While treatment of back pain can be seen as routine, successful treatment of back and pelvic pain in pregnancy requires consideration of pregnancy physiology and traditional Chinese theories. It is estimated that 80 % of pregnant women are affected by this pain. For the past eight years back and/or pelvic pain has been the most frequently sought treatment at the hospital maternity acupuncture clinic in New Zealand. Treatment is delivered by acupuncture students. Follow up within several weeks demonstrates 80% of women report clinically significant effects in their pain/quality of life. An interesting finding as from a western medical perspective, this type of pain is acknowledged as becoming progressively debilitating as the pregnancy advances. Positive findings are also reflected in research literature using medical acupuncture for this type of pain. With a recognised evidence base and the rise of medical acupuncture and dry needling therapists, it may be that unless traditionally trained acupuncturists recognise and claim this area of practice, it will become the speciality of western medical practitioners. 

This lecture details the traditional Chinese treatments currently used at the maternity acupuncture clinic, including small videos of experience points. Based on the success of this clinic the aim of this lecture is twofold: to encourage traditionally trained acupuncturists to treat women affected by this pain and to assist practitioners create referral pathways with western medical practitioners seeking drug free alternatives for these women. 

Learning objectives – workshop participants can expect to: 

·        Deepen their understanding of what happens in a pregnant body, how this differs from routine care. 

·        Plan practical traditional Chinese approaches for the treatment for back and or pelvic pain in pregnancy. 

·        Be able to discuss with western medical practitioners the evidence base for treatment and why referral for acupuncture treatment is safe.