OBJECTIVE:

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture for the initiation of labour in women at term.

METHODS:

A prospective pilot randomized control trial was undertaken, in which 16 pregnant women at term were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture either at sites reported to cause onset of labour or at nearby sham sites. The primary outcome assessed was the interval from initial acupuncture treatment to delivery.

RESULTS:

There was a difference in intervention to delivery interval of 62 hours in favour of the treatment group. Furthermore, women in this group had shorter labours by a mean of 2 hours and 20 minutes.

CONCLUSION:

The interesting results of this pilot trial warrant further investigation into the use of acupuncture for the initiation of labour in women at term.