[Uterine involution after cesarean section promoted with acupuncture: a randomized controlled trial]

To explore the effect and feasibility of acupuncture in uterine involution after cesarean section.

Seventy cases of cesarean section in primipara were randomized into an observation group (33 cases) and a control group (37 cases). In the control group, the conventional treatment was adopted after cesarean section. In the observation group, on the basic treatment as the control group, acupuncture was applied at Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Hegu (LI 4), Qihai (CV 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4). In 2 h after operation, acupuncture started, once a day, continuously for five times. The daily height of uterine fundus, daily uterine fundus decreasing degree, postpartum blood loss, lochia duration and ultrasonic B test in 42 days of postpartum were compared between the two groups.

The therapeutic methods of the two groups all promoted uterine contraction. The postpartum height of uterine fundus in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (all P<0.05) and the uterine fundus decreasing degree was higher than that in the control group (all P<0.05). The blood loss in 2 h, 6 to 12 h and 24 to 48 h of postpartum was less than that in the control group (all P<0.05). The lochia duration in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05).

Acupuncture promotes uterine contraction, reduces postpartum blood loss and lochia duration and benefits uterine involution after cesarean section.