Acupuncture

Induction of labor for medical reasons is a common referral, including cases where waters have broken but active labor has not yet begun. Acupuncture is often recommended to alleviate pain during the early stages of labor and to expedite the progress of labor during the latent stage. In addition, acupuncture treatments can be administered before manual fetal inversion.

Within the delivery room, acupuncture is used mainly when labor is not progressing as expected or for various induction conditions. It is also used for non-ideal fetal positions, such as a high head position or occipital position, as well as to calm the mother and provide relief from pain, nausea, and other discomforts.

In the maternity ward, acupuncture is used to address various postpartum issues, including pain, constipation, and anxiety. 

Leah Cohen (a pseudonym), 42 years old and giving birth for the tenth time, arrived at the Obstetrics Emergency Department with intense contractions. After six hours, with contractions a minute apart, she was still only 2cm dilated. The midwives offered interventions such as laughing gas to alleviate the pain or moving to the delivery room to perform an epidural, but Leah refused all options. At this point, the midwives suggested trying acupuncture. Leah was unfamiliar with acupuncture but after seeking halakhic approval she agreed to give it a try, and I was called in.

I entered the room and saw an exhausted, emotionally drained woman who had endured hours of pain. After giving Leah a brief explanation of what acupuncture is, I assessed her situation and determined that tension was preventing her from relaxing her body and allowing the birth to progress. The contractions were intense and frequent, but were not effectively aiding the opening of the cervix. I focused mainly on relaxing points and some specific points that are known to be connected to blood flow to the uterus.

After inserting the acupuncture needles, I spoke with Leah, encouraging her and reminding her of her inner strength and the possibility that the birth might progress quickly. I guided her through a short relaxation exercise, and then left the room. When I returned fifteen minutes later to check on her, I was surprised to find her fast asleep. The midwives were amazed! I assured them that this excellent rest would likely help Leah to progress.

I continued attending to other acupuncture requests in the delivery room, after requesting that the midwives call me if any issues arose with Leah. After about half an hour, I returned to remove the needles and witnessed a scene I never could have imagined. Behind the curtain in the maternity ward, Leah lay with a smile on her face, cradling a peaceful baby girl in her arms.

During my brief absence, the midwives had noticed a drop in the baby's heart rate and rushed to assess the situation. They woke Leah and told her that they needed to perform an internal examination to determine her progress. Astonishingly, the dilation had advanced from 2 to 10 centimeters in just 45 minutes, indicating that the baby was ready to be born. Within moments, the baby emerged into the world, crying vigorously.

I wished Leah "mazal tov" and a speedy recovery before leaving the room, amazed yet again by the effectiveness of this technique. Leah's case is just one example; there are countless beautiful outcomes achieved through acupuncture. While I may not always comprehend the exact mechanisms at work, when I am asked why I use Chinese medicine, my answer is unequivocal: because it works!