Breech Babies

Turn My Baby Program for Breech and Posterior Babies

Breech presentation occurs in roughly 4% of pregnancies at birth. Babies float and bob around in the amniotic fluid and as the pregnancy progresses, many turn head down before they grow out of space. This presents the smallest head diameter and the best fit through the birth canal. Baby’s head is able to sit snugly on the cervix which facilitates labour by stimulating more intense and regular contractions.

Having a breech baby is a natural variation of normal but it requires medical staff with expertise in delivering breech babies. The problem occurs if the umbilical cord manages to become trapped and compressed during labour creating a medical emergency.  A cesarean-section is often recommended or trying an external cephalic version (ECV)  beforehand. If the baby doesn’t turn, the thought of a vaginal birth may change to birth via caesarean section surgery with its recovery and ramifications for mother and baby.  A c-section can be a life saving operation however there is another option to turn breech babies cephalic which may give women an opportunity to give birth vaginally.

Let’s explore how Chinese medicine approaches this.

Over the first two trimesters the pregnant body focuses on nourishing kidney yin.  This is a type of energy that is needed for the rapid development of the baby and the changes within the woman’s body that support pregnancy.  However, on entering the third trimester this focus shifts to nourishing kidney yang Qi.  This is energy needed to fuel birth.  This type of energy helps the baby move into a head down position and softens and opens the pelvic outlet as the baby descends through the birth canal.  When this energy is stuck or deficient, there is an increased risk of a breech baby. If you would like to know more about turning your baby please watch the webinar below and the Turn My Baby program. Alternatively, contact us or book in for a clinic appointment.  To review the research please click here.