Article on Acupuncture for Breech Pregnancies

Medicine works to turn baby (
A 2,000-YEAR-OLD Chinese technique involving acupuncture has been used to help turn a Bromsgrove mother-to-be's baby from a breech position.

Acupuncturist Tony Concannon, from the Creative Health Centre, Hagley Road, Stourbridge, helped Siobhan Atkins, whose baby had been medically determined to be in breech position.

The breech position means that a caesarean section would be needed - to prevent this Mr Concannon performed a Chinese technique called moxabustion(sic).

Moxabustion involves the use of moxa, a herb which is used to heat specific acupuncture points and helps to turn babies who are in the breech position into a safer position for child birth.

Mrs Atkins said: "My baby definitely was more active after the treatments and when the midwife examined me again the baby had turned. I am now looking forward to the birth with one less thing to think about."

Mr Concannon said: "Although I have treated morning sickness and backache in pregnancy, and used acupuncture as pain relief in labour for many years, the turning of breech presentations in this way has never ceased to amaze me.

"At times, it has been almost miraculous. It is safe and in terms of our healthcare service, cost-effective."