Has anyone successfully used Moxibustion to turn an oblique breech baby?

[Panther79]

I just wondered if anyone has had this done and whether it actually worked?

If it did work did you have to have many sessions and would you kindly pass on the details of where you have had it done ( only London ) please.

I am 36 weeks and will be booked to have c-section if baby doesn't turn by next Wednesday. Baby has been in this position for many weeks now and doesn't seem interested to move. I have read that babies can move at the last minute, however, my consultant won't let me carry until 40 or beyond weeks as I am also diabetic and have excessive amniotic fluid.

Thank you.

I went for 1 session with DH because the idea is you are taught to use the sticks at home a few times a day. I ended up needing an ECV to turn my baby which was successful at 38 weeks - they reckon moxa is less successful nearing your due date. I went to an acupuncture clinic and I think it was £40. It did make baby move a lot! But not turn.

Thanks MrsJ
I am now 36 weeks, do you reckon it's too late to give it a try?

Do you mind me asking where you had it done?

The trouble is that my consultant doesn't think the ECV will work as the baby is oblique breech. I have asked for an ECV and he will let me know next week.

Have you tried the Spinning Babies website? I'm guessing yes... might be some exercises specifically for oblique breech on there.

rage yes thank you I have had a look at the spinning babies website and some of the exercises recommended are a killer bit painful.

I'm in York so it was an independent homeopathic clinic. I think it's advisable around the 36 week mark - I was around 38 weeks so no good for me!

Thanks mrsj I have booked a consultation for tomorrow at one of the clinics. Fingers crossed it works for me!

I had moxibustion with my pregnancy. I wanted to try what I could to avoid an elc (or whatever it's called). I thought it was a bit 'hippy' for me but just went for it. I didn't think it had worked so went to my elc appointment and shed turned! How I didn't notice this 180 degree turn at 36/37 weeks is beyond me!

Oh thanks for that 83mummy as that's my hope as well.
I was thinking the same as you as well but ready to give anything a try at this point.
This last trimester has been a bit of a nightmare so here's to hoping that I have the same result as you

I had it done at 36 weeks at Shine in Newington Green, it was excellent and she turned four days later (you do the sticks at home). She was footling breech, she turned transverse and then was head down. Who knows if she would have turned anyway though! I was 36 weeks.

Thanks Xing am hoping for a similar result.

Mine was transverse to start with and has been oblique breech for several weeks now.
Due to the excess water, I have been warned that my water could break anytime. I am scared of cord prolapse in case my water breaks and baby is breech.
Please could I ask how long did you do the sticks at home for and also did they show you how to do it at that place?

I will google the place now

Basically it's sticks that look a bit like cigars. They take some lighting (keep a bowl of water just in case) and something like an empty jam jar to smother it with at the end. The point of the consultation is so the person can teach your partner how to do it - make sure they go too!! I think we did it about 4 times a day for about 15 minutes (3-4 mins alternating) but too might be advised differently.

I was going to try this, but between 36-7 weeks baby turned from transverse to head down on their own. It's my third so there is more room to wiggle and later babies often only turn and engage in labour. There is still time for baby to move on their own.
I did lots of hypnobirthing breathing and 'talking' to baby mentally. Doubt it was that but gave me something to focus on!

I tried it for my oblique frank breech DD. I too thought it was 'hippy crap' and I have a phobia of needles, but at that point I was willing to try anything. It was around £40, and like PPs I had one session using the stick and needles and was then given the stick to do it twice a day at home. It didn't work unfortunately, but then neither did an ECV, spinning babies, yoga, and watching TV on all fours each evening. DD was in that position from very early on and never came close to moving, but the surgeon couldn't see any particular reason why she was breech, other than there 'wasn't much room in there'.

I had it, the baby turned but I ended up with EMCS as the cord was wrapped tightly round the baby's neck. I often wonder whether the turning led to this ( though I have no actual proof). It makes the baby move a lot ( I did mine at 36 w)

I had acupuncture followed by moxibustion sticks at home which worked. Afraid I can't find the name of the clinic but it was on Harley st, looks like there are several options there.

I had 4 sessions of it from 34-37 weeks, including acupuncture, and it did nothing!!! not a sausage. And it STINKS.

Went into hospital eysterday (37+5) and had an ECV- which worked- and really was not that painful.

My advice is to save the money you'll waste on the moxi, do some inversions from www.spinningbabies.com and if it comes to it have the ECV. It lasted 60 seconds, no more. Mildly uncomfortable but nothing major.

Skanking do you mind me asking, was your daughter very colicky/refluxy after she was born? i've heard it can be an issue with long term breech babies..

