Acupuncture has long been applied to ease the pain during labor and childbirth but only a few have discussed about acupuncture being used for Caesarian section deliveries. A Caesarian section delivery is usually conducted when the placenta is lying too low in the uterus blocking the birth canal, or when normal delivery is not possible due to vaginal bleeding, or when the baby is at the risk of losing oxygen, among other reasons. During a Caesarian operation, an incision measuring about 20 centimeters will be done at the lower abdomen of the mother. After the womb is opened, the baby is delivered through the incision on the skin, which will take less than 20 minutes. A very recent study bared that in war-torn Iraq, doctors who are faced with the dilemma of anesthetic drug shortage and the lack of skills, have successfully applied acupuncture treatments for Caesarean section deliveries. Acupuncture is an ancient form of healing that uses hair-like needles to stimulate the acupuncture points that are located along the meridian pathways where the body's vital energy flows, known as Qi. This practice originated from China thousands of years ago. The researchers expressed confidence that acupuncture could be a vital addition to the conventional medical practice in modern hospitals, if the results of their study will be replicated in a study of a larger scale. The study revealed that between 2004 and 2006, acupuncture was applied in over 200 emergency cases involving Caesarian section deliveries at the Red Crescent Hospital for Gynecology and Obstetrics in Baghdad. In Iraq, most expectant mothers were advised to deliver their babies at home considering the danger that is lurking everywhere in the city. Only those who are deemed as high-risk pregnancy cases are attended to at the hospital. In fully equipped medical facilities, Oxytocin is normally used to neutralize the effects of halothane, which tends to relax the womb but heightens the risk of bleeding. Unfortunately, there was a shortage of Oxytocin, thus acupuncture was applied to counter the halothane effect. Right after the Caesarian section delivery, acupuncture needles are then inserted into the mother's ankles and toes. The needles are then stimulated manually for about 10 minutes. The acupuncture points being stimulated are associated with difficult labor, uterine contractions, placenta retention, prolapse of the womb, and bleeding of the womb. About fifty percent of the women who experienced uterine contraction no longer needed oxytocin. In a ratio of one in five, two to five units of oxytocin were needed, while four needed beyond five units of oxytocin. Without acupuncture, normal dosage of oxytocin would be around 10 to 20 units. Aside from aiding Caesarian section deliveries, acupuncture has also been proven effective in aiding induced deliveries, encourage natural deliveries, and most specially to ease the excruciating pain that comes with childbirth.
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