Acupuncture for treatment of delay in labour
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised controlled trial investigating whether acupuncture can reduce the requirement for augmentation of labour for delay or slow progress.
IRAS ID
217918
Contact name
Sarah E Gregson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
Many women want to avoid unnecessary medical intervention and are using complementary therapies to facilitate normal birth. Acupuncture, is widely used in maternity units in many countries and becoming increasingly popular in the UK. A Cochrane review has found that acupuncture helps women cope better with pain in labour. It has also been shown to shorten the duration of labour, suggesting the potential for acupuncture as treatment for slow progress in labour.
It is commonplace for women giving birth in the UK to have a ‘slow’ labour augmented with oxytocin, to speed up progress. However, there are potential major side effects. Avoidance of these requires intensive monitoring of the woman’s condition, which also has a detrimental effect on her mobility and ability to cope with pain.
This study will investigate whether acupuncture can reduce the requirement for augmentation of delayed labour with oxytocin. This would be advantageous to women keen to avoid obstetric intervention and, importantly, could potentially improve clinical outcomes and avoid adverse incidents caused by injudicious use of oxytocin.Women in established labour in hospital, or in one of the Birth centres will be approached to join the study if labour is diagnosed as ‘delayed’.. Participants will be randomised to the intervention (acupuncture) or control group (standard care – no treatment).
After 2 hours participants in both groups will be examined vaginally as per standard care. This will determine whether augmentation of labour with an oxytocin infusion is required, or whether sufficient progress in labour has been made during this period. (Please see flow diagram for study procedure.) Standard care in labour will continue as per NICE guidelines for both groups.
After the birth, participants will be asked to complete a patient experience questionnaire prior to being discharged home.
The study is expected to last around 18-24 months
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0175
Date of REC Opinion
6 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion