Up to 25% of babies at some point in a pregnancy are in a breech position.
By 34 weeks most fetuses turn into a head-down, or vertex, position on their own. This is the normal and safest fetal position for birth.
Delivering a baby in a breech position involves several risks to the infant.
Most obstetricians in todays world therefore will opt to perform a caesarean section if the fetus has not turned on its own.
Traditional Chinese medicine uses moxibustion (burning herbs to stimulate acupuncture points) of acupoint BL 67 (Zhiyin, located beside the outer corner of the fifth toenail), to promote version of fetuses in breech presentation.
Its effect may be through increasing fetal activity.
Studies in China claim a success rate of 80 - 90 percent in correcting the breech position with this moxibustion technique.
Women should be closely monitored by their midwife or obstetrician during this process.
