A breech baby is one whose head is upwards so that they are likely to come out feet first. There are several types of breech presentation:

• Complete Breech – baby sitting on heels

• Footling Breech – feet first

• Frank Breech – bottom first, with feet up by head

Breech presentations occur in 4% of pregnancies, with the baby usually turning by the 36th week. If the baby remains breech, however, most OB’s advise an external cephalic version (ECV) or a C-section.

At Purnima, we use a gentle and well-established acupuncture and moxibustion protocol that involves warming an acupuncture point on the pinky toe. This point is one of the most researched and tested in Traditional Chinese Medicine, with a success rate between 69% and 85% in clinical trials.

Moxibustion is made from the herb mugwort, formed into a stick resembling a cigar. The smoldering end is placed above the acupuncture point UB 67, near the nail bed of the pinky toe. This treatment appears to create more space in the uterus, allowing the baby to turn.

For optimal clinical practice, it is ideal to begin treatment from 34 weeks of pregnancy to encourage the baby to turn to the optimal position. Treatment can be attempted as late as 38 or 39 weeks.

TREATMENT FREQUENCY:

Your appointment will include a tutorial on using a moxibustion stick. After this appointment, we recommend using moxa sticks at home for 20 minutes once a day for ten days.

We encourage birth partners to join this appointment. At the end of 10 days of moxibustion treatment, once you have checked in with your Midwife or OB to confirm if your baby has turned, a follow-up pregnancy acupuncture appointment is recommended.

WHICH APPOINTMENT SHOULD I BOOK?

For new patients at Purnima Clinic, we recommend booking an Integrative Acupuncture Evaluation & Initial visit and for returning patients, a Pregnancy Acupuncture appointment.