Acupuncture as pain relief

The usual range of pain killers does not agree with all mothers and babies.

Perhaps you are woried about the effects on yourself or your baby, or simply want to stick with drug-free methods of pain control.

That's where acupuncture can provide an alternative. Some NHS hospitals, such as The Whittington Hospital in North London, even offer acupuncture as part of the suite of pain relief methods available to labouring women.

Acupuncture at The Whittington is used to reduce pain, anxiety and vomiting in women during the antenatal period, by practitioners from the Asante Academy of Chinese Medicine.

On a physical level, acupuncture is a proven effective method for relieving pain and inducing relaxation. The theory is that the relaxing effects of acupuncture can help the womb to dilate and the birth canal to relax.

Its ability to bring pain relief can mean a woman who employs acupuncture when in labour has to rely less on western drugs.

On the psychological side, acupuncture can have a positive, calming effect on the brain thus ensuring a more relaxed and focused state of mind in the woman giving birth.

Practitioners claim that, overall, acupuncture can be of enormous benefit to a woman during labour, helping to ensure an easier birth, with fewer complications, less pain and less trauma.

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