Influence of Acupuncture in the Placental Expulsion Time

In this study, a single blind randomized trial is carried out in order to compare placental detachment times when Ren Mai 6 is stimulated and when a different placebo point is used. So, a lower detachment time is assumed to be related to a higher uterine contraction, and, therefore, a decrease in the hemorrhage postpartum. We focus on measuring the time it takes to placental delivery due to the fact that, if this point promotes the uterine contraction, then the placental delivery will be produced in a short time. Thus, this technique could decrease the hemorrhage postpartum. The principal outcome of the study is the placental expulsion time. This time is measured by the midwife who is responsible of the birth, and it considers the time passed between the delivery of the newborn and the complete expulsion of the placenta. Concerning the secondary outcomes, the application of real acupuncture in Ren Mai 6 point, and sham acupuncture in the placebo point are considered. Their study is derived from the statistical analysis of the results of the principal outcome. The existence of pain related to the treatment and the degree of satisfaction of the mother is also a secondary outcome, analyzed by the survey that the midwife carries out no more than 2 hours after the labor. At last, it is important to highlight that the degree of satisfaction of the midwife is also considered as a secondary outcome, since it is registered in the same survey.