Claudia Citkovitz

Goals and Outlines
Participants can expect to gain understanding of the following learning objectives during the symposium consisting of 4 presentations of pain conditions in women’s health:

a. Describe the role of inflammation in endometriosis and the link between endometriosis, depression and gut issues.
b. Discuss the implications of endometriosis and fertility
c. Deepen understanding of acupuncture treatment approaches for women presenting in clinical practice.

a. Describe the current evidence for acupuncture treatment for hip and back pain in pregnancy, and the use/avoidance of ‘forbidden points’
b. Understand the influence of bias in current trials of acupuncture for hip and back pain, where forbidden points are used

a. Describe the role of acupressure compared with acupuncture for effective management of labour and birth
b. Understand the impact of trial design on clinical outcomes and implications for evidence into practice

a. Understand women’s experiences of chronic pain as a part of a broader picture of peri- and post-menopause
b. Understand the role of acupuncture in alleviating these symptom clusters

Registration closes March 21st, 2021

How does it all work?

This course is structured in monthly modules with small cohort sizes to maximise your learning experience. While having access to lectures and resources, the expectation is that you will spend 2-3 hours per week of self-study engaging in set activities to deepen your understanding of the material.

• At the beginning of each month, you will log into an online classroom that contains a lecture and handouts from a MAMPS tutor(s) about their experiences and treatment suggestions for a specific treatment topic.
• You then have three weeks to engage in this lecture along with extra reading material and forum activities in preparation for a live feedback Q&A session with your tutor(s) in the final week. This will be recorded for those unable to attend.
• Ongoing discussion of the classroom material is possible through forums. These forums provide community engagement and also provide the opportunity for you to submit questions and case histories from your clinical practice for group support and feedback.
• Additionally, forums provide you with the opportunities to post suggestions for topics you would like to see covered and start-up connections with others for projects you may like to work together on that can be supported by the MAMPS team.
• Optional additional resources will be provided for those who wish to explore topics in further depth, including understanding key research and how to utilise this for promoting acupuncture in maternity care.

At the end of the course and completion of forum activities, you will receive a MAMPS certificate for advanced practice and have the option of applying for distance CEU / PDA through Healthy Seminars included as part of your tuition. 

Topics include:

• Pregnancy and Pre-Labor
  • Breech, musculoskeletal pain
  • Oligo/Polyhydramnios (too little or too much fluid)
  • Preeclampsia/Hypertension/HELLP
  • IUGR (small for dates babies)
  • Intrahepatic Cholestasis (ICP) vs. PUPPPS
  • Intrapartum depression

• Labor Preparation and Postdates
  • Differential diagnosis and treatment (not just ‘all the contraindicated points)
  • Special approaches to preparing for early medical induction or VBAC
  • Home care packages of constitutionally and situationally appropriate acupressure, exercises and activities

• A few quick tips for birth
  • Tuina and acupressure approaches for family and friends’ births
  • Identifying and working with bony obstruction, slow dilatation, inadequate contractions, spirit/emotional challenges

• Postpartum:
  • C/S recovery, Symphysis Diastasis, tears, coccyx injury
  • Lactation, Constipation
  • Sleep/Energy, “Baby Blues” vs posptartum depression