Use of acupuncture anesthesia for normal delivery.

In order to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture anesthesia for normal delivery, 32 parturients were selected and studied. Definite subjective as well as objective relief of labor pain was produced in about 60% of 16 primapara and about 90% of multipara after acupuncture. The sedation of the patients was significant. The duration of the delivery, particularly in the second and third stages was shortened. No adverse or harmful effect was noticed on either mother or child. It was concluded that acupuncture anesthesia is useful for delivery, especially because of its safety, despite more erratic and less potent results than conventional anesthetic techniques.