Turning a Breech Baby: How Traditional Chinese Medicine Can Help

Discovering that your baby is in a breech position: meaning their buttocks or feet are positioned to come out first. This can be concerning as you approach your due date.

While medical interventions like External Cephalic Version (ECV) are available, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a gentle, non-invasive alternative: moxibustion. Which we prefer if we can get things going a lot more naturally for you.

What Causes a Breech Presentation?

Approximately 3–4% of pregnancies reach term with the baby in a breech position. Several factors can contribute to this, including:

• Uterine abnormalities or fibroids

• Placenta previa

• Multiple pregnancies

• Excess or low amniotic fluid

• Premature birth

• Fetal anomalies

  
  

However, in many cases, no specific cause is identified.

How Can Chinese Medicine Help?

In TCM, breech presentation is viewed as an imbalance or blockage in the body's energy flow (Qi). Moxibustion, a technique involving the burning of the herb mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), is used to stimulate specific acupuncture points to correct this imbalance.

The primary point targeted is Bladder 67 (Zhiyin), located at the outer corner of the little toe. Who knew the little toe could move a baby right?

Stimulating this point is believed to encourage the baby to move into the optimal head-down position.

What Is Moxibustion?

Moxibustion involves burning a moxa stick near specific acupuncture points to warm and stimulate them. For breech presentations, the process typically includes:

• Applying heat to Bladder 67 on both feet

• Sessions lasting about 15–20 minutes

• Daily treatments for 7–10 days

This method is non-invasive and can often be taught for home use under professional guidance.

When to Start Moxibustion

The optimal time to begin moxibustion for turning a breech baby is between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation. At this stage, the baby has enough room to move, increasing the likelihood of a successful turn.

How Often Should You Come In?

At our clinic, we recommend:

• An initial consultation to assess your situation and demonstrate the moxibustion technique

• Daily moxibustion sessions for 7–10 days, either in-clinic or at home with proper instructions - which we give out to you.

• Follow-up appointments to monitor progress and make any necessary adjustments

  
  

It's essential to work closely with a qualified practitioner to ensure safety and effectiveness.

If your baby is in a breech position, moxibustion offers a gentle, non-invasive method to encourage a natural turn. By stimulating specific acupuncture points, we aim to restore balance and promote optimal fetal positioning.

Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. If you're interested in exploring moxibustion, feel free to contact us to schedule a consultation.

Resources:

• Cochrane Review: Moxibustion for breech presentation

• Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA): Effects of moxibustion on fetal activity and cephalic version

Note: This information is intended for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.