Course Overview

The postpartum period is often given less focus than it deserves. Chinese medicine offers both proactive (preventative/supportive) treatment as well as treatment for specific disorders.

This course is an excerpt from the complete course "Pregnancy Childbirth and the Postpartum" (Course 1.5) where all three areas are discussed, and where explanations, case studies and treatments are more detailed. Nevertheless, this course covers the key points and gives an overview of 12 case studies and the principles of treatment.

We examine the maternal physiological changes e the maternal physiological changes in the 3 stages of the puerperium or postpartum period to understand more clearly what is affecting our clients and from there, how we can be more effective in our treatments. The course covers the many areas of physical and emotional health affected, and the three types of postnatal depression are discussed.

Genuine cases from Robin’s clinic are shared, covering 12 commonly encountered situations including recovery from termination and miscarriage, support of healing in a non-healing episiotomy wound, anxiety and dizziness, fatigue and poor milk supply, lethargy and weight gain, fatigue and distress, nipple thrush, persistent postpartum hemorrhage and hair loss, prolapse, hemorrhoids and postnatal depression.

Course Objectives

• Understand maternal physiology in the puerperium, the effects of pregnancy on the mother, the tissues and systems affected (including cardiovascular and hormonal changes), involution and the physical and emotional demands of caring for a new baby.
• Understand the three types of postnatal depression, their implications, and when to refer.
• Know the various approaches of Chinese medicine in diagnosis and treatment, the underlying patterns, and the need for an individualised approach through the examination of 12 case studies on disorders commonly seen in the postpartum.

Course Outline

0 hrs - 15 minOverview of postpartum care, the rationale of treatment, what can be treated, and the value of proactive treatment.

15 min - 45 minStages of the puerperium; Involution of the uterus; Effects of pregnancy and childbirth on organs, ligaments, tissues, bone density, cardiovascular system, haematology; Pelvic prolapses; Metabolic and hormonal changes.

45 min - 1 hrsThe three types of postnatal depression, their implications, and when to refer.

1 hrs - 1.5 hrsExamination and evaluation of clinical cases; Identification of the rationale of various approaches in respect of the presentation; Reason for herb selection; Useful patent formulas; Clinic considerations.