Acupuncture in Pregnancy Cheryl Mason MSc, BSc, BA (hons), MBAcC 3rd Oct 2015 Holloway Community Health Centre 11 Hornsey Street London N7 8GG
Summary Pregnancy is a time when acupuncture can offer a valid alternative or complement to bring relief from common pregnancy pain and discomforts where conventional medical treatments are often restricted or contraindicated. This course will give all practitioners who have contact with this patient group the necessary knowledge, practical skills and confidence to safely treat pregnant women and the various pregnancy related discomforts that present in clinic. It will draw on the tutor's experience as an ex midwife, pain team nurse and acupuncturist to equip the practitioner with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct safe effective treatments for this patient group. This is a 10 hour CPD course. This consists of 7 hours contact time and 3 hours selfstudy questions to be completed and included with your certificate to be valid. The course is open to practitioners with a previous foundation training in acupuncture or dry needling and the relevant insurance to practice. Content Guidelines for treating in pregnancy We will examine the special requirements of this client group in terms of health and safety, comfort and scope of professional practise. Protocols and Techniques Time for demonstrating and practising the relevant acupuncture points in pairs or small groups will be allocated. Specific acupuncture point prescriptions for various conditions and pregnancy discomforts will be covered for the following: Musculoskeletal pain in pregnancy Back Pain Pelvic Girdle Pain Carpal Tunnel Headaches
Varicosities Overdue babies and cervical ripening Painful varicose veins Hyperemesis, nausea and vomiting Red Flags and Contraindications Understanding what is considered normal and abnormal for pregnancy and learn which points are contraindicated. We will examine the research underpinning acupuncture during pregnancy and the rationale behind why certain points are considered high risk, medium risk and low risk for pregnant women. Acupressure massage techniques Acupressure points to teach patients for practitioners to use during in treatments or to teach as self care to patients will be covered. In addition, a set of useful points to teach in antenatal classes or to teach pregnant patients and their birth partners how to cope with back and hip pain and for a tool to cope with labour pain during the birth. Optimal Foetal Positioning We will end the day with a brief overview of how, with guidance from the physiotherapist, a woman can influence the positioning of baby in the latter weeks of pregnancy to ease back pain and to facilitate better birth outcomes.
Objectives By attending this course, you will be able to: Discuss guidelines for treating pregnant patients Understand protocols for treating musculoskeletal pain in pregnancy, including back pain, pelvic girdle pain, carpal tunnel and varicosities, overdue babies and cervical ripening Know the contraindicated points in pregnancy and the rationale for avoiding their use Apply acupuncture techniques related to treating pregnancy discomforts including nausea and vomiting, varicosities, hyperemesis, headaches Understand the 'red flags' to treat pregnant women safely Discuss the considerations for needling pregnant women including positioning, comfort, checking mother and baby, dealing with abreactions and needle shock Justify your treatment approaches for this patient group utilising current research Adjust point prescriptions to tailor to individual requirements of pregnant woman with back pain, pelvic girdle pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, nausea / hyperemesis, varicosities, overdue babies and headaches Locate and needle relevant acupoints confidently Utilise useful acupressure massage points Understand optimal foetal positioning and how to promote this through educating mothers. Preparation This is a 10 hour CPD course. This consists of 7 hours contact time and 3 hours selfstudy questions to be completed and included with your certificate to be valid. Day 1 Time Activity 9.15 Registration 9.30 Safety, needling techniques, review guidelines and scope of practise, red flags and contraindicated points 10.00 Theory and demonstration: Protocols, point prescriptions and considerations for treating back pain and pelvic girdle pain including medical acupuncture and trigger point needling. 10.30 Practice in pairs : Locating and needling points for back pain and pelvic girdle pain including medical acupuncture and trigger point needling.
Time Activity 11.15 Break 11.35 Theory and demonstration : Protocols, point prescriptions and considerations for treating carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches and migraines 12.00 Practice: Locating and needling points for treating carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches and migraines 12.30 Teaching optimal foetal positioning to prevent malpresentation of foetus: assisting the pelvis and passenger 13.00 Lunch 14.00 Theory and demonstration: Protocols, point prescriptions and considerations for treating nausea, hyperemesis, varicosities 14.30 Practice in pairs: Locating and needling points for nausea, hyperemesis, varicosities 15.15 Theory and demonstration: posterior and breech presentation issues, overdue babies 15.45 Teaching acupressure and light touch massage for use in labour Practise Acupressure and light touch massage 16.30 How to Integrate pregnancy Acupuncture into clinic Overview of research Explanation of Homework Questions = 3 hours additional CPD to be emailed 16.45 End of day review / questions / evaluation 17.00 Finish