Breech Babies

Acupuncture conversion of fetal breech presentation.

Habek D, Cerkez Habek J, Jagust M.Clinical Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Hospital Osijek, Osijek, Croatia.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the value of acupuncture (AP) in the conversion of fetal breech presentation into vertex presentation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized prospective controlled clinical study included 67 pregnant women with fetal breech presentation: 34 women with singleton pregnancies treated with manual AP (urinary bladder 67, Zhiyin) and a control group which included 33 women with singleton pregnancies without AP treatment. The AP treatment lasted 30 min a day, and was conducted during and after 34 weeks of pregnancy with simultaneous cardiotocography. RESULTS: The success rate of the AP correction of fetal breech presentation is 76.4% (26 women), and spontaneous conversion without AP in vertex presentation is observed in 15 women (45.4%; p<0.001).

Acupuncture plus moxibustion to resolve breech presentation: a randomized controlled study.

Neri I, Airola G, Contu G, Allais G, Facchinetti F, Benedetto C., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Modena-Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: In many Western countries breech presentation is an indication for elective Cesarean section. In order to correct fetal presentation, the stimulation of the acupuncture point BL67 by moxibustion, acupuncture or both has been proposed. Since no studies had previously been carried out on Western populations, pregnant Italian women at 33-35 weeks gestational age carrying a fetus in breech presentation were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial involving an active BL67 point stimulation and an observation group.

Non-stress test changes during acupuncture plus moxibustion on BL67 point in breech presentation.

Neri I, Fazzio M, Menghini S, Volpe A, Facchinetti F., Clinica Ostetrica, Universita di Roma-Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed fetal heart variability and activity using a computerized non-stress test (NST) during acupuncture plus moxibustion on the BL67 point. For comparison, the same changes were assessed during placebo acupuncture (minimal acupuncture) in the same subjects.

Turning Breech Babies

Watch a video using Moxabustion for turning a breech baby presentation

JAMA 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1580-4

Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation: a randomized controlled trial.

Cardini F, Weixin H