Childbirth - Chinese Medicine explanation and treatment
Acupuncture will alleviate labour pains in childbirth and can greatly assist any woman
with a previous history of difficult labour. Any woman wishing to use this
method of pain relief should consult an acupuncturist well before the birth
date in order to build up a good patient-therapist relationship, but it
is also necessary to obtain the approval of the midwife if it is a home
birth, or the medical authorities if it is to take place in hospital.
There
have been cases where hospitals were willing to allow an acupuncturist to
assist at the birth, but only if they agree to sign an indemnity form which
absolved the hospital of responsibility if any problems ensued. Naturally,
since complications not connected with acupuncture are equally possible
at any point during a delivery, therapists are reluctant to shoulder such
a burden. Any woman who wishes to have acupuncture during labour will probably
find it easier to arrange if she gives birth at home, with a sympathetic
midwife as supervisor. General debility following labour can be effectively
treated by herbal remedies.
Professor Song Ke
