• The test person will be effect evaluated 24 hours after the first acupuncture treatment,
  
• Delivered or not.
  
• In active delivery or not (over or equal to 3 cm)
  

• Internal examination to assess the
  
• Degree of dilatation of orificium
  
• Ruptured membranes or not,
  
• Increase in uterine activity or not,
  

Acupuncture has become a natural part of the range of treatments in obstetric departments in Denmark, but there is only little evidence to the effect of acupuncture.

Many of the induction procedures currently in use in Denmark also have a little risk of side effects. to mention a few: There is a increased risk of maternal and neonatal infection, bleeding, ruptured membranes and placental disruptio as result of the use of endocervical ballon catheter. In connection with manual rupture of membranes there is an increased risk of umbillical prolapse, maternal and neonatal infection, affected fetal heart rate, scratches on the scalp and placental bleeding. By using misoprostol there has been seen hyperstimulation of uterus causing affected fetal heart rate.

Many women are asking for alternatives to the existing methods used in obstetric dept.s.

In order to assess the effect, or lack of, acupuncture might have, we want to use acupuncture in the studygroup on acupuncture points on hands, feet, ancles and back of the head. The control group will get placebo acupuncture needles on same locations. The included women will be treated with the kind of acupuncture that counts for the group to which shes been allocated on gestational age 41+6 at 8:00 am and 2:30 pm.

Inclusion Criteria:gestational age 41+6 Normal pregnancy, expecting a healthy baby Verified due date

Exclusion Criteria:

women who do not speak or understand Danish multiple pregnancy In active labour previous sectio maternal diseases (i.e. Diabetes, preeclampsia, heart diseases) fetal diseases (i.e. foetus mors, IUGR, hydrocephalus) previous complicated delivery i.e. low Apgar score Allergic to metal Anticoagulatory treatment

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