Lang Acupuncture and Holistic Health - Highgate Hil Acupuncture Clinic, Brisbane
A baby is expected to settle into a head down position within the pelvis around the 34th to 36th week of pregnancy. When this doesn’t happen as expected, this can be a distressing time for expecting mothers and fathers, as a baby presenting bottom first can have more difficulty being born.
Moxibustion and Acupuncture are two techniques used when a patient presents in the clinic with this presentation. A systemic review involving 1346 women, found that moxibustion in combination with acupuncture resulted in fewer non-cephalic (breech) presentations at birth and fewer births by caesarean section (c-section) compared with no treatment (Coyle et al, 2012). The same study found that moxibustion alone did not have the same effect, therefore the combination with acupuncture is important (Coyle et al, 2012).
What is Moxibustion?
Moxibustion is a technique used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, where a cigar looking stick containing the herb mugwort is lit and directed towards specific acupuncture points, to promote the effects of the points (Coyle et al, 2012).
Moxibustion for Breech Presentation
When moxibustion is performed specifically for breech presentation, a specific acupuncture point located on the pinky to is utilised (Betts, 2006). This point is called BL-67. In your appointment with your acupuncturist, a protocol, which would be performed over the course of 10 days will be explained to you.
Acupuncture for Breech Presentation
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) sees the root cause of a breech baby as a deficiency in Kidney energy (Betts, 2006). In TCM physiology, the kidney has a major connection to the uterus and has a role nourishing the foetus throughout pregnancy (Betts, 2006). This nourishing capacity can be effected if there are any deficiencies in kidney energies, predisposing the baby to be in breech (Betts,2006). Acupuncture would work to nourish any deficiencies that are present (Betts, 2006).
When can I book a treatment for breech baby?
The optimum time for correcting a breech presentation with moxibustion is at 34 weeks, although it is possible to assist the correction of a breech presentation up to 39 weeks (Betts, 2006).
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Resources
Coyle, M. E., Smith, C. A., Peat, B. (2012). Cephalic version by moxibustion for breech presentation. Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews, 2012(5), 1-35. https://doi.org.10.1002/14651858.CD003928.pub3.
Betts, D. (2006). The essential guide to: Acupuncture in Pregnancy and Childbirth. The Journal of Chinese Medicine Ltd. China.
Please note: Although the combination of acupuncture and moxibustion can be effective, some babies can be stubborn, or there can be structural considerations that may reduce the chances of the baby turning. It is always recommended that medical checks and advice is taken from a primary health care practitioner to ensure all possible factors are considered.
Lang Acupuncture and Holistic Health
Lang Acupuncture and Holistic Health in Jindalee offers unique holistic services to help with rebalancing one’s mental and physical being. As an accredited Australian health practitioner and member of the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association, we provide a safe and supportive environment throughout your holistic, healing journey.
Our Jindalee acupuncture clinic services women all over Brisbane with clients from a range of suburbs such as Jindalee, Mount Ommaney, Sinnamon Park, Middle Park, Jamboree Heights, Oxley, Seventeen Miles Rocks, Kenmore, Chapel Hill, Indooroopilly, Ipswich, Annerley, Graceville, Sherwood and beyond.
