles for labour start with one cup of tea a day or one tablet and build up gradually to a maximum of four cups of tea or tablets daily. The tea can be sipped freely during labour, too.

To book an acupuncture treatment call Louise on 07789 076410 for an informal chat. Raspberry leaf tea is also available.

Acupuncture during IVF boosts a woman’s chance of conceiving by 65 per cent June 14, 2010

Women having acupuncture while undergoing IVF increase their chances of getting pregnant by 65 per cent, according to research. Experts found evidence of success for women who had acupuncture within one day of embryo transfer.

The study, by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the US and the VU University Amsterdam, involved a review of seven published trials. A total of 1,366 women undergoing IVF were included in the trials, which compared acupuncture given within one day of embryo transfer, sham acupuncture where needles are inserted away from points used in genuine acupuncture, and no additional treatment.

Women of various ages with different causes of infertility were included. The timing of the acupuncture sessions in relation to embryo transfer differed somewhat among trials.

However, all the women received acupuncture immediately before or immediately after the embryo transfer.

All the acupuncture sessions also lasted 25 to 30 minutes.

The review found a 65 per cent increased chance of falling pregnant with acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture or no treatment.

But the researchers warned that this odds ratio “significantly overestimates” the rate ratio in this context, in which the event (pregnancy) is relatively frequent.

In absolute terms, 10 women would need to be treated with acupuncture to bring about one additional pregnancy, the study said.

The trials came from a search of the computerised databases Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central and the Chinese Biomedical Database.

All the trials were published in English since 2002, and conducted in four different Western countries.

The review, published online in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), found that, in trials where the baseline pregnancy rates were already high, the benefit of acupuncture was smaller and non-significant.

The researchers concluded: “Current preliminary evidence suggests that acupuncture given with embryo transfer improves rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF).”

A study published by the University of Oklahoma last year found that women given acupuncture while undergoing IVF were 37 per cent less likely to get pregnant.

The therapy is thought to affect the autonomic nervous system, which is involved in the control of muscles and glands.

One theory is that acupuncture could impact on this system with regards to fertility by making the lining of the uterus more receptive to receiving an embryo.

A previous study found acupuncture could double a woman’s chance of getting pregnant when combined with IVF.

In 2000, around 200,000 babies worldwide were conceived through IVF.

Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine from the Peninsula Medical School, part of the universities of Exeter and Plymouth, said of the review: “An important point is that much of the observed effect could be due to a placebo response.

“IVF may not seem to be “placebo-prone” but it probably is: if women expect it to be helpful they are more relaxed which, in turn, would affect pregnancy rates.

Source of article:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-512985/Acupuncture-IVF-boosts-womans-chance-conceiving-65-cent.html

See similar:  http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/020808.htm

Kerrie Bale’s IVF Success Story April 4, 2009

Here is a success story from one of my patients:

“After 2 years of unsuccessfully trying to conceive we approached our GP to run fertility tests. Over approximately six months I had my 3 and 21 day blood tests and my husband gave two sperm samples. The results of our tests showed I was not always ovulating and that my husband had very poor morphology in his sperm samples.

We were given the choice of undergoing fertility treatment at Burton Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM) as we fulfilled all their criteria. We chose to undergo IVF (our one free go on the NHS).

As I started down-regging (giving myself daily injections) I started to research a more complementary treatment I could undergo whilst down-regging. My research led me to contact Louise Hughes who specialised in acupuncture. I had read many articles about how undergoing acupuncture whilst you down-regged, hyper-stimulated and at egg collection and egg transfer significantly increased your chances of a successful outcome in your IVF treatment.

For me I was lucky my IVF treatment worked first time and at my 7 week scan twins were confirmed. Since my positive pregnancy test I have continued with my weekly acupuncture sessions to continue to relieve stress, all-day nausea associated with pregnancy and the general aches and pains pregnancy brings.

The treatment for me has harmonised what was a stressful and invasive procedure [IVF] with a more balanced/natural approach. It has helped me remain focussed and positive and after each session brings a sense of calmness over me.

Personally having acupuncture has been a very positive experience (especially considering I was a real needle-phobic prior to commencing IVF). It is not painful and I would recommend anyone having IVF to explore having acupuncture or any other complementary therapy at the same time.

I would also add Louise is a wonderful therapist who at the beginning of each session talks to you about how you are feeling (any aches and pains etc) and will tailor each session so it best fits your needs.

Kerrie Bale (March 2009)”

Louise Hughes

www.eastwest-health.co.uk

Proving a point March 23, 2009

There is growing evidence that acupuncture can greatly increase a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant. Rowan Pelling is not surprised – she has first-hand experience of the link between fertility and needles.

See full article at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/feb/19/health1

Rowan Pelling  The Guardian, Tuesday 19 February 2008