Turning Breech and Posterior Babies with Acupuncture and Moxabustion

Brook Canning — Acupuncturist | Women’s Health, Fertility & Pregnancy

Babies need to be in the right position for an uncomplicated natural labour. We hope that they turn head down and anterior between 34 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. In a small percentage of pregnancies this is not the case and the baby stays in an upright or ‘breech’ position. Other babies turn head down but remain in a posterior position.

A posterior presentation often results in a long and inefficient labour with prolonged dilation. Posterior presentation is also likely to increase back pain for the woman as the spine of the baby puts pressure on her own spine.

A woman with a breech presentation will usually be advised that a caesarean is the best option. The reasons for this are that it minimises risks to both mother and baby that could occour during a complicated labour. Some of theses extremely serious complications include compression of the cord as well as intracranial haemorrhage.

The discovery of a breech or posterior positioned baby can be an unwelcome stress in the late stage of pregnancy. Especially to those women who were planning on a natural labour. Disappointment can set in as a women realises she may not be able to have the birth that she wanted, or expected. There are a few things that can be tried when a baby is breech to try to correct the position. The first is an ‘external manual version’ or ECV. It is important that this procedure is conducted by a specialist and that the woman be monitored throughout for any complication, including detaching of the placenta or compression of the umbilical cord that would result in an emergency caesarean. An ECV is not performed without certain risk and you may find many obstetricians unwilling to perform this unless they are specialists in the procedure.

The second option and one that is risk free is Acupuncture and Moxibustion. These two techniques in combination or alone can be administered first by the Acupuncturist and then continued daily (Moxabustion) by the woman herself or a partner or friend. Although there is certainly no guarantee that the baby will turn it is an intervention that carries no risk or discomfort and that has been researched with good success rates. In my experience obstetricians and midwives are usually happy for women to try Acupuncture as it poses no risk to mother or baby.

From the perspective of the Acupuncturist

Traditional Chinese Medicine advocates that the Qi or energy of the Kidney (in a Chinese Medicine context) is responsible for the growth and nourishment of the baby throughout pregnancy. From that context it is often suspected that a deficiency of Qi is responsible for the baby not turning. The growth and development of the baby in the uterus requires an extra ordinary effort by the body so there is also a chance that Qi can become stuck or stagnant in the body, preventing the baby from turning. Regardless of Chinese diagnosis breech and posterior presentation are treated with the same points. Points will then be selected according to each individual to address any other complaint the woman might be suffering with at this late stage, as well as points to prepare her for labour.

Research into Acupuncture and Moxibustion in breech and posterior presentation

Several studies have been conducted into breech presentation. An Italian study of 260 women (Cardini et al 1998) presenting breech in their first pregnancy (in 33rd week) were given treatment. 75.4% of the babies in the treatment group turned (compared to 47.7%) in the control. A Chinese study consisting of 505 women (Co operative research group on moxabustion version 1984) had similar results with 81% of the treatment group turning (compared to 49%) in the control group.

Other advantages to having Acupuncture prior to birth

Acupuncture in the third trimester of pregnancy is an optimum time to address and discomforts or problems a women may be experiencing, treat to prepare the body for birth, learn acupressure pain relief techniques as well as discussing and planning post natal treatment that can be of great benefit after childbirth.

Acupuncture is an effective, non invasive, safe treatment that is suitable to use for breech and posterior presentation and throughout pregnancy.

Sydney-based Specialist Acupuncturist Brook Canning is a regular contributor to the much celebrated ‘Natural Health Booster’ fortnightly ezine with 1,000+ subscribers. If you’re ready to jump-start and optimise your health, wellbeing and fertility, get your FREE tips now at www.boostyourhealthnow.com or www.boostyourfertilitynow.com.

Brook has private consultations available, to make an appointment please phone Julia or Carolina on 1300 85 84 90.

Keywords: Acupuncture > Pre-birth treatment > Pregnancy