A breech baby in pregnancy is when the position of the baby’s buttocks sits lower then the baby’s head during birth. Breech position occurs in 3-4% of births and are associated with increased complications during childbirth. Most babies turn to a head down position between 28-32 weeks of pregnancy. Once turned, most babies will stay in this position as space starts to become limited for babies movement as expecting mothers get closer to their due dates.
There are 4 types of breech presentations
- Complete breech (flexed or full), where the baby’s hips and knees are both flexed and feet are tucked in beside baby’s buttocks
- Frank breech (incomplete breech or extended legs), where the baby’s hips are flexed and legs extended with baby’s feet near their head.
- Footling breech (rare), where baby’s hips and knees are extended and ones or both feet lie below baby’s buttocks
- Knee breech (very rare), baby’s hips are extended and knees flexed and one or both knees lie below baby’s buttocks
There is effective evidence to support the use of acupuncture in obstetrics and gynaecology medicine in the use in correcting breech presentation.
Check with your primary health practitioner at your biweekly prenatal appointments. If your baby still presenting as breech at 32 weeks it may be time to try acupuncture and moxibustion. Acupuncture and moxibustion has been shown to be effective treatments that gently encourage the baby to turn into proper head down position. These treatments increase blood flow and help change hormonal levels in expecting mother to be, which help to increase and encourage baby’s movement. These treatments are effective when preformed between 32-36 weeks of pregnancy. Past 36 weeks of pregnancy space becomes very limited for baby’s movement and becomes more difficult to change breech and facilitate proper positioning.
Moxibustion is a herb called mugwort. It is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to warm Acupuncture points and increase blood flow. Moxibustion is used for breech baby’s by activating the acupuncture points that can help turn baby into proper position. Your Acupuncturist will teach you how to facilitate this treatment on your self for home daily treatments.
