Moxibustion for turning a Breech Baby
Simply book in online for an acupuncture appointment and the moxibustion is included. Your first appointment to turn your breech baby does NOT need to include a session of acupuncture if you don’t want it, but it can significantly help to get the one session of acupuncture before the moxa. It’s the same price for both the moxa and the acupuncture, nothing extra charged because I really want you to be able to get both if you want to. Simply book in online, no deposit required.
What is Moxibustion for Breech Babies?
Moxibustion is a therapy from Traditional Chinese medicine that involves burning moxa (which is the herb mugwort) to direct the heat from it toward/near specific acupuncture points on the body. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, when these points are stimulated by moxibustion, it can strengthen blood flow & prompt the release of certain hormones. The moxibustion procedure to turn breech babies directs the moxa toward an acupuncture point on the little toe. A recent article in Parents magazine states, ”The traditional Chinese practice of moxibustion is one of the world’s oldest techniques for turning a breech baby—and OB-GYNs still prescribe it today.” Please note that the photo they show is not how it is used for turning breech babies-you do not need to strap anything to your feet, you just hold the moxa stick so the heat off it is directed at the side of your little toe. Nothing should ever make contact with your skin.
How do you do Moxibustion for Breech Baby?
CAUTION: Doing Moxibustion is a fire hazard, treat it as such. Use in a well ventilated area. Keep away from flammable items.
CAUTION: Do NOT touch yourself with the part of the moxa stick that is burning, it will burn you & possibly leave a scar.
CAUTION: Make sure the moxa stick is fully extinguished after use & store moxa stick on a non-flammable surface & away from flammable items.
Instructions for doing moxibustion for a breech baby:
⦁ Make sure you are in a well ventilated room/area or outside. Keep all flammable objects away from the area.
⦁ Have a non-flammable cup of soil prepared to extinguish the moxa stick.
⦁ Sit comfortably with your legs elevated.
⦁ You may want to use a candle to light the moxa stick because it may take a few moments to fully light. Blow out the candle when the moxa stick is lit.
⦁ Position the moxa stick about 1 inch away from & over the corner of the outside of your little toe (see photo above) Allow a few moments for the sensation of warmth to build. The intensity of the heat you feel should be warm, but not uncomfortable. Move the moxa stick either away or closer so that the warm sensation is felt comfortably. Caution: Do NOT allow the burning Moxa stick to come in to contact with your skin, it will burn & possibly scar. Burning moxa is a fire hazard. Keep away from flammable objects.
⦁ Alternate between the left & right little toe every 5 minutes for a total of 20 minutes.
⦁ Extinguish the moxa stick in a cup filled with soil or put it out like a cigarette by twisting it on concrete. If you extinguish it using water, this may make it difficult to re-light the next day. Do not hesitate to use water to put out a fire, do so if needed. Make sure the moxa stick is fully extinguished after use & store moxa stick on a non-flammable surface & away from flammable items.
⦁ Repeat the above 2 times a day for 20 minutes maximum for each time.
⦁ You can stop using the moxa when the baby has turned. You may need confirmation from an examination or scan from a qualified medical professional to verify that your breech baby has turned into the correct position. It is ok if you still used the moxa after the baby has turned, in my years of experience once the baby is in the correct head down position, it stays there and does not turn back even if you continue to do the moxibustion. It is very common to not know baby has turned out of breech position and to have continued using the moxa.