Course Overview

This course will explore topics related to labor and birth from both a Western medical perspective and a Chinese Medical perspective, including a discussion of herbal safety during pregnancy and postpartum. Many licensed acupuncturists express a lack of confidence about treating pregnant women, primarily due to inadequate training in their Master's degree. We aim to provide the information you need to help prepare your clients for a healthy delivery, no matter where that occurs. We will explain the pros and cons of a hospital birth versus a birthing center versus a home birth.

The discussion will also examine the training and licensing of doulas and midwives. Especially important: defining the scope of practice or where are the lines of responsibility in these various settings when we, as acupuncturists, are also present?

There has been an alarming increase in hospital inductions of labor and cesarean deliveries in the US in the last 30 years. We aim to inform and stop this trend by presenting natural preparation methods for more manageable labor and birth, including moxa, cupping, massage, sacral needling, and herbs to enhance labor. Postpartum discussions will include herbal episiotomy repair and urinary retention treatments with acupuncture and herbs. Lactation problems such as insufficient milk, leaking of milk, and mastitis can also be addressed with acupuncture and herbs, which are safe during nursing.

Promo Video

Course Objectives

• Understand the US standardized medical model of managed care.
• Learn how to utilize TCM treatment options, including acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion, and cupping, to support physiological birth.
• Acquire herbal formulas to support women and labor and postpartum.
• Share how lifestyle choices and empowerment with education can positively impact a patient's physiological birth.

Course Outline

0 hrs - 30 minDiscuss US statistics and the medical model of care.

30 min - 1 hrsShare TCM treatments for labor.

1 hrs - 1.5 hrsChinese herbal formulas for supporting labor and postpartum.

1.5 hrs - 2 hrsTeach about lifestyle and empowerment for positive birth outcomes.