BREECH BABIES
Overview
Let us help you turn your baby around in a supportive, stress-free environment! Acupuncture with moxibustion treatment is a highly effective, gentle way to turn around a breech presentation baby. The research is astounding! In one study, 90.2% of babies before 34 weeks had spontaneous cephalic version after treatment and the success rate for women who were given treatment after 34 weeks was 84.6%. (See research below.) We have seen these high success rates in our own practice.
What is Moxibustion?
Moxa is a name for the herb Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort or common wormwood) and moxibustion simply means the burning of this herb. This modality is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to promote healing, generate warmth in the body/channels, foster energy and movement, and to assist over-all healing in the body.
How Does It Work to
Turn a Baby?
Because of the warming, raising, and moving effect of moxa, it is used to encourage the baby to become more active and gain the momentum needed to reposition into the head-down/cephalic position. Moxa also influences the mother’s energy which also assists the baby to correct malposition. The moxa sticks are lit and held above the indicated acupuncture point, UB 67. The acupuncture point UB 67 is the primary point used to activate the uterus. It is located on the outer, lower edge of both little toenails. This technique is useful for frank breech, transverse and complete breech presentations. Acupuncture is used in tandem with moxibustion to restore balance to the body’s energy and organ systems to support the correct position of the baby. It is also influential for strengthening the body for labor and delivery.
The cumulative effect of treatments given several days in a row contributes to the high success rate. Our treatment protocol consists of five consecutive acupuncture and moxibustion treatments that directly influence the uterus and encourage correction of malposition.
The wisdom and resources of the acupuncturists at The Nest helped put my anxieties at ease —which is half the battle when it comes to breech positioning, from what I understand—as we laid out a plan and put it to work. My baby turned after just a few sessions, and I’m continuing to enjoy the incredible benefits of acupuncture through the remainder of my pregnancy.
“”
Amanda