2016-11-01 11:38:27
Threatened miscarriage is a common complication of early pregnancy and increases the risk of miscarriage or premature labour. This study examined the feasibility of offering acupuncture as a therapeutic treatment for women presenting with threatened miscarriage (1). This was a mixed methods study involving a randomized controlled trial and semi structured interviews. The results showed that for women receiving acupuncture, there was a reduction with threatened miscarriage symptoms including bleeding, cramping and back pain compared with the control. An overarching theme emerged from the data of ‘finding something you can do.’ This encompassed the themes: ‘they said there was nothing they could do,’ ‘feeling the benefits’ and ‘managing while marking time.’ The authors conclude that acupuncture was feasible and reduced threatened miscarriage symptoms.
References
- (1) Betts D, et al. Does acupuncture have a role in the treatment of threatened miscarriage? Findings from a feasibility randomised trial and semi-structured participant interviews. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016; 16(1):298.