Chinese medicine uses a herb called 'moxa' which is gently smouldered over a particular acupuncture point on the foot to help in the turning of breech position babies (babies which are head up instead of head down). This treatment is understood to have an effect on the tone of the muscles of the womb, encouraging the baby into a head down position. This treatment is both gentle and safe.

It entails the mother and a partner coming for a session to learn the technique, and then the treatment is done at home twice a day for 7 to 10 days. The optimum time to try and turn a breech baby is at 34 weeks, so we encourage women to come as near to that time as possible. Babies can turn right up until the end of the pregnancy (though it is less likely after 38 weeks) so this is always worth trying!

A recent study in China showed a 90% success rate using moxa to turn breech babies.

We also find that doing the moxa treatment is very helpful for ECV, External Cephalic Version. This is a procedure done by a consultant who manipulates the baby externally (using his hands on the mothers abdomen) to try and turn the baby to a head down position. This is usually done at 37 weeks, but only with a specially trained consultant who has deemed it safe to try this procedure. Doing the moxa treatment leading up to an ECV may help increase the chances of turning the baby.

This treatment is contra-indicated in cases of twins, transverse lie, pre-eclampsia, or high blood pressure.