Prenatal Acupuncture for Childbirth Preparation Among Multigravida Women in Indonesia: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background:

The experience of childbirth is accompanied by a mix of excitement and apprehension, due to concerns about pain management and the health of the newborn. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of prenatal acupuncture on childbirth preparation, focusing on maternal childbirth outcomes, among multigravida women in Indonesia.

Methods:

Using consecutive sampling, 34 multigravida women aged 25–40 years and at least 36 weeks’ gestation were recruited and allocated to the intervention or control group. The intervention group received manual acupuncture with 0.25 mm × 40 mm stainless steel at ST-36, SP-6, and LI-4 for 20 min. Acupuncture was scheduled once weekly (<38 weeks’ gestation) and twice weekly (>38 weeks’ gestation) until labor. The control group received standard prenatal care. Outcomes assessed included onset of labor, labor pain, duration of the active phase, the second stage of labor, perineal tear, Apgar scores, and colostrum production. Data were analyzed using t-test or Mann–Whitney depending on the distributions.

Results and Discussion:

The average age of participants was 30.88 ± 3.68 years in the intervention group and 33.23 ± 4.20 years in the control group. Significant differences were observed between the two groups, particularly in labor pain (p = 0.000), duration of the active phase (p = 0.000), second stage of labor (p = 0.000), and colostrum production (p = 0.002). There were no significant differences (p ≥ 0.005) in onset of labor, Apgar scores, or perineal outcomes. In the safety outcomes, no adverse events were reported.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that prenatal acupuncture is an effective and safe method for childbirth preparation.