Finding out that your baby is in breech position can be a source of distress to future parents. Many parents in this situation weigh up the risks involved in choosing to have manual procedure to turn their baby. There are also many non-conventional methods that many parents turn to including scrubbing the floor on the hands and knees, and lying head down on a slanted surface.
What is moxibustion?
Moxibustion is a term that refers to burning a specific herb (Chinese mugwort or moxa) over particular acupuncture points. Most forms of moxibustion do not burn the skin and create a pleasant, warm sensation around the acupuncture point. Moxibustion is used to stimulate, warm and create movement with the acupuncture channels connected to an acupuncture point. There are several different types of moxa and the ones we usually recommend are smokeless for at home use.
Moxibustion for breech presentation
An acupuncturist that is trained in pregnancy support will be able to use some Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostic techniques to assist you.
You will be recommended some acupuncture to support your body and taught an easy and pleasant moxibustion technique to do at home for a period of one to two weeks, depending on how quickly your baby responds. Most women feel that their baby is quite active during the treatment. A similar treatment is also done for babies in a posterior position.
Cardini F, Weixin H (1998) "Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation". Journal of American Medical Association. 280:1580-1584
More Information
- Acupressure for pain relief in labour: learn it here
- Acupuncture as a pre-birth and labour induction treatment
- Acupuncture for a healthy pregnancy
- Acupuncture for back pain relief in pregnancy
- Acupuncture for morning sickness relief
- Morning sickness and natural medicine
- Acupuncture to turn a breech position foetus
- Breastfeeding support
- Bringing on baby: a pre-birth guide to natural medicine
