Breech Babya Nd Acupuncture

Victoria,
I am a childbirth educator and doula. I have had very good success with acupuncture in turning breech babies. We usually start a bit earlier than 38 wks. The acupuncturist should give you the moxa sticks to use at home every day to help your baby turn. If they will not do that, find another practitioner.
I also suggest using hot and cold to encourage him to turn. Put an ice pack on the top of your belly and then a heating pad or hot water bottle down around your pubic bone. Do this for about 15-20 mins. a couple of times a day.
I have had success with moms coming to me for hypnosis to turn breech babies.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want more info.
L. in Silver Spring

My second daughter was breech until 38 weeks. Fortunately, she was able to turn at the last minute by the exercises. I did consider acupuncture and something else with hot stones. I have heard that it works, but you need to be prepared for it also to induce your labor. That was the turnoff for me because I was delivering in a hospital and the places I contacted were not close to me. I don't know if you are delivering in a hospital or have a midwife. Some midwives will deliver a breech baby if it is not your first. Good luck.

My youngest was breech and I had a C-section. I never wnated one, however, I never wanted to be induced either but I had to be wiht my first child. I would be more worried about accupuncture than a C-section. Yes a C-section is "major surgery", however, I aagreed because breeched is a ver good medical reason to hvae it done and I did not want to risk my health or my daughters health. I will noe have to ahve a C-seciton wiht any future children, and while I am not fond of it, i would rather do that than risk my health or my baby's health. My C-section was fine. After the first 24-48 hours it got much better and being home was the best recovery method. However, I did stay in the hospital the full 3 days becasue I wanted to and I wanted to rest a little and tkae advantage of it while I could. If you do the C-section, here is what I can tell you from my own experience: As soon as you are allowed-get up and walk around! It is the best recovery method. It will be hard while in the hospital, but you be glad you did it when you get home. Also, the epidural for a C-section is a differnet one and much stronger for a C-section so TAKE ALL THE PAIN MEDICINE YOU ARE ALLOWED in the hospital even if you don't think you need it because it will help you recover quicker and when you get home take your pain medicine for up to a week and then stop taking it. I had bad neck and shoulder pain and itching from my epidural, which is another good reason to take the pain medicine. The effects last about 48 hours and were gone by the time I went home. NAyway, I would forget the accupuncture and do the C-section for your health and your abby's health (my OB also did an ultra sound 1 hour prior to my C-section to amke sure she ahd not turned, if she ahd turned on her own they would ahve induced me then)

Depending on the breech position of your baby, you might find a doctor willing to deliver the baby vaginally, but you would want someone with experience in vaginal breech deliveries.

The outcome for a frank breech vaginal delivery is equivalent to a head down position. However, with the other positions, the risk of cord prolapse increases.

Also, you could try having someone encourage the baby to try (external version).

Good luck with the accupunture.

Hi. My baby was also breech and I did all sorts of excercises to help her turn, but she never did. I did not try accupuncture. I just wanted to tell you that a c-section is not so bad. In many ways, a planned c-section is easier than natural birth. The recovery was not as bad as I had feared. Either way take care of yourself. However it happens, all that really matters is that happy healhy baby at the end! Good luck!

My sister had two sons where they were breach further in the pregnancy. The first son has turned in the hospital (Not by acupuncture) But the other son they wanted to do a C-section on him and never tried turning him and he turned right in the hospital on his own. So i can't tell you what is better but in my opinion i would do what you think is best. I don't think either is life threatening anymore and sometimes a doctor will do what they want for their own personal reason. (Training, more insurance money or what they believe is best) I can't give my opinion on acupuncture I've never had and personally never will. lol I have a tendency to let nature take it's course. Good luck

Both my girls were breach at the very last minute too. I had midwives that told me to go to a chiropractor. They adjusted my spine and within 48 hours both times, the babies turned. I believe it had something to do with relaxing my pelvic bones/muscles and allowing the baby enough room to sit the correct way. All I know is that it worked for me and cost like $15 each time for the one adjustment. I had tried laying upside down on stairs, pool handstands, everything. Never heard of acupuncture. Not sure how that would actually work...Best of luck. Try googling webster breach turning technique.

Are you having acupuncture or an inversion? my first daufghter was breeche and we went in to do the inversion where they push on your stomach to get the baby to turn, well all the signs told me no, they never told me i couldn't eat lunch before hand and i got there with my bags packed because they told me the procedure could send me into labor and when i told them i had eaten a small lunch they said they could not do it. that was the second incident that happened that had kept the process from moving forward and i felt a higher precense was telling me not do progress with it. i'm glad i did not because after i delivered my daughter by c-section my high risk doctor told me there was no way she would or could of been turned. i'm thankful i did not endure that painful procedure but was willing to do anything to help the situation. my c-section ended up being very pleasant and Morgan was born beautiful and Healthy and is now almost 7 years old!!! E-mail me at ____@____.com if i can help you any further. Good Luck!

When my first baby was temporarily in a breech position, a midwife told me that you can sometimes get the baby to flip by putting headphones against your lower belly--play nice music (Mozart?) and the baby might navigate towards it. My baby turned before I tried it so I don't know if it works. Good luck!

Don't let it freak you out! My son never turned and he was so big in there(12.1 lbs at birth!) my OB did not want to chance it by trying to turn him around. I had a scheduled c-section and everything turned out awesome. By all means try acupuncture or other natural methods, but If you have to get a c-section- it will be ok too. Don't discount the laid back atmosphere of cruising thru the schduled event. It actually took ALOT of pressure and worry off the table. Of course I would have preferred to go natural birth, but as long as that precious gift comes out safe & sound- that is ALL that matters. Good luck and no worries!

