Acupuncture on primiparous women in delivery: a narrative review

Abstract

Labor is a set of physiological changes that manifest themselves through uterine contractions of increasing intensity and frequency, resulting in progressive dilation of the cervix and lowering of the fetal presentation. Labor pain has been described as one of the most intense forms of pain that can be experienced. However, many women demonstrate a desire to deal with pain without pharmacological or invasive interventions. Among non-pharmacological methods, we can mention acupuncture which is a complementary medical modality that has been widely investigated for the treatment of painful conditions in various pathologies. Objective: To elucidate the effectiveness of acupuncture and its possible application in controlling pain and labor time. Method: This is a narrative review of the literature, using articles without temporal or linguistic restriction. Articles were selected from August to November 2018, with data collected through the databases SCIELO, LILACS, MEDLINE and PEDro. Results: Of the 146 articles found, only five met the eligibility criteria, all were randomized clinical trials of the English language. Conclusion: There is insufficient evidence to support the effect of acupuncture on pain in labor, thus rendering the analysis inconclusive. What can be considered in light of this review is the need for further research in this area using more rigorous and standardized protocols.