Using moxibustion to encourage
the baby to turn by itself

A very successful "do it yourself" technique with a proven high success rate is to use locally applied heat treatment. The heat from burning moxa sticks can also be used to stimulate the baby's movements and encourage it to turn. These sticks, shaped like cigars, are available from herbalists, Chinese medicine stockists and some acupuncturists (who use moxa sticks for other purposes) and they contain tightly rolled dried leaves of the mugwort plant. They are very inexpensive and two sticks will be needed - they can be used several times.  

Sit on a chair and place each foot on a book with your little toes hanging over the edge. Place each stick on another book with the tip in the gap. Light the sticks (they burn with no flame but an intense heat and pungent smell) and position the hot tip as close as possible to the outside of each little toe, with the heat directed at the point just above the toe nail. Leave in place for 20 minutes. Be careful not to touch the skin as you will burn yourself. The heat should be as strong as you can tolerate, for the best effect.

After a few minutes, you will notice the baby begin to kick and move. The primary aim of the moxibustion treatment is to encourage the baby to move around and thus increase the effect of gravity which will help the heaviest part of the baby (its head) to turn over and enter into the pelvis. This simple treatment is best done just before bed, starting at 34 - 36 weeks. It takes several hours for the baby to turn, and this will be easier if you are lying down, because the baby will not be sitting as firmly into the pelvis. Continue over several nights, or until the baby has turned itself. A randomised controlled trial indicates that at approximately 70% of breech babies will turn using this method.

It is recommended that you see a Practitioner first
and then after he/she shows you how to use Moxa correctly, you can continue at home.

Dr. Clara Cohen, Registered Acupuncturist, DTCM.
 604-618-1552


For a video on how to do Moxa: http://www.acubalance.ca/moxa-moxibustion-breech-baby