Thanks for posting this study on moxibustion, Marilyn. Breech presentation is the primary reason for elective C.S. especially since the (flawed) Hannah report which has convinced most ob's that it's the safest way to go. Moxibustion is a non-invasive intervention which is often talked about but infrequently tried. Recent figures indicate that 3-4% of babies are breech at term (anecdotally it seems higher than that though, don't you think). The chance of (natural) spontaneous version at 32 weeks is 57%, and at 36weeks only 25% will correct themselves without intervention. This study showed the group who had intervention (moxibustion/ECV) attained 75% cephalic at term. As midwives we could potentially reduce the ever-rising C.S. rate simply by learning about and trying moxibustion whenever we are presented with a woman who would like her breech baby to turn "spontaneously". Physical positioning exercises have been shown to be effective, and can be combined with water (aqua robics style). Acupuncture is another alternative treatment worth exploring. There is also a chiropractic technique, but when I tried recently to find a chiro who would do it I had no luck -- they knew how to do it, but "risk of litigation" was cited as the reason they would not become involved. I'm off to the chinese herbalist shop this week to buy my moxa sticks! Cheers, Lois
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 11:15 PM Subject: Re: 'turning' breech presentations. The paper called "Moxibustion for Correction of Breech Presentation - a Randomized Controlled Trial" by Cardini, F. and Weixin, H. was published in JAMA 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1580-4. It was done in the outpatient dept. of the Women's Hospital of Jiangi province, Nanchang, and Jiujiang Women's and Children's Hospital in the People's Republic of China. The women were primips in their 33rd week with a u/s diagnosis of breech presentation. The 130 subjects randomized to the treatment group received stimulation of acupoint BL67 by moxa (Artemisia vulgaris or mug wort) for 7 days with another 7 days of treatment if fetus persisted in breech. The control subjects received routine care but no interventions. Subjects with persistent breech after 2 weeks were offered ECV any time between 35 weeks and EDD. Main outcomes increased fetal movement counts in treatment group vs controls; in 35 th week 75.4% of fetuses in treatment group were cephalic vs 47.7% of fetuses in control group. 24 subjects in the control group and 1 in the treatment group underwent ECV. At birth 75.4 % of fetuses in the treatment group and 62.3% of fetuses in the control group were cephalic. Conclusion: Among primigravidas with breech presentation during the 33rd week of gestation, moxibustion for 1 to 2 weeks increased fetal activity during the treatment period and cephalic presentation after the treatment period and at delivery. I think timing is critical with this treatment. I have seen clients who waited for the baby to turn by itself until 37 weeks and then the baby was to snug (it appeared to me) to turn, though ECV was often succesful at this later gestation. marilyn -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
