Acupuncture May Help Pregnancy-Related Pain

Pelvic and/or back pain is a common complaint among expectant mothers. Some studies have shown this is a problem for as many as 90 percent of pregnant women. A recent review study has found that acupuncture might be the solution for mom-to-be's aching back, particularly when combined with conventional care.

The researchers reviewed all published studies on acupuncture for pelvic or back pain during pregnancy, evaluating treatment effectiveness and safety. After sifting through 432 studies, the researchers concluded, "Overall, our review finds limited, though promising, evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture in managing pelvic and back pain in pregnancy. In particular, there seems to be good evidence that acupuncture, in addition to standard treatment, is superior to standard treatment alone and stabilizing exercises for well-defined pregnancy-related pelvic pain. Given that acupuncture is a relatively safe procedure, these findings should encourage primary health care providers, obstetricians, and midwives to consider referring women to trained acupuncturists for management of this common, painful, and disabling condition."

While more research needs to be done, acupuncture may well offer effective pain relief for pregnant women.