Near the
end of pregnancy, when the due date begins to loom, most babies will position
themselves head down and facing the mother’s back. This is the ideal position
for labor and delivery. When a baby is in this position the head descends and
puts pressure on the mother’s cervix which helps initiate labor and leads to
effective, productive contractions during labor. This position is also ideal for
the descent of the baby through the birth canal and out into the world.
While
turning head down is the norm, not all babies move into this position on their
own. Giving birth to a breech baby who is butt down or feet down is possible,
but it carries a higher risk to the baby and mother and most care providers are
not willing to do it.
There are
two choices in Western medicine when it comes to breech babies. One is to
attempt a manual version from the outside. The midwife or OB
will use their hands on the outside of the mother’s abdomen to try and turn the
baby into the ideal position. This is done with the aid of an ultrasound machine
while the heart rate of both baby and mother are monitored closely. It is not
without risk and not all practitioners are willing to perform this technique.
Some women find it to be painful and opt out of trying it. The second choice,
when manual version is not an option, or is undesired, is to schedule a
cesarean section.
Chinese medicine offers another option.
There is a simple technique that can be quite successful
if applied correctly and daily within a specific time
period.
Moxibustion is applied to the
point Zhiyin (BL-67) on both feet for 15 minutes every day.
A
practitioner of Chinese Medicine can perform the technique once, showing the
woman and a partner how it is done, and then the woman can have it done at home
every day for up to 5 days. After 5 days, the pregnant woman should be checked
to see if the baby has in fact turned. If not, another 5 days of moxa can be
applied.
The
ideal week of gestation for applying moxa is week 34, but anywhere
between 30 and 38 can be done. If it is applied too early, the baby may turn
back into the breech position, while attempting too late may not be successful
if the baby doesn’t have enough amniotic fluid or room to make the
move.
There have
been several studies performed testing the efficacy of this technique. The
success rates vary from 60% to 80% success, depending on the study. Most of
these studies also conclude that the 34th week of pregnancy is the
ideal time to perform moxibustion for turning breech babies.
I
have personally seen this technique succeed and feel that it is usually worth
trying when cesarean section is the only other option.
