Effectiveness of Moxibustion for Breech Presentation: A Prospective Study

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Breech presentation complicates approximately 3-5% of term pregnancies.
• Malpresentation can lead to increased risks during labor and delivery, often necessitating Cesarean section.
• Non-invasive methods to correct fetal presentation are of significant clinical interest.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of moxibustion in converting breech presentation to vertex presentation.
• To assess the impact of moxibustion on rates of vertex presentation at term and at birth.
• To determine the effect on vaginal birth rates and analyze influencing factors such as parity and fetal weight.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-center study involving pregnant women with breech presentation between 32-35 weeks gestation.
• Moxibustion was applied to the study group; a control group received expectant management.
• Primary outcomes included vertex presentation at 37 weeks, vertex presentation at birth, and vaginal delivery rates.

Main Results:

• Moxibustion significantly increased vertex presentation at term (66.7% vs. 48.2%) and at birth (71.4% vs. 53.5%) compared to controls.
• Vaginal delivery rates were higher in the moxibustion group (50.8% vs. 37.1%).
• Multiparity and higher birth weight were associated with increased vertex presentation rates.

Conclusions:

• Moxibustion is an effective intervention for increasing the rate of vertex presentation and vaginal delivery in fetuses presenting as breech.
• Administering moxibustion between 32-36 weeks gestation offers a viable option for women seeking a vaginal birth with a singleton breech fetus.
• This traditional therapy provides a potential non-invasive approach to managing breech presentation, improving obstetric outcomes.