Moxibustion for a Breech Baby

Being told your baby is breech in the last weeks of pregnancy can be unsettling, especially if you were hoping for a straightforward birth. Moxibustion is a simple, traditional technique that many women use at home to encourage their baby to turn head-down, and we have been teaching it for over two decades.

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What moxibustion is

Moxa is a dried herb (mugwort) rolled into a stick, a little like a thick cigar. The lit end is held close to, but not touching, an acupuncture point on the outside corner of each little toe. It creates a gentle, spreading warmth. The point, known as Bladder 67, has been used for breech babies in Chinese medicine for centuries.

How it works at our clinic

We keep this simple, and the focus is on teaching you well, because almost all of the treatment happens at home.

1. One appointment: we confirm your history and timings, give you an acupuncture treatment, and show you and your partner exactly how to do the moxibustion: where the point is, how close to hold the stick, how long for, and what it should feel like.
2. At home: you take moxa sticks away with you and use them once or twice a day, usually for about 10 days, or until your midwife or scan confirms your baby has turned.

We do not do the moxibustion itself in clinic. A daily routine over ten days is what matters, and it is far easier, and cheaper, to do that at home.

Many women tell us their baby becomes noticeably more active during or after a session. That is a common and expected response.

When to start

The best window is usually around 34 to 36 weeks, while your baby still has room to move. We have seen babies turn as late as 38 or 39 weeks, but the earlier you start within that window, the better the chances.

What the research shows

• Cochrane review, 2023 — seven trials and 1,152 women. Moderate-certainty evidence that moxibustion alongside usual care probably reduces the chance of the baby still being breech at birth. It probably makes little or no difference to caesarean rates, and side effects were poorly reported in many trials.

We think that is a fair summary: it is worth trying, it is not guaranteed, and it sits alongside your NHS care rather than replacing it.

Moxibustion and ECV

If your baby is still breech, your hospital will usually offer an external cephalic version (ECV), where an obstetrician turns the baby by hand from around 36 weeks. Moxibustion does not stop you having an ECV, and many women do the moxibustion first and keep their ECV appointment if needed.

Before you start

Please check with your midwife or obstetrician before using moxibustion, and only start once a scan or examination has confirmed your baby is breech. It is not suitable if:

• you are expecting twins or more
• you have placenta praevia, any bleeding, or your waters have broken
• you have high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia
• your baby has been diagnosed with growth problems, or you have been told there is a reason for the breech position

Stop and contact your maternity unit if you notice bleeding, regular contractions, fluid loss or reduced movements.

What to expect

This is a single appointment of about an hour. Please bring your partner or whoever will help you at home, and any recent scan reports. See clinics and fees for prices.

Why The London Acupuncture Clinic

• 25 years treating patients in London, with pregnancy care a core part of our work
• Degree-qualified practitioners experienced in treating women through pregnancy and after the birth
• We work alongside midwives, GPs and consultants
• Early-morning, evening and weekend appointments
• Receipts for insurance claims on request

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