Effects of point massage of liver and stomach channel combined with pith and trotter soup on postpartum lactation start time

East Meets West: Effect of Acupuncture on Lactation and Maternal Quality of Life

Objective: To evaluate the impact of acupuncture as part of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment plan on lactation and maternal well-being in pump-dependent mothers of hospitalized neonates during the first 30 days after delivery. Study Design: This single-center study was conducted in a level IV regional neonatal intensive care unit with access to integrative health services. Sixty-six mothers were prospectively enrolled in two nonparallel groups: (1) Standard lactation support and (2) standard lactation support augmented with acupuncture. Daily pump volumes were documented. Participants completed a quality-of-life (QOL) survey at baseline and neonatal day of life 30. A linear model was constructed, adjusting for increased milk production over time. Results: Acupuncture was associated with increased milk production at all time points: Day 10 (p = 0.0002), day 14 (p < 0.0001), day 21 (p < 0.0001), and day 30 (p < 0.0001). Acupuncture was associated with an increase in three of five QOL components: psychological/child's health (p = 0.0006), family/friend relationship (p = 0.0006), and health/functioning (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Mothers receiving acupuncture reported enhanced milk supply and improved QOL. The limited sample size restricts the broad applicability of the results; nonetheless, this study paves the way for further research on the advantages of merging Eastern and Western treatments to enhance human lactation.

Effects of Acupressure on Lactation: An Integrated Review

PURPOSE

To assess the effects of acupressure on lactation.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted via Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, and PubMed using keyword search terms acupuncture, Tuina and breastfeeding, human lactation or human milk and excluded auricular. Inclusion criteria were articles in English with no restriction on publication date. We included acupuncture as well as acupressure to ensure that relevant articles were not missed.

RESULTS

After duplicates were removed, our initial search yielded 217 articles. Using the PRISMA checklist (Liberati et al., 2009), six articles met inclusion criteria (five research studies, one case study). Preliminary evidence suggests acupressure offers a promising and inexpensive method of enhancing secretory activation following cesarean and vaginal term and late preterm births, specifically when performed at acupoints CV 17, ST 18, and SI 1.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Human milk is the optimal source of infant nutrition. Concern of low milk supply is most often cited as the cause for early supplementation with formula as well as early cessation of breastfeeding. Acupressure may be helpful in improving milk supply in early postpartum, but more research on acupressure and lactation is warranted.

The effect of pestle acupuncture for patients with lactation insufficiency after cesarean section: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Cesarean section is a common operation in obstetrics, and the incidence of insufficient breast milk is high in parturients undergoing cesarean section. Studies have shown that acupuncture or massage at related acupoints can promote the secretion and excretion of milk. These external treatments are quick, safe, and effective. On the other hand, they can avoid the potential risk of changes in milk composition that may be caused by the use of drugs. Pestle needle therapy is a new branch of traditional acupuncture, and pestle needle operation does not need to break the skin. The pestle needle has good clinical efficacy and safety in cervical spondylosis, insomnia, fatigue, depression, and so on, but few studies have focused on the effect of pestle acupuncture for patients with lactation insufficiency after cesarean section. This study aims to determine whether pestle needle therapy is effective and safe in the treatment of postpartum milk deficiency.

METHODS

This is a 2 parallel-group, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial.128 patients with lactation insufficient after cesarean section will be recruited and randomly divided into control group and the pestle needle group in a 1:1 ratio. The control group will receive routine nursing care of milk deficiency. In the pestle needle group, pestle needles will be used to operate on the acupoints such as bilateral Shao ze (S11), bilateral Ru gen (ST18), Dan zhong (DU14), 8 array acupoints of Shen dao (DU11) and so on. It will be operated once a day for 5 days. The primary outcomes are milk yield, degree of breastfilling, degree of milk siltation and other milk deficiency symptom, and serum prolactin. Secondary outcomes include syndrome of traditional Chinese medicine, such as facial expression, fatigue, loss of appetite, and so on.

DISCUSSION

Pestle needle therapy based on acupoint and meridian theory may increase milk secretion and excretion, which will provide a new intervention means to promote breastfeeding and have great significance to guide clinical treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2000039752.