Thanks all for sharing your experiences, really helpful to know what worked for some and what didn't!

mrsj thanks for elaborating on the procedure and reminder re taking someone with me. I completely forgot that I can't do it myself as I can't reach my fat toes

blue pleased to hear that your baby turned, I hope mine does as well. Only wish they let me carry labour kicks in but due to the diabetes they won't so I don't have "time" on my side.

skanking I have a feeling that mine won't turn as well, although with the excessive fluid, he does have a lot of room. He is just a lazy chilled out baby it seems

Glittery that's frightening to say the least but glad that baby is alright even though ended with EMCS. Please could I ask if you had a scan right after the moxi? How did you find out that the cord was wrapped around baby's neck. This is scaring me now. I have a scan on Wednesday and got an appointment to start the moxi this evening. Should I leave it for the day before the scan?

HVB that's another success story and hoping for a similar one as well.
I called a few on harley street yesterday and none have any availability until late next week and didn't want to leave it so late, hence, booked one in Kentish Town, although her price is a killer okay considering how in demand moxi seems to be.

chica sorry that it didn't work for you. Thanks for the warning re the smell
My consultant advised that the ECV won't work for me as baby is oblique breech. It's the awkward way that the baby is lying which makes it incredibly difficult for the ECV to work.

I am going to start the Moxi this evening and have a scan next Wednesday so will let you all know if it works!

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's been helpful.

The baby could change from oblique breech though- mine did- he's been kind of changing a lot, really. He was 'regular' breech on tuesday when we did the ECV so it went ahead..
I'm a bit worried about the cord too but the consultant has asked me not to worry, it's such a rare issue

They can take a few days to turn after moxi so i'd say leave the scan at next wed- do the moxi yourself at home (i rested mine against something on the floor and let it burn away and placed my toe in the right place against it) and simultaneously place a pack of iced peas on the babies head to get him to move!

little gymnasts!!

Bon chance

chica thanks for all that. That really does make me more confident to ask the consultant for an ECV. For some reason, he was really adamant that it wouldn't work. I am under two different consultants so if he refuses, I will ask the other who doesn't scare ignore me.

Thanks for the reassurance re the cord. It's been tough these last few months and one of our friends lost her baby during her CS over Xmas so I am frankly terrified of anything going wrong at the last minute

Great tip re the iced peas as wouldn't have thought so myself.

Yep little gymnasts alright
And pleased that the ECV worked for you!

Merci beaucoup!

Chica yes she was colicky. I took her to a cranial osteopath as recommended by my midwife (also believe/d this to be hippy nonsense tbh, but again willing to try anything at that point), and it did seem to make some difference although not loads and I'm not sure if it didn't just coincide with her system maturing a bit. In hindsight, yes I think she suffered from reflux too. I didn't realise until many months after when talking to another mum whose son had just been diagnosed, and everything she was saying had been my DD too. She always had to propped upright and would scream murder when she was laid down, no matter how asleep she had been previously. She was sick a lot, was an awful sleeper/napper, cried a lot, very clingy, and fussed during feeds. But as a ftm I just thought that's how babies are. She's grown out of it now (19mo) and I wonder if that's why she took so well and quickly to solid food.

OP just as some balance to a PP, I found the ECV to be very painful. Now I've had a section I believe I wouldn't be allowed one again anyway, but even if I could I would refuse. Also be aware that there are risks involved with them if you go ahead which are often underplayed. My consultant was good and kept monitoring DD throughout, but I've seen other mums on here talk about a very different experience. Not to scare you, they are very successful for a lot of women, just to give you the other side and to say do your research

skanking am glad to hear that your dd has grown out of the early difficulties. I actually didn't realise that there are reflux and colic issues associated with long term breech babies. I suppose it's time for me to do some more research so that I know what to expect and it doesn't make me feel bad when the baby is here. It's my first pregnancy so difficult to know what is "normal" and what is not.

Also thanks re the other side of the ECV. I will do some more research on it in case I am offered one so I am well prepared.

I had a moxi session yesterday. It actually made me quite sleepy relaxed.
My husband did another one at night and once this morning.
The difference I have noticed is that baby is more active than usual.
I know it's early yet but am hoping that's a good sign that baby is going to turn, which I doubt hope will happen.

To give an update;
On my follow up scan, baby hadn't turned so I was booked for an ECV for the following Wednesday. So I continued the moxi.

The ECV couldn't be carried out however as when monitored, baby's cord was found around his neck, so I was booked for a CS in 10 days' time.

I had reduced movements for two days before that so I went to triage the same day. The obs consultant said that she was nervous to leave it so long and booked me for an emergency CS. So I was kept in and our gorgeous son was delivered the next morning.

We were kept for a few days and are home now. We are both doing well and he's absolutely beautiful.

Thank you for all who gave me advice on here. I am not sure whether the moxi was the culprit for the cord around the neck or not.