U.K. Support Network for Maternity Acupuncture: Survey of Acupuncturists on the Acupuncture (for Conception to) Childbirth Team

Objective: In the United Kingdom, a professional acupuncture network, the Acupuncture (for Conception to) Childbirth Team (ACT), provides education and support for practitioners using maternity acupuncture. However, the nature of treatments their members provide has been unknown. The aim of this survey was to explore how ACT members used acupuncture for maternity care within their women's health practices. Materials and Methods: An anonymous self-completion questionnaire, hosted by Survey Monkey, was completed by practitioners from 10 ACT branches. Questions covered demographic information, type and frequency of treatment provided in the previous year, and referral networks. Descriptive statistics were used to report the data. Results: Of 114 survey forms sent, 99 replies were received, a response rate of 86.8%. In addition to fertility and menstrual conditions, the majority of the practitioners (87 [87.8%]) had treated at least 1 pregnant woman each. The most-common maternity situations encountered were: birth preparation (84 [96.5%]); nausea & vomiting (82 [94.2%]); and inducing labor (79 [90.8%]). More than 50% of the practitioners were also treating lower-back and pelvic pain (77 [88.5%]), breech presentations (74 [85.0%]), threatened miscarriages (55 [63.2%]), and headaches/migraines (46 [52.8%]). Only a minority (8 [9.1%]) attended births. A greater number of referrals were received from medical health professionals for pregnancy (54 [65.8%]) than for fertility (16 [19.5%]) or menstrual conditions (8 [9.7%]). Conclusions: ACT practitioners were treating a wide range of maternity conditions. Referrals from Western medical practitioners were more common for maternity acupuncture than for fertility or menstrual health. It may be that this professional network approach would be beneficial in other countries to support practitioners interested in providing maternity acupuncture.