I understand about feeling like things are a certain way for a reason. I will start by saying that my son is perfectly fine... With my first son, we wanted to go 100% natural. I was nearly 2 weeks "past" due and had been progressing in my dilation for over 4 weeks. Finally, there was a day when I didn't feel my son move at all. We went to the ER and everything was still perfect, but the nurse convinced us to go ahead and be induced. We were hesitant because we thought 'if he's not ready to come out. he's not ready for a reason.' but we decided to go ahead since i was overdue and by science's reasoning he was "done". I won't go through all the details, but in the end I need an emergency c-section. My son was sunny side-up, had the cord wrapped around his neck, and had a head too large for my pelvis. He was not coming out naturally and had we waited for him to come "naturally" he could very well have choked himself. My point is that nature is not always perfect. And you should also trust your instincts. I knew that something was wrong the day I couldn't feel my son move. Turns out, he couldn't move because he was trapped in the cord. Doctor's know that breech births are dangerous. They know your baby is breech. There is nothing wrong with helping nature takes its course in a situation like yours.

My acupuncturist says she has done it many times successfully and the few times it was not successful, the chiropractor did it successfully. I am going to her for the awful pregnancy nausea that I am having and it is helping. The first time with the needles is a bit scary just because you don't know what to expect. They don't actually hurt. It's just a little prick with each needle so it's no big deal and believe me, I'm a sissy! My first baby was not breach but if this one ends up being breach I will try the acupuncture and chiropractor first before a c-section. Ask your acupuncturist if they work with a chiropractor in case it doesn't work or if he/she can recommend someone. And make sure to only go to a licensed acupuncturist. Good Luck!!! Keep us posted.

Victoria,

I have a friend/neighbor who is an accupuncturist. She have done this and the results are amazing. Accupuncture points that have to do with pregnancy and babies tend to be very strong. It is good that you are waiting this long.

BTW, I had a c-section. It wasn't that bad. When I was preparing for my daughter's birth, that was the last thing that I wanted. When the realization came that she would not be born naturally, I decided that safely was the best. I got to hold my daughter just a couple hours after the decision to go ahead.

I wish you peace with any decision that has to be made and, of course, joy when you get to hold your new little one. Once your new little one is here, it won't matter how she/he came into this world. You will have your baby.

J.

I've now had two breech pregnancies and two c-sections......I was open to trying anything for my first and nothing worked. Some friends have tried accupuncture, but I'm not aware of anyone who has had success.

Initially, I found it disappointing that I ended up with csections, but, frankly, there aren't any safe options if they refuse to turn with alternative therapies.

Good luck to you!

I have had accupunture done, though not for turning a baby. Don't be scared! I can actually be quite relaxing. The accupunturist will talk to you to determine where to put the needles. You will then lie down and the needles will be applied. Sometimes it stings a little at first and sometimes I hardly feel it. It should only sting when the needle is applied. The stinging fades quickly and you lie quietly for 20 minutes. Having two boys, the lying quietly in a darkened room is kind of a treat.

K. W.

Hi Victoria..

I don't have personal experience with this so my advice may not carry as much weight as others.. however.. my aunt gets accupuncture all the time and it is a very safe alternative style of medicine that involves no "medicine. My sister in law's last pregnancy was breeched.. my niece turned and then turned herself back to breech and she wound up being an emergency c-section. Everything turned out just fine, but she was in labor and her water broke - hence the "emergency". So I guess my advice would be to talk with your doctor, make a plan, and relax...

Congratulations and good luck!

K. - SAHM of 2 boys, 5 and 2

My son was breech at 37 weeks, and I had accupuncture and he turned in the next 24 hours, and stayed that way. I was skeptical, but I could feel him turning within 4 hours of the appointment. Now maybe he was going to turn anyway, but it sure seemed to work for me.

I had been going to accupuncture regularly during my pregnancy. If you are nervous about the accupuncture part, I hope I can put your mind a little at rest. It is very relaxing, and most of the time you don't even feel the needles at all. They are very fine, and will be put in places like your ankles. Most of the time, I just go and close my eyes and rest. Its actually very nice. As long as the accupuncturist is licensed and knows what they are doing, the worst thing that could happen is that the baby doesn't turn, but you got a relaxing hour.

I hope your baby turns for you. Sounds like other people have some good ideas too. Good luck.

My third was breech, for a while. Near the end, I would just lay on the couch, propped by pillows and put a bag of frozen veggies on my belly at the top by baby's head. It worked after doing it for spurts of 20 minutes about 4 times a day and it happened on the second day. Simple, yes, but it worked for me. Good luck.

Hi Victoria,
Let the acupuncturist know that you have concerns, and the planned treatment will be explained. Moxa is used to turn a breech baby. A moxa pole looks similar to a cigar, though thinner. One end is lit and held close to an acupuncture point on the outside of the smallest toenail. It does not touch the skin, but heats it up, sending heat up the channel and encouraging the baby to move away from it, hopefully in a headdown position. Contractions may also occur and these encourage the baby to move .

One treatment of 15 min. holding the moxa pole next to both points -one on each foot may not be enough to turn the baby. You will usually need to take poles home w/ you or see the acupuncturist several times to get the best results.

Discuss your concerns frankly. Moxa treatment can sometimes help, and worth a try to avoid a C/S.

Good luck.
A.

hello Victoria. My baby is now 22 years old. He was a breech baby.
He was also 10 days late for delivery. My doctor set up a C section for Monday, he turned himself Sunday night and was born naturally. Best of luck, I know nothing about accupucture for turning a baby.
Mother of 3 boys, now 22, 25, and 27 years old.
I am a stay at home mom.