Pregnancy Symptoms

Breech Presentation During Pregnancy

What is Breech Presentation? 

A breech birth is the birth of a baby from a breech presentation. In the breech presentation the baby enters the birth canal with the feet or buttocks first as opposed to the head first.

This bottom-down position, may present hazards to the baby during birth, and the mode of delivery (vaginal versus Caesarean) is controversial in the fields of obstetrics and midwifery.

Though vaginal birth is possible for a baby in breech, certain fetal and maternal factors influence the safety of vaginal breech birth. The vast majority of breech babies born today are delivered by Caesarean section.

What are the Dangers of Breech Pregnancy?

The biggest part of a baby's body is the head. During labor, once the head slips through the mother's pelvis, the rest of the body should move out quite easily. However, if the child is born bottom first, it's possible that the body will fit through the mother's pelvis, but the head may have difficulty moving through at the level of the chin. This condition, known as a trapped head, can be extremely dangerous. 

If the baby's head does become trapped, there is a high possibility of injury as the umbilical cord usually stops functioning after the baby's body is born which cuts off the oxygen supply from the mother to the baby. If the baby's head is still trapped inside the uterus, then baby cannot yet breathe unaided; so it is critical that the doctor delivers the baby as quickly as possible.

Acupuncture - A Natural Treatment for Breech Pregnancy

Acupuncture therapy combined with warming Moxabustion may be used for a period of several weeks with great success in the treatment of Breech Presentation.  Research has shown that this technique has a high success rate in improving breech and preparing the mother and baby for delivery and childbirth.

Research: Acupuncture for Breech Pregnancy - PUB MED

"CONCLUSIONS:·Acupuncture plus moxibustion is more effective than observation in revolving fetuses in breech presentation. Such a method appears to be a valid option for women willing to experience a natural birth."

Research: Moxabustion for Breech Pregnancy - CMJ

"Conclusion: Moxibustion, acupuncture and laser acupoint stimulation tend to be effective in the correction of breech presentation."